Spiritual Intelligence Paradigm - Formative Values and Targets for Teachers-to-Be

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a psychological and pedagogical study meant to reveal the importance and the shaping value of the spiritual intelligence on the formation/development of the human personality. The theoretical part of the paper presents scientific bases, significations, meanings and orientations regarding the status and structure of the spiritual intelligence. The practical part of the research pursued two objectives:

- a survey of the teachers-to-be` perceptions on the personalized understanding of the concept, of their own explorative and self-reflexive behavior generated consequent to  applying the Fr. Vaugham questionnaire - which is designed to identify the coefficient of spiritual intelligence; the discussions were also focused on those ways of the spiritual intelligence defined by Zohar and Marshall;

- analysis of the reflections of those students participating into this study, on the qualities associated with spiritual intelligence in relation to age, gender, level of education and culture, spiritual maturity, personal experiences, and their opinions on the formative strategies that contributed, on different stages of life, to valuing some transpersonal ways and to understanding the extent to which spiritual intelligence manifests itself in everyone's life.

The conclusions of this report highlight the theoretical and explanatory aspects with regard to understanding spiritual intelligence, characteristics and areas of positive forming and development, spiritual paths that have personalized relevance for the young students who took part into our research. The reflections of the respondents and their analysis – that was made together with experts - outline different perspectives on the internalizing of some spiritual values, and on the understanding of the personal experiences, of their own life style, reactions and behaviors, emotions, as well as the great influence of the interpersonal relationships on acquiring higher degrees of spiritual maturity etc.