| Research on the socio-emotional needs of late adolescent males is plentiful and diverse, and many of the results conclude that boys, on some level, face a crisis of connection (Oberle, Schonert-Reichl, & Thomson, 2010). Studies have sought ways to determine how we can improve the emotional intelligence of boys, and the results of these literatures have provided insight into how we can understand their behaviors (Bronstein, Briones, Brooks, & Cowen,1996). Research on the spiritual needs of boys is also growing, and, as a result, we have learned that they cherish this aspect of their lives (Engebretson, 2004). Some argue that enhancing spiritual awareness impacts the boys' behavior because it helps them manage crisis, process questions, and understand their identities (Engebretson, 2006a). No one has made the connection between spirituality and emotional intelligence in adolescent males, and this link can provide further insight to the body of literature focusing on helping boys locate meaning and significance in their lives.;This study explores how adolescent males in two secular boys' schools perceive spirituality, and how these perceptions relate to their emotional intelligence. I examined the relation between spirituality and emotions by inviting the boys to reflect upon how the two impact their lives, relationships, and behaviors. My study was designed to provide the participants with collaborative, individual, and written spaces for inquiry. The triangulation of these methods provides a meta-perspective on how boys experience their spirituality and how that affects their emotional intelligence. The results of this study help us understand how boys actualize the values of self-awareness, connection, and inquiry in their perceptions of spirituality. The boys want to know who they are, they want to connect with others, and they want to question their worlds. Furthermore, the data linking spirituality and emotions will provide new ways for us to think about how we can foster mindful, empathetic, and emotionally aware boys. In conclusion I argue that developing spiritual awareness enhances emotional intelligence, and the capacity to understand this relationship influences behavior in meaningful ways. |
