International Journal of Emotional Education

2

Authors: Carmel Cefai, Paul Cooper

Editorial

15

Authors: Megan Farnsworth

Utilising narrative inquiry in a teacher preparation programme, the author examined ways that rural preservice teachers explored their resilience through writing stories of overcoming obstacles. The presented research investigated links among resilience, purpose, and advocacy for social justice. Data for this study (16 female, rural students) were collected, analysed, and interpreted through Social Emotional Learning and cultural lenses. Results demonstrate that participants recognised both internal and external supports needed to navigate obstacles. The external resources of extended families and religion helped students to mediate trauma. The internal resources of affirming experiences heightened self-insight and generated new outcomes helped students mediate identity confusion. These resources were needed for agency, which enabled students to challenge power inequities in relationships and expand identities of well-being. Sharing stories of resilience may decrease stigma, increase community resources, and be a vital source of sustaining educators’ mental health.

16

Authors: Marco Ferreira, José Reis-Jorge and Sara Batalha

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an important component of early school readiness and healthy child development. Research has shown that children`s development of social and emotional skills at preschool age is critical for long-term school and life success. Teachers play a key role in this process. There is evidence to indicate that effective SEL depends, among other factors on the way teachers construct and incorporate SEL in their daily practices. In this qualitative, exploratory study we aimed to uncover and understand Portuguese preschool teachers` representations and practices of SEL as a contribution to filling in a perceived gap in the Portuguese empirical literature. Our findings indicate that our participants shared a positive view and an awareness of the theoretical foundations of SEL. However, in terms of practice, they revealed to make use of a limited repertoire of SEL strategies, which points to the need for greater attention to the practices of SEL in teacher initial training and continuing professional development initiatives.

17

Authors: Akamatsu, Daisuke and Gherghel, Claudia

In recent years, educational practitioners have become more aware of the importance of cultivating students’ social and emotional skills, in order to facilitate adaptation beyond academic contexts. Emotional intelligence (EI), the ability to regulate one’s own and others’ emotions appropriately, has often been targeted in educational interventions. Previous studies suggest that EI promotes various positive social outcomes such as social support, prosocial behaviour, and subjective well-being. However, a growing body of research has also shown that EI may sometimes lead to antisocial behaviours such as indirect aggression and support for others’ retaliation, but this “darker side” of EI tends to be overlooked. We argue that emotional intelligence without empathy can bring about manipulative or aggressive behaviour, and highlight the need to explore further how EI interacts with other personality traits in determining different social outcomes. This review addresses both the “bright” and the “dark” side of EI, aiming to offer a comprehensive, balanced perspective on its adaptive functions. Based on Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST), our paper proposes that there might be a common mechanism by which EI links to both prosociality and aggression. Our analysis leads to the conclusion that researchers need to elaborate on the motivational mechanism underlying the behaviours of emotionally intelligent individuals, while teachers would be welladvised to pay attention to the motivations that support students’ socially adaptive behaviours.