Experimenting using Navarasa: Gender Differences on Emotional Intelligence

Abstract

Emotional Intelligence is observed to be crucial factor in getting success in all spheres of human life including academic, social, family, professional, etc. Hence it is necessary to pay attention to the enhancement of emotional intelligence of the children at their school age. Present study attempts to enhance emotional intelligence of children from lower and higher-middle socio-economic classes in India through expression of Navarasa and observe the gender differences in pursuing the intervention program. For the purpose four types of art forms i.e. dance, drama, singing and drawing were used as a medium of expressions. 134 children having lower socio-economic background and 144children from higher-middle socio-economic class were considered for present study. Children were selected from 5th to 7th standards of two schools from Pune, Maharashtra using multi-stage sampling method.Standardized questionnaires were used to measure Socio-economic status, Emotional Intelligence and General Intelligence. Intervention program contained 34 sessions.Children were divided into control and experimental groups using matched random sampling technique. ANOVA and Mixed design ANOVA were done to analyze the results. Girls from both the Socio-economic backgrounds scored significantly higher than the respective boys before intervention program. All the experimental groups scored significantly higher than the respective control groups. Girls from lower SES scored considerable higher at post testing than the respective boys. Performance of the boys from higher-middle SES was better at post testing than the respective girls.