A Viable Model and Self-Report Measure of Spiritual Intelligence

Abstract

A four-factor model of spiritual intelligence is first proposed. Supportive evidence is reviewed for the capacities of critical existential thinking, personal meaning production, transcendental awareness, and conscious state expansion. Based on this model, a 24-item self-report measure was developed and modified across two consecutive studies (N = 619 and N = 304, respectively). The final version of the scale, the Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory (SISRI-24), displayed excellent internal reliability and good fit to the proposed model. Correlational analyses with additional measures of meaning, metapersonal self-construal, mysticism, religiosity, and social desirability offer support for construct and criterion-related validity. According to both intelligence criteria and current psychometric standards, findings validate the proposed model and measure of spiritual intelligence. Future directions are discussed.

Relacion entre inteligencia espiritual y estres percibido en estudiantes de pregrado: estudio preliminar

“…Como instrumentos de recolección de datos se utilizaron dos cuestionarios previamente validados. En primer lugar, el inventario del autoinforme de la inteligencia espiritual (Spiritual Intelligence Self-Report Inventory: SISRI-24), elaborado por King (7) en 2008 y validado por King y DeCicco (10) en 2009. Esta encuesta está constituida por 24 ítems divididos en cuatro componentes: pensamiento crítico existencial, producción de significados personales, conciencia trascendental y expansión del estado de conciencia.…”

“…Las diferencias encontradas podrían deberse a diversos factores que modifican la inteligencia espiritual y contribuyen a su desarrollo, por ejemplo, la edad (10) , las experiencias espirituales en la vida (24,25) , los eventos traumáticos y las crisis existenciales (26,27) .…”

“…Asimismo, cuando se enfrentan eventos estresantes (como evaluaciones, exámenes, exposiciones, entre otras experiencias comunes en los años universitarios), los niveles de inteligencia espiritual podrían hacer que los alumnos los vean como desafíos por resolver y no problemas insalvables (8,9) . Por ello, este tipo de inteligencia podría hacer que los individuos reconsideren sus experiencias y les otorguen un significado, de acuerdo con sus valores o creencias (10) .…”

Examination of the Characteristics of Spiritual Intelligence of Turkish Education Students in Terms of Different Variables

“…Gardner (2004) claimed that an existentialist intelligence or moral intelligence may exist. Then researchers claimed that spiritual intelligence may be the equivalent of the measurable and definable fields of intelligence of Gardner (Emmons, 2000a;Emmons, 2000b;King, 2008;King and DeCicco, 2009;Vaughan, 2002).…”

Mental Health Care for Children

“…Rogers and Dantley [8] described SI as the foundation of thinking, forming the system and structure of human cognition. According to King and DeCicco [9], SI consists of four core elements: (a) Critical existential thinking, referring to thorough thinking about existential as well as non-existential issues relevant to oneself; (b) Personal meaning production, referring to the attribution of meanings to daily experiences and the mastery of purposes in life; (c) Transcendental awareness, referring to the recognition of the means to achieve self-transcendence; and (d) Conscious state expansion, which means being able to control when and how to reach higher consciousness. Research findings have supported a positive correlation between SI and psychological health in young people.…”