Intercultural sensitivity in teacher training: the role of emotional intelligence, prosocial behavior, and social dominance

Intercultural sensitivity has become a pivotal competence in teacher education, particularly in urban and culturally diverse contexts. This study examines how emotional intelligence, prosocial behavior, and social dominance orientation jointly shape intercultural sensitivity among 629 prospective se...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gómez Yepes, Talía, Etchezahar, Edgardo Daniel, Albalá Genol, Miguel Ángel, Ungaretti, Joaquín
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Repositorio:Biblos-e Archivo. Repositorio Institucional de la UAM
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:biblosearchi::6f3b07d11528f9e407a4886a30c48c96
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10486/756920
https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11218-026-10199-w
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Intercultural sensitivity
Emotional intelligence
Prosocial behavior
Social dominance
Teacher training
Educación
Psicología
Descripción
Sumario:Intercultural sensitivity has become a pivotal competence in teacher education, particularly in urban and culturally diverse contexts. This study examines how emotional intelligence, prosocial behavior, and social dominance orientation jointly shape intercultural sensitivity among 629 prospective secondary teachers in Madrid, Spain. Using a cross-sectional survey design, participants completed standardized measures of intercultural sensitivity, emotional intelligence, prosociality, and social dominance orientation. Results showed that teacher trainees in the final stage of their program reported higher levels of intercultural sensitivity—especially in inter¬action confidence, respect for cultural differences, and engagement—than those at the beginning. Additionally, participants born outside Madrid demonstrated greater openness and respect in intercultural encounters compared to their local counter¬parts. Emotional intelligence correlated positively with all dimensions of intercul¬tural sensitivity, underscoring the importance of emotion regulation and clarity for fostering positive interactions in diverse classrooms. Prosocial behaviour predicted higher intercultural engagement and confidence, whereas social dominance orien¬tation negatively impacted all three dimensions of intercultural sensitivity. These findings contribute to the growing body of research on socio-emotional factors in education, highlighting how emotional competencies, prosocial dispositions, and hi-erarchical attitudes can influence future teachers’ readiness to engage with diversity. The study offers practical implications for designing teacher training programs that promote emotional intelligence and prosociality while addressing social dominance tendencies, ultimately aiming to cultivate more inclusive and equitable educational environments