Emotional Culture In Educational Organizations In Israel

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize the emotional culture in nine Israeli educational organizations, as perceived by the professional staff, and to propose ways of improving it. The study involved 322 individuals, including educators, coordinators, counsellors, and division administrators from three elementary schools, three high schools, and three informal education institutes. The study was carried out using a quantitative methodology, employing the Emotional Culture Questionnaire alongside a comparative statistical analysis of the findings. The main findings of the study validate the use of a Hebrew translation of the Emotional Culture Questionnaire in Israel with minor structural adjustments. As for the characteristics of emotional culture in educational organizations, it was found that in educational organizations that conduct professional development programs for the staff, that focus on social and emotional aspects, an emotional culture of companionate love is manifest, whereas, in educational organizations that do not conduct professional social and emotional development programs and focus mainly on cognitive achievements, there is a stronger emotional culture of anger. In addition, the study revealed no significant differences in the characteristics of the emotional culture between the primary and secondary formal and informal education organizations.