Assessing the impact of a video literacy program on emotional intelligence and resilience to extremism in primary school children

Abstract

Abstract This research aimed to enhance emotional awareness and engender empathy among primary school students in Pakistan through education, ultimately fostering emotional regulation and preventing disruptive behaviors. While emotional intelligence (EI) is increasingly recognized as a vital component in counter-terrorism efforts, it is seldom emphasized by young primary school students. Research suggests that educational programs based on videos and cartoons can help children retain information effectively over time. Therefore, an educational program was designed around a video/animated cartoon series focusing on EI themes of developing empathy and emotional awareness. This program included teaching aids, worksheets, and activity-based learning. It was conducted using a mixed methods approach within a quasi-experimental design in two primary schools in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi/Islamabad region. Pre- and post-test assessments revealed that students initially lacked awareness of core EI concepts and had limited prior knowledge of empathy. However, significant improvements were observed in their post-test scores across all EI-related areas. The findings suggest that incorporating EI training into school curricula could help nurture emotional resilience and mitigate extremist tendencies among children in the future.