The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Decision-Making in Youth Within the Greater Grand Crossing Community of Chicago

Delwin Gadlen

Etd

The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Decision-Making in Youth Within the Greater Grand Crossing Community of Chicago

Public Deposited

MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Delwin Gadlen. The Impact of Emotional Intelligence On Decision-making In Youth Within the Greater Grand Crossing Community of Chicago. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/ee9f8ee3-2724-4db1-839b-f9ccd208c3b2.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

D. Gadlen. The Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Decision-Making in Youth Within the Greater Grand Crossing Community of Chicago. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/ee9f8ee3-2724-4db1-839b-f9ccd208c3b2

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Delwin Gadlen. The Impact of Emotional Intelligence On Decision-Making In Youth Within the Greater Grand Crossing Community of Chicago. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/ee9f8ee3-2724-4db1-839b-f9ccd208c3b2.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

Delwin Gadlen

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Abstract

This project investigates the impact of emotional intelligence on decision-making among youth in Chicago's Greater Grand Crossing community, an area affected by high crime rates and violence. Through a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, the researcher implemented a six-week emotional intelligence program for fifteen African American high school students. The intervention consisted of two community excursions (a toy distribution service project and a bowling event) and four weekly coaching sessions focused on self-awareness, empathy, assertiveness, and heart-based decision-making. The research was grounded in both theological and theoretical frameworks that emphasized the heart as the center of meaningful behavioral change, aligning with emotional intelligence principles. Data collection included pre- and post-intervention surveys, interviews, participant journaling, direct observation, and focus groups. Results demonstrated significant improvements in participants' decision-making approaches, with measurable growth in analytical thinking, reduced reliance on external validation, and increased decision confidence. Behavioral observations revealed enhanced social skills, empathy, and leadership emergence. The findings suggest that developing emotional intelligence provides youth with effective tools to process trauma and make better decisions. This improvement was particularly evident in the dramatic increase in participant engagement between the first and second excursions. The project contributes valuable insights into addressing youth violence through heart-focused interventions rather than solely behavior-focused approaches, offering a model for community partnerships between law enforcement, schools, and faith communities to foster positive youth development in marginalized urban contexts.

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