Congressional Sex Scandals: Sonic Therapeutic Intervention Approach

Abstract

Leadership researchers have not conducted studies on sonic therapeutic interventions for preventing sex scandals in Congress. This study covers the lacuna in leadership literature. Sex scandals have ruined many lawmakers’ legislative careers. Legislators are expected to be role models in sexual integrity and in helping to make laws to redirect any misdirected social privileges, norms, and rights. Many citizens imitate the activities of their lawmakers, and whatever standards the legislators set become the grand norm of the members of their constituencies. This qualitative phenomenological study aims to sonographically investigate the lived experiences of eight sonic therapeutic intervention (STI) practitioners on how STI helps women leaders avoid sex scandals, grounded in Goleman's emotional intelligence and Prabhupada's sonic therapeutic frameworks. The researcher utilized a snowball sampling approach to generate research samples and obtained data through semi-structured interviews and reviews of relevant documents. According to an analysis of the data from the transcription of the interviews, STI reduced the likelihood of cheating, promoted consequentiality awareness, increased emotional intelligence, enhanced self-regulation, demonstrated self-control, reduced the urge for illicit sex, improved mental health, promoted supra-mundane values, and helped lawmakers maintain sobriety. These ten recurring themes made it easier for legislators to abstain from sex scandals. Leading with emotional intelligence, trustworthy legislative leadership, self-regulatory leadership, values-based leadership, preventing trauma related to sex scandals, people-oriented leadership, inclusive leadership, and diversity leadership are among the implications of the research for positive societal transformation.