Page 143 - Ana Kozina and Nora Wiium, eds. ▪︎ Positive Youth Development in Contexts. Ljubljana: Educational Research Institute, 2021. Digital Library, Dissertationes (Scientific Monographs), 42.
P. 143
char acter strengths of first-year student teachers and the 5 cs ...
According to the findings, Competence can be promoted by develop-
ing Love, Perseverance, Teamwork, Humour and Curiosity; Confidence
through Love, Gratitude and Spirituality; Character through Fairness,
Judgement, Prudence and Self-regulation; Caring through Kindness,
Gratitude and Fairness; and Connection through Love, Kindness,
Teamwork and Humour.
Discussion
The Positive Psychology and Positive Youth Development frameworks share
a considerable theoretical overlap. Peterson & Seligman’s (2004) theory of
character strengths, originating from the Positive Psychology framework,
highlights the importance of developing, fostering and using one’s charac-
ter strengths in order to achieve positive outcomes for self and others and to
contribute to the collective good (Niemiec, 2018). “Contribution”, however,
is also considered “the sixth C” in the Positive Youth Development frame-
work, meaning that when young people manifest all 5 Cs over time they are
more likely to contribute to themselves, the family, community and society,
and therefore less likely to engage in risk behaviours (Lerner, 2007).
Our research findings show that identifying, developing and using
character strengths may be a good strategy for promoting the 5 Cs of the
Positive Development framework in first-year students, which could lat-
er manifest in their active engagement in and contribution to society.
Using quantitative and qualitative analyses, we conclude that the follow-
ing 12 character strengths are associated with one or more of the 5 Cs: Love,
Kindness, Fairness, Teamwork, Humour, Gratitude, Spirituality, Judgment,
Self-regulation, Prudence, Perseverance and Curiosity (Table 3). Their roles
in promoting specific Cs are presented below.
Love is, according to our findings, important for promoting Competence,
Confidence and Connection. Love is a character strength often typical of
student teachers (Gradišek, 2012) who find it easy to use in everyday life,
e.g.: “I really enjoy showing love, showing people that I listen to them, I try
to give them advice, help them understand, comfort them, cheer them up,
and show them that I care with my actions, not just words”. As such, it helps
them feel competent and able to accomplish what is needed because this is
required for having effective interactions with other people and social insti-
tutions (Lerner, 2007). Love is primarily associated with the social domain
of Competence in the form of reciprocal relationships that serve as posi-
tive feedback in well-established relationships. In relation to Confidence,
143
According to the findings, Competence can be promoted by develop-
ing Love, Perseverance, Teamwork, Humour and Curiosity; Confidence
through Love, Gratitude and Spirituality; Character through Fairness,
Judgement, Prudence and Self-regulation; Caring through Kindness,
Gratitude and Fairness; and Connection through Love, Kindness,
Teamwork and Humour.
Discussion
The Positive Psychology and Positive Youth Development frameworks share
a considerable theoretical overlap. Peterson & Seligman’s (2004) theory of
character strengths, originating from the Positive Psychology framework,
highlights the importance of developing, fostering and using one’s charac-
ter strengths in order to achieve positive outcomes for self and others and to
contribute to the collective good (Niemiec, 2018). “Contribution”, however,
is also considered “the sixth C” in the Positive Youth Development frame-
work, meaning that when young people manifest all 5 Cs over time they are
more likely to contribute to themselves, the family, community and society,
and therefore less likely to engage in risk behaviours (Lerner, 2007).
Our research findings show that identifying, developing and using
character strengths may be a good strategy for promoting the 5 Cs of the
Positive Development framework in first-year students, which could lat-
er manifest in their active engagement in and contribution to society.
Using quantitative and qualitative analyses, we conclude that the follow-
ing 12 character strengths are associated with one or more of the 5 Cs: Love,
Kindness, Fairness, Teamwork, Humour, Gratitude, Spirituality, Judgment,
Self-regulation, Prudence, Perseverance and Curiosity (Table 3). Their roles
in promoting specific Cs are presented below.
Love is, according to our findings, important for promoting Competence,
Confidence and Connection. Love is a character strength often typical of
student teachers (Gradišek, 2012) who find it easy to use in everyday life,
e.g.: “I really enjoy showing love, showing people that I listen to them, I try
to give them advice, help them understand, comfort them, cheer them up,
and show them that I care with my actions, not just words”. As such, it helps
them feel competent and able to accomplish what is needed because this is
required for having effective interactions with other people and social insti-
tutions (Lerner, 2007). Love is primarily associated with the social domain
of Competence in the form of reciprocal relationships that serve as posi-
tive feedback in well-established relationships. In relation to Confidence,
143
