Page 155 - Ana Kozina and Nora Wiium, eds. ▪︎ Positive Youth Development in Contexts. Ljubljana: Educational Research Institute, 2021. Digital Library, Dissertationes (Scientific Monographs), 42.
P. 155
components of positive youth development among native students ...
a more effective way of enhancing positive development and resilience
(Masten, 2014). It focuses on the positive, instead of the negative, resources
that adolescents possess that can optimise their well-being, personal devel-
opment and life experiences if they are strengthened, applied and support-
ed appropriately (Lerner et al., 2015).
Benson (2006) classified personal resources as developmental assets
and divided them into two larger groups: internal and external assets.
Internal assets include positive values, social competence, a commitment
to learning and a positive identity, whereas external assets comprise sup-
port, empowerment, boundaries and expectations. Lerner et al. (2015), on
the other hand, propose five indicators of positive development known as
the 5Cs of PYD (competence, confidence, connection, character, caring)
that are assumed to be interrelated. They reflect Benson’s developmental as-
sets and are defined as follows (Bowers et al., 2010):
- Competence is understood as a positive view of one’s actions in
specific areas, such as social, academic, cognitive and vocational
settings.
- Confidence is defined as an internal sense of overall positive self-
worth and self-efficacy, a positive identity and one’s global self-re-
gard, as opposed to domain-specific beliefs.
- Connection refers to positive relationships and bonds between
the individual, people and institutions. These relationships and
bonds are bidirectional and encompass exchanges between the
indiv idual and peers, family, school and community in which
both parties contribute to the relationship.
- Character includes respect for societal and cultural rules, aware-
ness and internalisation of standards of appropriate and correct
behaviour, a sense of morality and integrity.
- Caring represents a sense of sympathy and empathy for others
and the ability to see beyond oneself.
It is assumed that the individual interacts with their surrounding so-
cial environment through their resources and characteristics. These inter-
actions go both ways and affect an individual’s personal development and
functioning (Lerner, 2007).
155
a more effective way of enhancing positive development and resilience
(Masten, 2014). It focuses on the positive, instead of the negative, resources
that adolescents possess that can optimise their well-being, personal devel-
opment and life experiences if they are strengthened, applied and support-
ed appropriately (Lerner et al., 2015).
Benson (2006) classified personal resources as developmental assets
and divided them into two larger groups: internal and external assets.
Internal assets include positive values, social competence, a commitment
to learning and a positive identity, whereas external assets comprise sup-
port, empowerment, boundaries and expectations. Lerner et al. (2015), on
the other hand, propose five indicators of positive development known as
the 5Cs of PYD (competence, confidence, connection, character, caring)
that are assumed to be interrelated. They reflect Benson’s developmental as-
sets and are defined as follows (Bowers et al., 2010):
- Competence is understood as a positive view of one’s actions in
specific areas, such as social, academic, cognitive and vocational
settings.
- Confidence is defined as an internal sense of overall positive self-
worth and self-efficacy, a positive identity and one’s global self-re-
gard, as opposed to domain-specific beliefs.
- Connection refers to positive relationships and bonds between
the individual, people and institutions. These relationships and
bonds are bidirectional and encompass exchanges between the
indiv idual and peers, family, school and community in which
both parties contribute to the relationship.
- Character includes respect for societal and cultural rules, aware-
ness and internalisation of standards of appropriate and correct
behaviour, a sense of morality and integrity.
- Caring represents a sense of sympathy and empathy for others
and the ability to see beyond oneself.
It is assumed that the individual interacts with their surrounding so-
cial environment through their resources and characteristics. These inter-
actions go both ways and affect an individual’s personal development and
functioning (Lerner, 2007).
155
