Article

Films Illustrating Character Strengths and Virtues

Authors:
Ryan M. Niemiec at VIA Institute on Character
Ryan M. Niemiec
  • VIA Institute on Character
Danny Wedding
Danny Wedding
Danny Wedding
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Abstract

The following list includes a large number of films that are relevant to classes in positive psychology and related subjects. The films are classified according to the positive psychology typology developed by Chris Peterson and Marty Seligman in their book titled Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification (2004). All films are rated on a 5-point scale using psi symbols; however, only pedagogically meaningful films (i.e., only films with ratings of 3 -5) are included here. Short clips from these films can sometimes be used to illustrate various psychological principles and points. Students are encouraged to see the films in small groups, and the viewing experience can be used to enhance, supplement, and expand class discussions. The list is taken from the book Positive Psychology at the Movies: Using Films to Build Virtues and Character Strengths (Niemiec & Wedding, 2008).

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Japan) ΨΨΨΨ Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The (2005) ΨΨΨΨ Holes (2003) ΨΨΨ I Heart Huckabees
  • Jan 1952
Heaven's Bookstore (2004, Japan) ΨΨΨΨ Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The (2005) ΨΨΨΨ Holes (2003) ΨΨΨ I Heart Huckabees (2004) ΨΨΨ Ikiru (1952, Japan) ΨΨΨΨ Illusion (2004) ΨΨΨ Incredibles, The (2004) ΨΨΨΨΨ Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) ΨΨΨΨ
ΨΨΨΨΨ Shawshank Redemption, The (1994) ΨΨΨΨΨ Stand and Deliver (1988) ΨΨΨΨ Tender Mercies (1983) ΨΨΨΨ Thelma and Louise (1991) ΨΨΨΨ Very Long Engagement
  • Jan 1939
  • U K France
  • Seabiscuit
2005) ΨΨΨΨΨ Raisin in the Sun, A (1961) ΨΨΨΨ Ratcatcher (1999, U.K., France) ΨΨΨ Seabiscuit (2003) ΨΨΨΨΨ Shawshank Redemption, The (1994) ΨΨΨΨΨ Stand and Deliver (1988) ΨΨΨΨ Tender Mercies (1983) ΨΨΨΨ Thelma and Louise (1991) ΨΨΨΨ Very Long Engagement, A (2004, France) ΨΨΨΨΨ Vodka Lemon (2003, France/Armenia) ΨΨΨΨ Wild Strawberries (1957, Sweden) ΨΨΨΨΨ Wizard of Oz, The (1939) ΨΨΨΨΨ Yesterday (2004, South Africa) ΨΨΨΨΨ
ΨΨΨΨΨ Employee of the Month ΨΨΨ Enlightenment Guaranteed (2000, Germany ) ΨΨΨ Field of Dreams (1989) ΨΨΨΨΨ Francesco (1989, Italy) ΨΨΨ Francis of Assisi
  • Jan 1912
  • Emmanuel 's Gift
Emmanuel's Gift (2005) ΨΨΨΨΨ Employee of the Month (2006) ΨΨΨ Enlightenment Guaranteed (2000, Germany ) ΨΨΨ Field of Dreams (1989) ΨΨΨΨΨ Francesco (1989, Italy) ΨΨΨ Francis of Assisi (1961) ΨΨΨ From the Manger to the Cross (1912) ΨΨΨ
  • Jan 1898
  • Jesus Devant
  • Pilate France
  • Jesus
  • Montreal
Jesus Devant Pilate (1898, France) ΨΨΨ Jesus of Montreal (1989) ΨΨΨ Jesus of Nazareth (1977) ΨΨΨ
The (2007) ΨΨΨ Gospel According to Saint Matthew, The (1964, Italy) ΨΨΨΨ Gospel of John, The (2003) ΨΨΨ Greatest Story Ever Told, The (1965) ΨΨΨΨ Happenstance
  • Jan 1973
  • Is God
  • I Am Not Great
  • France
God Is Great and I Am Not (2001, France) ΨΨΨ Godspell (1973) ΨΨΨ Golden Compass, The (2007) ΨΨΨ Gospel According to Saint Matthew, The (1964, Italy) ΨΨΨΨ Gospel of John, The (2003) ΨΨΨ Greatest Story Ever Told, The (1965) ΨΨΨΨ Happenstance (2000, France) ΨΨΨ Healer, The (2002) ΨΨΨ Heaven (1986) ΨΨΨ
ΨΨΨ Run Lola Run Germany) ΨΨΨΨΨ Secret of Roan Inish
  • Jan 1953
Rumi: Poet of the Heart (1998) ΨΨΨ Run Lola Run (1998, Germany) ΨΨΨΨΨ Secret of Roan Inish (1994, U.S./Ireland) ΨΨΨ Serpico (1973) ΨΨΨΨ Seventh Seal, The (1957, Sweden) ΨΨΨΨ Shane (1953) ΨΨΨΨ Signs (2002) ΨΨΨΨ
  • Jan 1984
  • Indiana Jones
  • The Temple
  • Doom
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) ΨΨΨΨ Indigo (2003) ΨΨΨ Into Great Silence (2006, France/Germany) ΨΨΨΨ Into the Wild (2007) ΨΨΨ
  • Jan 1979
  • Ψψψ Jesus
Jarhead (2005) ΨΨΨ Jesus (1979) ΨΨΨ Jesus Camp (2006) ΨΨΨ
ΨΨΨ Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India India) ΨΨΨ Last Temptation of Christ, The (1988) ΨΨΨΨ Little Buddha
  • Jan 1990
Kumbh Mela: Songs of the River (2004) ΨΨΨΨ Kundun (1997) ΨΨΨ Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001, India) ΨΨΨ Last Temptation of Christ, The (1988) ΨΨΨΨ Little Buddha (1993, France) ΨΨΨ Mindwalk (1990) ΨΨΨ Miracle Maker, The (2000) ΨΨΨ Monsieur Ibrahim (2003, France) ΨΨΨΨΨ
ΨΨΨ Monty Python's the Meaning of The (2006) ΨΨΨ Pact of Silence
  • Jan 1979
  • Monty Python 's Life Of Brian
  • U K Ψψψ Nativity
  • Story
Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) ΨΨΨ Monty Python's the Meaning of Life (1983, U.K.) ΨΨΨ Moonstruck (1987) ΨΨΨ Mother Teresa (2003, Spain/U.K.) ΨΨΨΨΨ Naked (1993, U.K.) ΨΨΨ Nativity Story, The (2006) ΨΨΨ Pact of Silence, The (2002, France) ΨΨΨ Paradise Now (2005, Palestine/Israel) ΨΨΨ Paris, Texas (1984) ΨΨΨΨ Passion of the Christ, The (2004) ΨΨΨΨ Pleasantville (1998) ΨΨΨΨ Priest (1994, U.K.) ΨΨΨ Princess and the Warrior, The (2000, Germany) ΨΨΨΨΨ Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) ΨΨΨΨ Ram Dass, Fierce Grace (2001) ΨΨΨΨ Razor's Edge, The (1984) ΨΨΨ
Positive Psychology at the Movies: Using Films to Build Virtues and Character Strengths
  • R M Niemiec
  • D Wedding
From: Niemiec, R.M., & Wedding, D. Positive Psychology at the Movies: Using Films to Build Virtues and Character Strengths.
  • Jan 1953
  • Shane
Shane (1953) ΨΨΨΨ Signs (2002) ΨΨΨΨ
The (1994) ΨΨΨΨΨ Stand and Deliver (1988) ΨΨΨΨ Tender Mercies (1983) ΨΨΨΨ Thelma and Louise (1991) ΨΨΨΨ Very Long Engagement
  • Jan 2004
Shawshank Redemption, The (1994) ΨΨΨΨΨ Stand and Deliver (1988) ΨΨΨΨ Tender Mercies (1983) ΨΨΨΨ Thelma and Louise (1991) ΨΨΨΨ Very Long Engagement, A (2004, France) ΨΨΨΨΨ
France/Armenia) ΨΨΨΨ Wild Strawberries (1957, Sweden) ΨΨΨΨΨ Wizard of Oz, The (1939) ΨΨΨΨΨ Yesterday
  • Jan 2003
  • Vodka Lemon
Vodka Lemon (2003, France/Armenia) ΨΨΨΨ Wild Strawberries (1957, Sweden) ΨΨΨΨΨ Wizard of Oz, The (1939) ΨΨΨΨΨ Yesterday (2004, South Africa) ΨΨΨΨΨ