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The Values in Action (VIA), classification of strengths
... Thus, if the existence of disease or mental disorders is undeniable -these are well defined by the biological, medical, and psychiatric visions -, PP would lend understanding to the person's strengths that stand out and allow his or her optimal functioning even with the pathology. Besides, it supports the understanding that a character strength's absence or excess constitutes the true psychological disturbance (Peterson, 2006). ...
... With this perspective, Peterson (2006) devised a structure that describes character strength disorders, departing from a malfunctioning that can be classified as opposition, absence, or excess. Character strength disturbances can be verified in an individual's behaviors, thoughts and feelings: the greater the frequency of disordered actions, the more noticeable they will be. ...
... In order to examine the dark side of character strengths, as advocated by Peterson (2006), Freidlin et al. (2017 conducted a study with adults of the general population, in which they assessed character strengths, depression, flourishing, life satisfaction, and social anxiety. The results associated the overuse of character strengths with negative outcomes, while optimized use was related to positive aspects. ...
This study aimed to verify the mean difference of the 24 character strengths considering the level of each character strength in relation to the Dark Triad of personality. A total of 284 people participated in the study, responding to the Character Strength Scale and to the Short Dark Triad. Among them, 71.5% were female, with a mean age of 29.06 years (SD = 9.73). For Machiavellianism and psychopathy, specific strengths are characterized by their underuse, while for narcissism, apart from modesty, character strengths are overused. Accordingly, we conclude that the underuse and overuse of character strengths can result in negative outcomes in addition to the socially valued positive aspects.
... Initially, we computed descriptive statistics for the socio-demographic characteristics of the sample using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 (IBM Corporation, 2015). Latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted using MPlus 4.01 software (Muthén & Muthén, 1998/2006. LCA is an advanced statistical method which permits identification of underlying latent homogenous subsets of individuals within a sample. Using maximum likelihood with robust standard errors computed with sandwich estimator (Yuan & Bentler, 2000), we estimated conditional LCA models for item responses on the YSR-11/18, ranging from 2 to 7 latent classes. ...
... In a quasi-experimental research design follow-up study, those individuals high in character strengths showed a tendency to rapid cardiovascular bounce back to prodromal levels of physiological arousal in stressful situations (Li, Duan, & Guo, 2017). Peterson (2006) contended an alternative framework from the perspective of psychopathology that deviations from human strengths in terms of under, over and opposite expression would be predictive of counterproductive outcomes and psychopathology. Rashid (2015) offered a strengthsbased assessment approach to understand and conceptualise clinical entities through reframing respective disorder in terms of deficits and excesses in strengths. ...
... Rashid (2015) offered a strengthsbased assessment approach to understand and conceptualise clinical entities through reframing respective disorder in terms of deficits and excesses in strengths. A final clinical conceptualisation alternative to Peterson's (2006) "strengths as syndromes" and Rashid's (2015) "strengths as symptoms" models was Hall-Simmonds and McGrath's (2017) "strengths as moderators" approach, purporting that human strengths can both exacerbate and mitigate clinical syndromes through moderating the relations between symptoms and personal functioning. Darker sides of human strengths in the form of deficits and excesses empirically evidenced in a community sample of adults that the excesses in social intelligence and deficits in humility and underuse of zest, humour, self-regulation and social intelligence were significant correlates of social anxiety (Freidlin, Littman-Ovadia, & Niemiec, 2017). ...
The main objective of this study was to explore the associations between character strengths and internalising and externalising problems. One thousand, one hundred thirty-eight adolescents, completed the 96-item VIA Inventory of Strengths for Youth, Youth Self Report, and Brief Symptom Inventory. Using latent class analysis, we extracted six latent groups: (1) Externalising and Internalising Problems (EIP; 11.1%), (2) Internalising Problems (IP; 15.6%), (3) Externalising Problems (EP; 12.5%), (4) At-risk for Externalising Problems (R-EP; 16.1%), (5) At-risk for Internalising Problems (R-IP; 27.3%) and (6) Healthy Subjects (H-S; 17.5%). General linear models on the BSI scores showed that those in EIP reported the most severe symptoms on all the BSI scales and those in H-S had the lowest scores. We concluded that character strengths take part in the etiology of externalising and internalising disorders.
... Thus, mockery, ridicule, and sarcasm cannot be considered overuse of (morally good) humor (as understood in the classification) but should rather be considered the immoral or at least amoral misuse of humor skills. This notion is also in accordance with the further theoretical directions on the VIA classification put forward by Peterson (2006b) and Seligman (2015). Following the publication of the handbook, Peterson (2006b) envisioned the classification to evolve into a comprehensive taxonomy of mental health and mental disorders. ...
... This notion is also in accordance with the further theoretical directions on the VIA classification put forward by Peterson (2006b) and Seligman (2015). Following the publication of the handbook, Peterson (2006b) envisioned the classification to evolve into a comprehensive taxonomy of mental health and mental disorders. In particular, he proposed that human behavior could be aligned along a continuum ranging from the opposite of a strength to the absence (of the strength), and then to the presence of the strength itself and eventually to the strength's exaggeration, that is, a parody of the strength (Peterson, 2006b). ...
... Following the publication of the handbook, Peterson (2006b) envisioned the classification to evolve into a comprehensive taxonomy of mental health and mental disorders. In particular, he proposed that human behavior could be aligned along a continuum ranging from the opposite of a strength to the absence (of the strength), and then to the presence of the strength itself and eventually to the strength's exaggeration, that is, a parody of the strength (Peterson, 2006b). However, he was also careful to phrase this hypothesis as a "working yet testable assumption". ...
Zusammen wachsen – Förderung der positiv-psychologischen Entwicklung von Individuen, Organisationen und Gesellschaft war das Thema der 3. Konferenz der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Positiv-Psychologische Forschung (DGPPF), die im Mai 2018 an der Ruhr-Universität Bochum stattfand.
Basierend auf den dort präsentierten Beiträgen finden Sie in diesem Band aktuelle positiv-psychologische Forschung zu den Schwerpunkten „Individuum“, „Organisation“ und „Gesellschaft“. Die Sammlung enthält interdisziplinäre Beiträge in deutscher und englischer Sprache zu Themen wie
• Charakterstärken in der Personalauswahl,
• ein Vergleich positiv-psychologischer Forschungsmethoden,
• Positive Psychologie und New Work,
• Liebe und Lebensglück
• sowie Lebenskunst.
Die bunte Vielfalt der Beiträge soll zu spannenden Einsichten anregen sowie zum Nach- und Weiterdenken.
... Thus, mockery, ridicule, and sarcasm cannot be considered overuse of (morally good) humor (as understood in the classification) but should rather be considered the immoral or at least amoral misuse of humor skills. This notion is also in accordance with the further theoretical directions on the VIA classification put forward by Peterson (2006b) and Seligman (2015). Following the publication of the handbook, Peterson (2006b) envisioned the classification to evolve into a comprehensive taxonomy of mental health and mental disorders. ...
... Following the publication of the handbook, Peterson (2006b) envisioned the classification to evolve into a comprehensive taxonomy of mental health and mental disorders. In particular, he proposed that human behavior could be aligned along a continuum ranging from the opposite of a strength to the absence (of the strength), and then to the presence of the strength itself and eventually to the strength's exaggeration, that is, a parody of the strength (Peterson, 2006b). However, he was also careful to phrase this hypothesis as a "working yet testable assumption". ...
... Similar to the previous criterion, Peterson and Seligman (2004) as well as Park and Peterson (2007) stated that each character strength satisfies this requirement inherently. Considering Peterson (2006b) and Seligman's (2015) extension to the VIA classification, this also rules out positive antonyms of seemingly cognate characteristics, such as cynicism, intrusiveness, and prudishness. Although related, these phenomena could better be described as exaggerations of character strengths and should thus not be confused with the morally valued traits (Peterson, 2006b). ...
Due to Allport's (1927) claim that character is merely personality evaluated (and personality is character devalued) and personality alone will do, "character" had largely been neglected when exploring individual differences. This however changed with the emergence of positive psychology, which brought a renaissance of the concept of character on personality psychology. Early in the search for the roots of a good life, character was rediscovered as key to investigating and fostering subjective, objective and societal fulfillment. In 2004, these considerations were recognized in the VIA classification, which introduced 24 character strengths and six virtues. The fundament of the classification are criteria that define character strengths by means of decisive and verifiable benchmarks. In this narrative review, we delineate the progression of the list of criteria for character strengths (from seven to 12). Furthermore, we discuss the extent to which the literature shows that the 24 strengths indeed satisfy these criteria. It is evident that many studies were published, for example, to demonstrate that character strengths predict various indicators of well-being. However, there is surprisingly little research into this very foundation of the classification, for example, whether all character strengths are inherently morally valued and whether character strengths could be selectively missing in a person altogether. We argue that more research should be directed at the study of these criteria as they form the backbone of what character strengths are and may be considered the nucleus of an emerging theory of character.
... Studies that have evaluated the effects COVID-19 from a mental health perspective, commonly draw attention to psychological disorders that it may lead to (e.g., Conversano et al. 2020;Qiu et al. 2020;Zhang et al. 2020). However, it is argued that focusing on indicators that comprise a healthy psychological outlook such as resilience, hope, well-being, and happiness is more effective in developing good mental health (Peterson 2006;Peterson and Seligman 2004). In this respect, examining the association between fear of COVID-19 and subjective happiness (which is a psychological strength) can provide important information on how individuals can become stronger mentally during the COVID-19 pandemic. ...
... Therefore, with resilience and hope preventing fear of COVID-19 from reaching a level that disrupts daily functioning, the notion that they are helpful in protecting mental health appears feasible. The positive psychology approach posits that resilience and hope are psychological strengths and that instead of treating psychological disorders, developing psychological strengths is an alternative route in protecting mental health (Peterson 2006;Peterson and Seligman 2004). In fact, it has been demonstrated that intervention programs focused on positive psychology decrease fear and increase happiness (Lambert et al. 2019). ...
Psychology deals with not only mental disorders but also psychological strengths within individuals. Psychological strengths will play an important role in struggling with the global novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The present study tested a model concerning the relationship between resilience, hope, and subjective happiness using structural equation modeling to identify the mediating role of fear of COVID-19. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 971 Turkish individuals (aged 18 to 74 years) from 75 of 81 cities in Turkey. The survey included the Subjective Happiness Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, Brief Resilience Scale, and the Dispositional Hope Scale, and data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The SEM demonstrated an association between resilience–hope and subjective happiness was mediated by fear of COVID-19 (CMIN/df = 2.664, CFI = 0.994, NFI = 0.984, TLI = 0.984, GFI = 0.994, RMSEA = 0.044, SRMR = 0.024, AIC = 81.334, ECVI = 0.084). Resilience had a direct effect and an indirect effect on subjective happiness via fear of COVID-19. Hope also had a direct effect and an indirect effect on subjective happiness via fear of COVID-19. Consequently, in the fight against COVID-19, individuals who are resistant to stress and have a belief that they can find a way to cope can help prevent the fear of COVID-19 and so enhance good mental health.
... Seligman (31) añade que se trata de "ser consciente de las cosas buenas que suceden (sin darlas por sentado) y tomarse el tiempo para expresar agradecimiento". En definitiva, la gratitud constituye una fortaleza humana que permite manifestar la virtud de la trascendencia, entendida como aquello por lo cual los seres humanos nos conectamos con el universo y otorgamos significado a nuestra vida (32) . ...
... La gratitud, en definitiva, es un constructo de relevancia clínica para las ciencias de la salud en el abordaje del sufrimiento. Se asocia a mayores niveles de bienestar subjetivo y físico (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35) , implica procesos de pensamiento que resaltan los aspectos bondadosos del mundo, mundo social y de la vida en general (31,36) y facilita el desarrollo de vínculos positivos (27) y el crecimiento postraumático. ...
El sufrimiento aparece de manera natural y espontánea cuando no tenemos recursos para hacer frente a una situación que se convierte en una amenaza. Acompañar el sufrimiento no es tarea fácil y requiere destrezas, habilidades y conocimientos, así como desarrollo personal. Identificar y abordar el sufrimiento es una de las principales funciones de la práctica clínica. Poder identificar cómo esta experiencia afecta a los profesionales sanitarios, así como generar estrategias para hacerle frente podría protegernos y facilitar el ejercicio de la ayuda. Este artículo tiene como objetivo principal realizar una revisión teórica, acompañada de claves prácticas, para presentar cinco cuestiones previas que configuran un conocimiento esencial para el acompañamiento. Se pretende estimular la reflexión y el aprendizaje de habilidades que nos permitan desarrollar nuestras acciones desde la consciencia y en coherencia con nuestros valores y objetivos.
... Additional resources could include character strengths, which have been repeatedly shown to sustain notable relationships with various positive outcomes, such as life and job satisfaction, mental health, and performance (for an overview, see Harzer 2016;Niemiec 2013). Although gelotophobes typically reported lower endorsement of most character strengths, gelotophobia was shown to be positively related to humility and prudence Proyer et al. 2014)-strengths that protect individuals from arrogance and recklessness (Peterson 2006). It can be assumed that the endorsement of these strengths may enable gelotophobes to partially overcome their vulnerability-for example, by avoiding potentially awkward social interactions or by carefully choosing their careers. ...
... It can be assumed that the endorsement of these strengths may enable gelotophobes to partially overcome their vulnerability-for example, by avoiding potentially awkward social interactions or by carefully choosing their careers. Notably, it might be the gelotophobes who turn their weaknesses into their strengthsself-deprecation into humility and prudishness into prudencethat eventually lead satisfactory, successful lives (see Peterson 2006;Proyer et al. 2014). On the other hand, additional stressors could include exposure to the growing uncertainty associated with the shift from industrial to post-industrial societies (Spini et al. 2013). ...
Recent theoretical advances have grounded gelotophobia (Greek: gelos = laughter, phobos = fear) in a dynamic framework of causes, moderating factors, and consequences of the fear of being laughed at. This understanding corresponds to that of vulnerability and translates gelotophobia into a distinguishable pattern of lacking resources (i.e., misinterpretation of joy and laughter) that can result in negative consequences (e.g., reduced well-being and performance) if individuals have no access to further resources (e.g., social support) or are exposed to severe stressors (e.g., workplace bullying). Based on the panel data provided by the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES (N = 2469 across six measurement intervals), this study takes the first step toward empirically testing this model’s assumptions: First, we computed exemplary zero-order correlations and showed that gelotophobia was negatively connected with social support (resource) and life and job satisfaction (consequences) and positively connected with perceived stress, work stress, and workplace bullying (stressors). Second, we used longitudinal cluster analyses (KmL; k-means-longitudinal) and showed that the panel data can be clustered into three stable patterns of life and job satisfaction and that gelotophobia is primarily related to the two clusters marked by lower levels of satisfaction. Third, we computed partial correlations and showed that social support, perceived stress, and work stress (but not workplace bullying) can weaken or completely resolve gelotophobia’s relationships with such diverging trajectories of life and job satisfaction. We concluded that seeing gelotophobia through the lens of vulnerability is useful and that such research warrants further attention using more dedicated, theoretically grounded projects.
... En esta fortaleza, no se observan diferencias entre etapa inicial e intermedia, pero aumenta significativamente en el grupo que está finalizando su tratamiento. Esta fortaleza implica la regulación o control de emociones y conductas, y una mayor adaptación a las situaciones cotidianas (Peterson, 2006). Resulta lógico que pacientes que han transcurrido buena parte de su tratamiento y se encuentran próximos a ser dados de alta, tengan una mayor autorregulación emocional que los que están con una mayor sintomatología. ...
... Esta fortaleza se halló vinculada a variables relacionadas al proceso terapéutico: adherencia a horarios, sugerencias y vínculo. La apertura mental o pensamiento crítico caracteriza a una persona que tiene la voluntad de buscar activamente evidencias en contra de sus creencias, planes o metas preferidas y, al hallarlas, evaluarlas de un modo justo, siendo capaz de cambiar su punto de vista, como consecuencia de esa evaluación (Peterson, 2006). El replanteo de las propias creencias y la consideración de perspectivas alternativas son parte esencial del trabajo terapéutico en las terapias cognitivoconductuales a través de la reestructuración cognitiva (Hofmann, Asmundsony Beck, 2013), por ello es comprensible que un terapeuta relacione más esta fortaleza con la adherencia y vínculo con el paciente. ...
La investigación que se informa tuvo como objetivos: 1) estudiar las 24 fortalezas de carácter en pacientes adultos que se encuentran en diferentes etapas de un tratamiento cognitivo conductual psicoterapéutico naturalista; y 2) analizar la relación de las fortalezas con algunas del progreso durante el tratamiento, la alianza terapéutica y la adherencia al tratamiento desde la perspectiva del terapeuta. Se contó con una muestra intencional de 85 pacientes adultos de ambos sexos en tratamiento psicoterapéutico ambulatorio y sus respectivos terapeutas. Se utilizaron: una hoja de datos demográficos y del tratamiento, el Inventario de Fortalezas y Virtudes y una encuesta de opinión para el terapeuta. Los resultados mostraron que los pacientes en la etapa final presentan una mayor fortaleza de Autorregulación. Los pacientes con depresión presentaban menores fortalezas de apertura mental y capacidad de perdonar, en comparación con pacientes con trastornos de ansiedad y con trastornos comórbidos ansioso-depresivos. Aquellos pacientes que habían tenido un tratamiento psiquiátrico previo presentaban menores niveles de la fortaleza persistencia. Un mayor tiempo de tratamiento se asoció con mayores niveles de las fortalezas Liderazgo y curiosidad, en tanto que un mayor malestar psicológico se vinculó con una disminución de una alta cantidad de fortalezas. La fortaleza espiritualidad se halló significativamente asociada al progreso en el tratamiento según su terapeuta. Una mayor apertura mental se halló vinculada a mayor adherencia a horarios, sugerencias y mejor vínculo terapéutico según la opinión del terapeuta. El estudio del funcionamiento positivo en pacientes permitirá enriquecer la psicología clínica para convertirse en una disciplina más integradora.
... Tabla 4. Autores, conceptos y medidas básicas del eudaimonismo (Vázquez et al., 2009 PWBS: Psychological Well-being Scale (Ryff, 1989) VIA: Inventory of Strengths (Peterson y Seligman, 2003) Dentro de la tradición eudaimónica, los diferentes modelos teóricos se pueden enmarcar en dos grandes corrientes. Por un lado, se encuentran las teorías encargas de conocer cómo se logra la felicidad, como el modelo de felicidad auténtica y la teoría de la autodeterminación. ...
... El "Values in Action Inventory of Strengths" (VIA-IS) fue desarrollado por Peterson y Seligman (2003) para evaluar, dentro del marco de la psicología positiva, las virtudes y fortalezas que es necesario cultivar para alcanzar el funcionamiento psicológico óptimo. ...
Despite the fact that interdisciplinary research on welfare has grown a lot in recent decades,
there is still a lack of agreement on its definition (happiness, health, well-being, quality of life,
etc.), its characterization (physical, social, labor, emotional, etc.), its operationalization
(affections, satisfaction with life, self-acceptance, autonomy, etc.), as well as on the theoretical perspective most suitable for its analysis (universal, situational, personalist, etc.). In this situation, it is not surprising the great variety of instruments currently available to measure psychological well-being, to the point that the selection of the most appropriate one represents a real challenge for any researcher.
With the aim to create a useful selection guide to solve above situation, in this work we have
conducted a systematic literature research in different scientific data sources (Medline,
Pubmed, Embase, LatinIndex, Dialnet and Google Schoolar) for studies published between
2013 and 2018, with additional hand-searching, to identified empirical studies that investigated
well-being using a measurement scale. As a result, we have identified 56 unique self-report
questionnaires for use with early and middle adult population, 41 of which evaluate hedonic
well-being and 15 eudaimonic one. Within the first, 14 measure the affective component of
hedonic well-being, 12 the cognitive component and 15 both components simultaneously
(hedonic and eudaimonic). Measurement scales are either unidimensional or multidimensional (up to 12 different domains). The scales included between 1 and 160 items.
... Araştırmalar olumlu duyguyu deneyimlemenin psikolojik ve fiziksel sağlığı iyileştirebileceğini hatta ömrü uzatabileceğini göstermektedir (Doyle, Gentile ve Cohen, 2006;Fredrickson, 2000;Waugh ve Fredrickson, 2006). Karakter güçleri ise gelişimi sağlayan pozitif kişisel özelliklerdir (Niemiec, 2013;Peterson, 2006). Karakter güçlerinin; öznel iyi oluş, kendini kabul, yaşama saygı, yeterlilik/etkililik, ruhsal ve fiziksel sağlık, başarı, destekleyici sosyal ilişkiler, diğerlerinden saygı görme ve diğerlerine saygı gösterme, doyurucu iş yaşamı, maddi yeterlilik, sağlıklı toplum ve aileler gibi olumlu çıktılar doğurduğu ifade edilebilir (Kabakçı, 2016). ...
Ebeveynlik, pek çok yetişkin tarafından deneyimlenen, icra ediliş şekli araştırmalara konu olan bir roldür. Alanyazında ebeveynliğin etkinliğinin çocuğun olumlu psikolojik uyumu için önemli bir ölçüt olduğu genel olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bu sebeple hangi ebeveynlik tutumlarının çocuğun psikolojik uyumuna katkı sağlayacağı hangisinin çocuk için uyum bozucu olacağı sıkça tartışılmıştır. Ancak bu zamana kadar yapılan araştırmalardaki odağın olumsuz ebeveynlik yaklaşımlarında olduğu görülmektedir. İhmalkâr ya da ilgisiz,
aşırı koruyucu, otoriter tutumlar olumsuz ebeveynlik yaklaşımları olarak açıklanmaktadır. Bu durum, olumlu ebeveynliğin tarifi açısından dar bir çerçeve sunmaktadır. Pozitif psikoloji hareketi ile birlikte pozitif kavramlara olan ilgi artmış fakat pozitif psikoloji yaklaşımı içinde ebeveynlik araştırmaları oldukça etkisiz kalmıştır. Oysaki pozitif psikoloji ebeveynliğinin, geniş kapsamlı etkilerinin olabileceği ve yeterince tanımlanması gereken önemli bir kavram olduğu düşünülmektedir. Pozitif psikoloji ebeveynliği, çocukta
olumlu duyguların oluşmasını sağlayan ve çocuğun karakter güçlerini ortaya çıkarıcı bir nitelik taşımaktadır. Bu ebeveynlik modeli, hem diğer ebeveynlik tutumlarından hem de alanyazında olumlu disiplin olarak tarif edilen pozitif ebeveynlik tanımlarından farklılaşmaktadır. Alanyazında çoğunlukla zor çocukların eğitimi için destekleyici olabilecek olumlu disiplin ile tarif edilen pozitif ebeveynliği dayalı müdahale programlarının olduğu görülmektedir. Geliştirici özelliği olan pozitif psikoloji ebeveynliğe dair çalışmaların sınırlı sayıda kaldığı söylenebilir. Bu bağlamda bu çalışma ile ebeveynliği pozitif psikoloji açısından incelemek, ebeveynlik programları ve ebeveynlik becerilerini ölçen araçlar için temel oluşturabilecek pozitif psikoloji ebeveynliğe dair kavramsal bir çerçeve sunmak hedeflenmiştir. Çalışmada ebeveynlik yaklaşımları ve pozitif psikoloji hareketi, pozitif psikolojide ebeveynlik hakkında kuramsal bilgi sunulmuştur. Olumlu duyguları arttırmaya dayalı ve karakter güçlerini ortaya çıkaran pozitif psikoloji ebeveynliğinin çocuklarda olumsuz gelişimsel sonuçlara karşı koruyucu nitelik göstermesi muhtemeldir. Türkiye’de yürütülen ebeveynlik programlarına pozitif psikoloji ebeveynliğinin uygulamaları dâhil edilerek aile, toplum ve birey refahına katkı sağlanabilir. Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik uygulamalarındaki anne-baba eğitimlerinin içeriği Pozitif Psikoloji ebeveynliği yaklaşımlarına dayanarak yapılandırılabilir. Buna ilave olarak Türkiye
kültürüne ve pozitif psikoloji yaklaşımına uygun bir ebeveynlik ölçeği geliştirme çalışması yapılabilir.
... Ng & Tay, 2020). For example, clinical psychologists have begun to reframe mental illness in terms of mental health, where humility, for instance, represents the virtuous conceptual golden mean of optimal human functioning between the deficiencies of arrogance and selfdeprecation (Peterson, 2006;Seligman, 2014). These extremes can be seen as maladaptive behavioral strategies to protect a threatened sense of self. ...
Research on humility has burgeoned. However, behavioral assessments of humility that do not rely on self-reports have developed much more slowly. The purpose of this paper is to take stock of existing approaches to conceptualize and measure humility. Specifically, we provide a conceptual overview of humility, including the limitations of current methodological approaches to studying humility and the need for behavioral assessments. In addition, we argue that behavioral assessments of humility may inform broader measures of virtues by considering both the relevance of and the degree to which actual behaviors pertaining to that virtue are expressed. Understanding the current conceptual and methodological limitations of approaches to humility will better situate research efforts aimed at catalyzing behavioral measures of humility.
... Finally, in the field of personality psychology, where Peterson (2006) defined character strengths as individual dimensional traits that are displayed through thoughts, feelings, and/or actions, curiosity is classified as a trait of the cognitive strength of wisdom and knowledge. At the same time, courage is understood by Peterson as the corresponding emotional strength that implies the will to accomplish goals through persistence -"taking pleasure in completing tasks"and authenticity -"taking responsibility for one's feelings and actions" (p. ...
This manuscript explores the psychometric properties of a scale measuring self-curiosity, a facet of general curiosity, consisting of the attitude and interest people have in understanding themselves better. In this study, we provide data on the comparison between the Self-Curiosity Attitude-Interest Scale in an Italian and a Mexican sample, paired for gender, age, and education. The scale reliability was satisfactory , and the two-factor structure of the scale showed a good fit in the Mexican sample. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis showed configural, metric, partial scalar, and strict invariance between samples. Overall, results indicated that the concept of self-curiosity is meaningfully measured by the SCAI items. In line with previous studies, construct validity of the scale highlighted the expected correlations with measures of trait openness, awareness, and general curiosity. In conclusion, the results show that the two-factor model of the Self-Curiosity Attitude-Interest Scale is similarly adequate in both countries.
... Éstas se definen como características psicológicas que se presentan en distintas situaciones y a lo largo del tiempo y a las que se les otorga un valor moral (Peterson y Park, 2009). Son los ingredientes psicológicos de las virtudes y menos abstractas que éstas (Noftle et al., 2011;Peterson, 2006a), ya que se manifiestan en los pensamientos, emociones y conductas de la persona (Niemiec, 2010) El objetivo del presente trabajo es establecer el estado de la cuestión con respecto a la conexión entre las fortalezas y el bienestar, la felicidad, la satisfacción vital, la resiliencia y la salud mental. Para ello se ofrece una revisión teórica de estudios basados en el modelo VIA que analicen la relación con estas variables en diferentes poblaciones procedentes de diversos países. ...
Este trabajo presenta una revisión sistemática sobre las fortalezas psicológicas propuestas por el modelo Values in Action (VIA) y su relación con el bienestar, la satisfacción vital, la felicidad, la resiliencia y la salud en diferentes poblaciones. Los resultados de la revisión de 47 estudios permiten concluir que las fortalezas psicológicas están relacionadas positivamente con la satisfacción vital, el bienestar, la felicidad, la resiliencia y la salud, y en menor medida con indicadores de afecto negativo. Estos resultados son similares en distintos contextos y en diversos grupos de edad. Se discuten los hallazgos de los diversos estudios y se proponen implicaciones y perspectivas futuras del estudio y del desarrollo de las fortalezas psicológicas en los individuos, en los grupos y en la sociedad en general.
... These are in a nutshell trust, responsibility, selfawareness, adaptability, and sense of purpose. It is rooted on the strength-based approach explored by Chris Peterson [26], and primarily is based on Martin E.P. Seligman's [27] work on happiness and psychological well-being. He has formulated to be happy via PERMA which has scientifically measurable and teachable five components. ...
The content of thought, which emerges from the processing of information from the social context lived, is a critical factor that guides whether the behavior is psychopathological or not. In cases where worry, anxiety and fear are dominant in the content of thought, the individual may find himself in some psychopathological processes. Adversity and uncertainty are the main factors that lead to the experience of worry, anxiety and fear which is the last point of these. Uncertainty of information from the social context lived, when matched with adversity, may lead to chaotic situations at the cognitive level, e.g., thought contents such as distortions in thought, severe anxiety and fear. Obsessive compulsive disorder derives from severe worry and anxiety. Although the disorder is classified under anxiety disorders, it is actually a thought distortion disorder. The individual finds himself repeating the strange behavior patterns accompanied by strange thought contents in order to get rid of the severe anxiety and accelerated thought cycle he is exposed to. Ambiguity and uncertainty also may lead to the accelerated thought cycle, ruminations, severe thought distortions, over-generalizations. Ruminations, especially, impair the individual’s ability to think and process emotions gradually. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder will be discussed in terms of ambiguity and uncertainty with the combination of adversity. Positive Psychotherapy, which is one of the latest effective technique in recovery processes of the diseases, will be mentioned.
... In order to assess the extent to which the films aligned with respondents' values, we asked respondents to select up to three values from a list of 16 that they saw represented in the presented film. The list of values was adapted from the value inventory by Schwartz and Boehnke (2004;e.g., "Achievement and personal success", "Independence and creativity", and "Obedience and respect for authority"), and the "values in action" inventory (Peterson, 2006; e.g., "Forgiveness and mercy" and "Love and intimacy"), with a few additional values added to reflect prominent film themes (e.g., "Equality and justice", "Courage and bravery", and "Appreciation and gratitude"). After selecting up to three values, participants then rated the personal importance of each value, relative to all the values they hold, from 0 (not important at all) to 10 (the most important value they hold). ...
The present study examines the self-reported impact of viewing more versus less eudaimonic Hollywood films using a retrospective study design. We investigate the role of three novel constructs in understanding people’s lived experience of eudaimonic narratives. These include two outcomes: acceptance of the human condition, or the perception that a film helped the viewer accept that inevitable challenges in life contribute to a meaningful existence, and viewers’ self-report of the film’s impact on their ability to make sense of life’s difficulties. The third is a mediator: emotional range, or the breadth of emotions experienced during media exposure. Findings indicate that more eudaimonic films can increase viewers’ ability to make sense of difficulties, their acceptance of the human condition, and their motivation to pursue moral goals, relative to less eudaimonic films, thereby extending the Mediated Wisdom of Experience perspective. These effects are mediated by feelings of elevation, and in some cases by poignancy and emotional range. Additionally, value congruence between participants and the film viewed increases perceptions that the film helped them make sense of difficulties, their acceptance of the human condition, and their motivation to pursue moral goals, irrespective of whether the film was a more or less eudaimonic one.
... During the pretest, participants ranked a list of 13 values in order of personal importance (1 = most important, 13 = least important). These values were adapted from the value inventory by Schwartz and Boehnke (2004), with a few additional items added from the "values in action" inventory (Peterson, 2006). The values included, "Social status and prestige", "Achievement and personal success", "Pleasure and enjoyment of life", "Excitement and challenge in life", "Independence and creativity", "Equality and justice", "Generosity and helpfulness", "Respect for tradition & religion", "Consideration of others and politeness", "Safety and security", "Appreciation and gratitude", "Forgiveness and Mercy", and "Love and Intimacy". ...
Recent work on self-affirmation, or buffering against self-threats by affirming a separate domain of the self, has investigated the use of manipulations via narrative messages to increase self-appraisal (i.e., positive thoughts toward the self) and reduce message derogation. This study furthers this initial work by investigating the dual roles of identification with a character and value congruency in facilitating greater self-integrity (i.e., feelings of moral and adaptive adequacy) and openness to counter-attitudinal information. An experiment (N = 286) exposed participants to separate narrative messages to test whether identification with the main character, and strongly holding the value affirmed for the character, influence global self-integrity for audience members. Results demonstrate that such a vicarious self-affirmation experience does lead to greater self-integrity, and that this effect is strongest at high levels of identification with the main character. However, when identification is low, whether or not the value affirmed is one strongly held by the audience member determines whether self-integrity is bolstered. Finally, we show that increased self-integrity through such a vicarious experience leads to greater openness toward a subsequently presented abortion article that was attitudinally incongruent.
... Desde este marco comprehensivo el estatuto epistemológico de la psicoterapia se inscribiría fundamentalmente en una dimensión ética y pedagógica. Ella es concebida, no como parte de la medicina, sino más bien, como una poiesis orientada a la de formación moral del paciente (McCullough, Kilpatrick, Emmons, y Larson 2001;Davidson 2005;Seligman, Steen, Park and Peterson 2005;Peterson and Seligman 2004;Dahlsgaard, Peterson and Seligman 2005;Peterson 2006). Un antecedente importante de estos planteos los hallamos en la obra del psiquiatra vienes Rudolf Allers (1963, 15-16) desarrollada en la primera mitad del siglo XX, quien formula una psicología antropológica en oposición al modelo médico. ...
ResumenEn los últimos años ha crecido el número de estudios abocados a analizar en los escritos de Evagrio Póntico el potencial psicoterapéutico de su doctrina. Ahora bien, cabe preguntarse si dichas investigaciones no representan una extensión epistemológicamente ilegitima de prácticas que originalmente fueron pensadas con una intencionalidad primariamente ético-religiosa. En este trabajo mostraremos que nuestro autor no sólo reconoce en el alma enferma una etiología eminentemente teológica, sino que se preocupa por formular prácticas psicoterapéuticas que atienden a dinámicas propiamente psíquicas. En su doctrina de los ocho logismoi propone una serie de prácticas en orden a curar los procesos de desequilibrio pasional y de distorsión cognitiva a los que dicho estado de enfermedad espiritual da lugar. A nuestro entender la particular comprensión que tiene el monje del Ponto respecto de la psicoterapia que practica representa verdaderas y auténticas proyecciones para la compleja discusión, de nuestros días, acerca del estatuto epistemológico de la psicoterapia.Palabras clave: Psicoterapia; Espiritualidad; Evagrio Póntico; Psicología Positiva; Problema religioso o espiritual.AbstractIn recent years, the number of studies devoted to analyzing in Evagrio Póntico's writings the psychotherapeutic potential of his doctrine has increased. Now, it is worth asking whether these investigations do not represent an epistemologically illegitimate extension of practices that were originally thought with a primarily ethical-religious intentionality. In this work we will show that our author not only recognizes in the diseased soul an eminently theological etiology but also worries about formulating psychotherapeutic practices that attend to properly psychic dynamics. In his doctrine of the eight logismoi proposes a series of practices in order to cure the processes of passional imbalance and cognitive distortion to which this state of spiritual illness gives rise. In our opinion, the particular understanding that the monk of Pontus has regarding the psychotherapy he practices represents real and authentic projections for the complex discussion, of our days, about the epistemological status of psychotherapy.Keywords: Psychotherapy; Spirituality; Evagrio Ponticus; Positive Psychology; Religious or spiritual problem.Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3580-9478çOrcid: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2388-7172 Doi: https://doi.org/10.17398/2340-4256.15.405
... One of the ways to develop strengths comes from the concept of overuse, underuse and optimal use of character strengths. This notion was first introduced by Peterson, who attempted to provide some thoughts for a complementary DSM by proposing a classification of psychological disorders using the language of strengths with dimensions, which he named strength exaggeration, absence, and opposite (Peterson 2006;Seligman 2015). Rashid and Seligman (2018) also attempted to reframe psychological disorders, referring to them as a symptom of strengths, such as lack and excess of strengths. ...
Hikikomori, or social withdrawal youth has become one of the most pressing social issues in Japan and this phenomenon is increasing in other countries as well. While there is a movement to pathologize this phenomenon as a new psychological disorder, these case reports provide a fresh perspective of hikikomori using the lens of character strengths in the scientific field of positive psychology. These case reports illustrate how the hikikomori phenomenon can be understood, at least in part, using the framework of character strengths overuse, underuse, and optimal use by conducting the character strengths intervention for hikikomori youth. The authors offer examples of combinations of overuse and underuse of character strengths, with particular attention to the unique signature strengths, among hikikomori youth. Future directions of research include an empirical investigation of the relationship between the hikikomori phenomenon and the notion of overuse, underuse, and optimal use of character strengths, potentially using research methodology.
... A positive psychology perspective was adopted for this study. Peterson (2006) stated that psychologists interested in promoting human potential need to pose different questions from their predecessors who assumed the medical model. As Seligman (2007) phrased the goal of positive psychology, it was not simply to move people from -3 to zero or the relieving of negative states, but also from +2 to +5 as the presence of positive human health. ...
The aim of this study was to explore the psychosocial well-being of a group of South African adolescents. Participants (N=665, ages 15–17 years; males = 214, females = 451) from three high schools completed questionnaires on psychosocial well-being. Structured interviews were also conducted with 24 participants selected from various levels of functioning as established quantitatively. Quantitative findings indicate that 60% of the adolescents had lower psychological well-being as measured on the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (Keyes, 2005). Adolescents experienced psychological well-being as characterised by purposeful living and meaning; positive relationships; being a role-model; self-regard; constructive coping; positive emotions and gratitude. Lower mental health was experienced as characterized by meaninglessness, impaired relationships, identification with dysfunctional outsiders, self-incompetence, dysfunctional behaviours, negative emotions and helplessness. The youth distinguished between experiences of well-being and the absence thereof. Interventions are indicated to enhance psycho-social well-being in the adolescents.
... The breadth and depth of the VIA instrument captures data on a wide-ranging set of character strengths. Peterson [11] offered reflections on the approach and situated it within the field of positive psychology. ...
... The Jubilee Centre Framework defines the virtue of service as the disposition that motivates impactful action for others' benefit, which could include volunteering, campaigning, and fundraising [23], [68]. Service is one way to practice kindness and citizenship [69], [70], and it can help participants build empathy [71] and engage with surrounding communities [72], [73]. Service in the context of education is often called service-learning [74] and can include afterschool programs, community engagement, [75] and community service [60]. ...
... Recent CS research points to the existence of, and therefore the sensitivity of CS to, positive and negative outcomes (e.g., psychopathology, lower well-being; Freidlin et al., 2017;Littman-Ovadia and Freidlin, 2018). CS were proposed to have dark sides (Peterson, 2006) with a practical approach suggesting that CS lie on a continuum, ranging from underusing, through optimally using and finally overusing one's strengths (Niemiec, 2014). Recent evidence supports this notion through a novel experimental method that assesses CS over and underuse (OUOU;Freidlin et al., 2017;Littman-Ovadia and Freidlin, 2018). ...
Character strengths (CSs) are positive traits that have been shown to efficiently and effectively promote a host of positive outcomes, outside and inside the workplace. Despite their theoretical moral basis, they have not been systematically and wholly explored as antecedents of, and correspondingly unused as, mechanisms to increase prosocial behavior (PB) at work. Prosocial behavior at the workplace is desirable, with research pointing to a host of organizational benefits. The utilization of CSs toward PB at work seems like a missed opportunity, given that CSs have been demonstrated as robust positive mechanisms and given that they are characterized by qualities that are accommodating of the complexity of PB: distinct, value-laden, manifest behaviorally, cognitively and emotionally, are plural and sensitive to individual differences and are capable of balancing positive and negative outcomes. The current article will encourage further understanding, examination and implementation of CSs at the workplace, specifically for prosocial purposes, by exploring their conceptual fit and by reviewing initial empirical evidence.
... "Virtues" hereon refer to character or moral virtues, the distinctly human (i.e., individual-level) attributes or characteristics valued by philosophical and religious thinkers (Peterson, 2006) that allow us to live well together as inherently social creatures with the capacity for rationality (Robertson, 2017) and thus engender personal and societal well-being (McCullough & Snyder, 2000;Newstead et al., 2018). The former concept encompasses the latter in that a "virtue" describes the form of the concept generally, whereas (character or moral) "virtues" refer to a particular kind of virtue in human socio-moral functioning. ...
A seemingly universal lesson is that anything taken to its extreme is detrimental. Indeed, there has been growing interest in testing this idea within psychology. These studies have often been framed in terms of Aristotle's doctrine of the golden mean or the idea that virtue lies between the vices of deficiency and excess. Recent explicit reviews of this hypothesis in the psychological literature has led to the paradoxical conclusion that one can have too much virtue (i.e., the too-much-of-a-good-thing effect), despite virtue being identified by the golden mean. We argue in this paper that this conclusion is due to a reductionist account of virtues in psychology and the resultant measurement of virtues as general dispositional tendencies in behavior. We review philosophical theory on the golden mean to show that the relationship between virtue and relevant behavior is fundamentally about situation-specific optimality. Using schematic models, we contrast the former measurement approach against the latter to explain the too-much-of-a-good-thing effect and further demonstrate why virtues cannot be properly measured as general tendencies in behavior. We conclude with methodological implications of our theory-informed approach to virtue measurement for research design, evaluation, and conceptualization.
The Australian ABC television series Making Australia Happy followed eight individuals as they completed an intensive eight-week positive psychology coaching programme using scientifically-validated positive psychology interventions. The show generated the largest ever web-based response to an ABC programme with over 1,000,000 hits on the ABC website (initially crashing the ABC servers) and over 45,000 registered individuals taking online assessments and doing positive psychology exercises. Over the eight weeks participants’ levels of stress, anxiety and depression reduced remarkably, levels of subjective wellbeing and psychological well-being increased and there were significant improvements in a range of biochemical markers including blood pressure, cortisol and melatonin. Participants’ mean performance on a cold presser task (a measure of physical resilience) increased from 57 seconds to 131 seconds post-programme. In addition, pre-post Magnetoencephalography (MEG) brain scans showed significant positive changes in brain functioning. A 24-week follow-up indicated that the gains in positive psychological functioning were maintained. This reflective article, written by the psychologist presenter of the show outlines these findings and discusses some of the challenges for psychologists working at the intersection of science and commercialism, particularly in areas such as positive psychology.
Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) has been a significant presence in the business training and personal development fields since at least the early 1980s. NLP as a change methodology has attracted significant controversy over the years with claims and counter claims as to its effectiveness and validity. Although there is little to no empirical support for the central tenants of NLP, many coaches, psychologists and reputable agents of change who are otherwise committed to an evidence-based approach to their practice, utilise and engage with NLP methodologies. Not surprisingly, such practitioners often experience dissonance, tension and confusion about NLP. In this paper I reflect on the tension between my personal experience of NLP and my own commitment to an evidence-based approach to coaching. My assumption here is that the tension and ambivalence that I have personally experienced in relation to NLP is not singularly mine and that others have experienced similar feelings. I conclude that, coupled with the lack of empirical evidence for many core NLP constructs, the multiple misrepresentations made by many in the NLP industry over a significant period of time have effectively ruined the NLP brand. The demise of NLP is a salutary lesson for all who are engaged in the personal or professional development genre. This serves to remind us to ensure that our coaching methodologies and the broader coaching industry remain firmly grounded in evidence-based approaches, that we adhere to professional ethical standards and through practicing critical thinking and open-mindedness we remain forever vigilant against the onset of ‘guruism’.
Háttér és célkitűzések: A pszichológia területén belül a kutatók számos jóllétmérő eszközt alkalmaznak, de nem mindig világos, hogy ezek mit mérnek, vagy mely eszközök tudnak a legjobban megfelelni a céljaiknak. Az áttekintés egyik célja az eddig létrejött jóllét és mentális egészség modellek és mérőeszközeik szisztematikus azonosítása. További célja a jóllét dimenziók sokféleségének feltárása, és annak leírása, hogy az eszközök kialakítása hogyan módosult az idők során.
Az áttekintés módszertana: Szisztematikus keresést, tematikus elemzést és narratív szintézist végeztünk. Adatbázis: Web of Science, Educational Research Information Center [ERIC], ScienceDirect, ProQuest, EBSCO, Medline, Google Scholar. Bevonási kritériumok: 1) pozitív pszichológiai jóllét és mentális egészség elméletek és modellek; 2) ezen modellekhez tartozó pozitív pszichológiai jóllét és mentális egészség mérőeszközök, melyek felnőttekre (≥18 év) szabottak, általánosan alkalmazhatók és elérhetők angol változatban.
Eredmények: Az áttekintés egy szisztematikus eszköztárat biztosít az eddig létrejött jóllét és mentális egészség modellekről és mérési eljárásaikról, mely segítségére lehet a pszichológus kutatóknak a tartalmilag megfelelő kérdőív megválasztásában.
Következtetések: Összegezzük, hogy az azonosított modellek miként illeszkednek a lelki jóllét és a mentális egészség keretrendszerébe. Az eszközök közötti szembetűnő változékonyság és inkonzisztencia problémák alátámasztják annak szükségességét, hogy fokozott figyelmet fordítsunk arra, hogy milyen konstruktumokat validálnak az életminőség ernyőfogalma alatt. Tanulmány annak a fontossága mellett érvel, hogy a mentális egészség mérésénél meg kell haladni azokat az operacionalizálásokat, amelyek a mentális egészséget a jóllét megfigyelhető jellemzőivel vagy a mentális zavarok tükörellentéteként felsorolt jellemzőkkel definiálják.
Positive psychology interventions are an effective means for cultivating flourishing, addressing low levels of wellbeing, and preventing languishing. Peer-led interventions can be a particularly advantageous delivery method of positive psychology interventions, as participants tend to respond more favourably to people that they can identify with personally. Such interventions have been applied in a variety of settings and populations, but the literature on peer-led positive psychology interventions has not yet been summarised. This paper provides a narrative overview of peer-led positive psychology interventions. We reviewed relevant peer-led interventions, assessed the available evidence on their effectiveness, and highlighted promising opportunities for peer-led positive psychology interventions. We found that the majority of the studies were observational in design but showed a high level of acceptability for participants across the reviewed domains. In particular, schools, workplaces, the aged care sector, and community settings are noted as promising target domains for these interventions. However, more studies—particularly high-quality research—will be needed to comprehensively test the effectiveness of peer-led positive psychology interventions. We discuss opportunities for future research in this field.
While the contribution of research conducted within positive psychology is acknowledged, this sub-discipline of psychology is criticised for its “limited utility” in the South African context. The researcher’s continuous involvement and knowledge from practice and practical field experiences obtained from more than 10 years of connecting with community members living in a high-risk context opened doors for meaningful and engaged research. This chapter describes experiences and implementation outcomes based on positive psychology in a high-risk community in the South African context. Drawing on various well-being research studies conducted within the selected high-risk community, research findings are described to illustrate the outcomes of the implementation of a sustainable well-being programme, its progress over time, and lessons learned in the process. The well-being of children, families, and schools in a Western Cape high-risk community is seriously challenged as they are continuously exposed to a “hostile environment”. While the negative effects of poverty and many social ills are confirmed by research, the need for contextually appropriate positive psychology interventions to mitigate the psychological consequences of economic deprivation is clear. Engaging with vulnerable groups is important to enable the generation of well-being interventions at the community level in the South African context.
Harmony is recognized as fundamental to being and functioning well in philosophical traditions and empirical research globally and in Africa. The aim of this study was to explore and describe harmony as a quality of happiness in South Africa (N = 585) and Ghana (N = 420). Using a qualitative descriptive research design, participants’ responses to an open-ended question from the Eudaimonic-Hedonic Happiness Investigation (EHHI, Delle Fave et al., Soc Indic Res 100:185–207, 2011) on what happiness meant to them were coded according to the formalized EHHI coding manual. Responses that were assigned any of the following codes were considered: codes from the “harmony/balance” category in the “psychological definitions” life domain; and codes from any other life domain containing the words “harmony”, “balance”, or “peace”. This resulted in 222 verbatim responses from South Africa and 80 from Ghana that were analyzed using content analysis to get a sense of the experiential texture of harmony as a quality of happiness. Findings showed that happiness was often expressed as harmony and balance within and between intrapersonal, interpersonal, transcendental, and universal levels of functioning, with wholeness, interconnectedness, and synergy implied. These findings, resonating with philosophical reflections on harmony from Africa and elsewhere, suggest that harmony as a quality of happiness is essentially holistic and contextually embedded and that context-sensitive interdisciplinary approaches to theory building and intervention development pertaining to harmony are needed locally and globally.
Positive mental health, and the validity of its assessment instruments, are largely unexplored in the Ghanaian context. This study examined the factor structure of the Twi version of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form and explored the prevalence of positive mental health in a sample of rural Ghanaian adults (N = 444). A bifactor exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) model fit the data better than competing models (confirmatory factor analysis [CFA], bifactor CFA, and ESEM models). We found a high omega reliability coefficient for the general positive mental health factor (ω = .97) and marginal reliability scores for the emotional (ω = .51) and social well-being (ω = .57) subscales, but a low reliability score for the psychological well-being subscale (ω = .41). Findings support the existence of a general mental health factor, and confirm the underlying three-dimensional structure of mental health, but suggest that caution should be applied when interpreting subscale scores, especially for the psychological well-being subscale. Based on Keyes’s criteria for the categorical diagnosis of the presence of positive mental health, 25.5% of the sample were flourishing, with 74.5% functioning at suboptimal levels (31.1% languishing, 41.4% with moderate mental health) and may benefit from contextually relevant positive psychological interventions, which may also buffer against psychopathology.
Hospitality is recognised as a salient value across most cultures, including in Africa. Yet, empirical research is narrowly focused on the hospitality industry. Psychological studies on hospitality are lacking. Therefore, the present research, consisting of three studies, explored hospitality within the theoretical framework of character strengths and wellbeing. Study 1 examined the perception of hospitality among several ethnic groups in Kenya and identified dimensions that define hospitality: spending time with guests, enjoying their presence, having long conversations, not being disturbed when guests arrive unannounced, welcoming them in one’s residence, providing good food, making sacrifices to make them feel at home, and providing comfortable accommodation. Based on the qualitative data, in Study 2, a 9-item scale of hospitality was developed and validated. Factor analysis identified two factors: logistical and dispositional hospitality. The scale showed high internal consistency reliability and satisfied criteria of validity. Study 3 tested the association between hospitality and wellbeing using the Tangaza Hospitality Scale and the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form. Findings showed that dispositional hospitality predicts mental health: R = .428, R2 = .183, p < .01. It is hoped that hospitality will gain more currency within positive psychology, and eventually be listed as a character strength.
Psychology is concerned with human behaviour, therefore all psychologies are contextually-embedded and culturally informed. A movement towards globalising psychology would invariably diminish the localised socio-cultural situatedness of psychology, and instead seek to advance a dominant Euro-American centred psychology even in regions where such applications do not fit. The emergence of strong voices, and theoretically grounded and empirically supported positions from the global South in general and sub-Saharan Africa in particular, in studies of well-being allows for the opportunity to explore and describe an Africa(n) centred positive psychology. Acknowledging the limitations of cross-cultural psychological approaches, which have encouraged the uncritical transportation of Euro-American centred concepts and values, in this chapter we utilise assumptions from critical, cultural and African psychology to present our initial thoughts about a culturally embedded, socially relevant and responsive, and context respecting Africa(n) centred positive psychology. This challenge warrants consideration of early contributions to the study of well-being, its current data-driven positivist tendency, as well as African worldviews grounded in interdependence, collectivism, relatedness, harmony with nature, and spirituality. For an Africa(n) centred positive psychology, it is also essential to consider questions of epistemology, ways of knowing about the world and the human condition, context respecting knowledge, and theory building. Drawing on current scholarly evidence in sub-Saharan Africa, which emphasises relationality and societal values and norms shaping experiences of well-being, we propose future directions and discuss implications for empirical research and theory building within positive psychology which seeks to centre Africa and African experiences.
Child marriage has been identified as a violation of human rights and an obstacle to promoting the development goals concerning gender, health and education. All these impacts undermine the development of the girl child. Despite the potential for negative outcomes, the presence of intrinsic and extrinsic resources can buffer the adverse effects (e.g., psychological, physical and economic impact) of early marriage. This study employed a qualitative exploratory, descriptive design to explore and describe protective resources utilised by married girls in the Northern region of Ghana to cope with the challenges in their marriage and to promote positive outcomes. Using semi-structured interviews, data was collected from 21 married girls who were aged between 12 and 19 years. Findings, from a thematic analysis of data, showed that intrinsic resources that promoted positive outcomes included possession of resilience attitudes, the use of help-seeking and active coping, and in some instances avoidance coping for problems they perceived as unsolvable. Extrinsic resources included interpersonal support networks, however, participants reported limited access to community and NGO support, which were also identified as protective resources. Policy makers and clinicians should consider a social justice approach in evaluating and recommending protective resources to girls in early marriages when working to promote their well-being. In so doing, attention should be placed on making external support systems accessible to married girls.
Although moral character may be the most central and consequential facet of one’s personality, existing measures are few and suffer from shortcomings. We present the Moral Character Questionnaire (MCQ) to focus primarily on global moral character and secondarily on six moral domains – Honesty, Compassion, Fairness, Loyalty, Respect, and Purity. All subscales assess core components of personality dispositions, including behavior, motivation, cognition, and identity. Across 14 samples and >13,000 participants, MCQ subscales are generally unidimensional, have good-to-strong reliability, and are temporally stable. Based upon hypotheses regarding 21 criterion measures, analyses reveal strong convergent/discriminant validity. Finally, we found connections between the MCQ scales and core personality traits. The MCQ is an efficient and psychometrically strong measure grounded in contemporary personality theory.
This chapter explains how research findings from the newly emerged field of positive psychology contribute to contemporary coaching practice. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and Martin Seligman are the founder and father of the positive psychology movement, and their research has had a monumental influence on how positive psychology coaching is conducted today. In contrast to the goal of traditional psychological research which is to understand human thinking and behaviour in relation to clinical populations, the goal of positive psychological research is to understand how to bring greater happiness, joy, meaning, and fulfilment into the lives of non-clinical populations, which ultimately benefits society as a whole. Positive psychology has been defined as the scientific study of what makes life most worth living (Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi, American Psychologist 55(1):5–14, 2000). It focuses on the science of three essential elements: positive subjective experience, positive individual traits, and positive institutions. The field of positive psychology is intended to complement, not replace, traditional psychology. It does not seek to deny the importance of studying how things go wrong, but rather to emphasise the importance of determining how things go right.
This chapter focuses on coaching for personal development. Traditional personality psychology research identified traits and behaviours that were combined into personality types which could be profiled. Individual psychology informs how individual needs and wants drive client behaviour and interpersonal effectiveness. Positive psychology coaching utilises the client’s strengths to maximise their potential, boost self-esteem and build resilience. The coach encourages self-regulation of emotions and tensions relating to stressful or conflictual situations. Individual coaching within the workplace may also address performance-related issues which cause clients stress or anxiety, and collaboration and decision-making problems within teams. The outcome is that clients gain in self-confidence, increase their self-esteem, and live a more fulfilling, meaningful and purposive life. They develop resilience which enables them to recover from adversity, uncertainty, conflict or negative change events more quickly. A positive self-image, positive attitude and positive behaviours which reflect the client’s inner values may inspire and motivate others to engage in their own personal development.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Research on FASD has generally focused on challenges faced by this population while insight into strengths and quality of life has lagged. We introduce the “From Surviving to Thriving” model, which proposes a paradigm shift toward a strengths-based, holistic intervention approach to support thriving in people with FASD. Based on a focused intervention review, existing interventions for FASD incorporate many elements that are consistent with a strengths-based framework, such as inclusion of environmental accommodations and fortification of natural supports. However, a comprehensive strengths-based framework has yet to be fully realized, tested, or adopted in community settings. Important areas of growth remain and notable systems-level barriers need to be addressed. We propose six directions to advance interventions for FASD toward a more person-centered, strengths-based approach. These involve reduction of stigma, improved measurement of strengths and thriving, utilization of strengths-based frameworks, community knowledge translation, adaptation of existing, effective models for FASD, and increased efforts to reach underserved populations.
Numerous studies have shown an alarming prevalence of anxiety disorders among youth. Prevention of anxiety disorder in this population has become crucial. Character strengths-based group intervention (CSBGI) has been considered promising for promoting adolescents’ well-being and reducing anxiety, but its mechanism for reducing anxiety remains to be studied. This study examined the effects of CSBGI and the mediating role of self-efficacy between the intervention and anxiety symptoms. The CSBGI was optimized in content and form and culturally tailored for Chinese adolescents to reduce anxiety. Five classes of the 7th grade at an urban average middle school in Beijing (N=151, Mage=14.27, 73 females) were randomly assigned to either a CSBGI group (3 classes, N=92) or a waitlist control group (2 classes, N=59). Anxiety and self-efficacy measures were administered before, in the middle of, immediately after, and three months after the intervention. Multilevel model analysis indicated that CSBGI had a significant effect on anxiety reduction and self-efficacy improvement over time. The study also found that self-efficacy mediated the relationship between CSBGI and anxiety.
Good character is a principal area in Positive Psychology. The current thesis assesses character strengths with mixed method: quantitative though factor analysis and qualitative using content analysis. Main purpose is evaluate and analyze the character strengths factors in participants from Ecuador, Peru and Paraguay to identify whether international findings are replicated; and verify replication in each country independently. A non probabilistic intentional sample was used: 854 university students (273 Ecuadorians, 277 Peruvians and 304 Paraguayan). Participants completed Inventario de Virtudes y Fortalezas del Carácter IVyF (Cosentino & Castro Solano, 2012) and Protocolo de Cualidades Positivas (Castro Solano & Cosentino, 2013). Main results show three character strengths factors: moderation, progress and fraternity. Secondly, this three factor model is the most parsimonious and replicable despite some differences. Finally, dimensional structure has intercultural differences because each countries have specific relations. Main conclusion show three factors of character strengths and intercultural differences in dimensional structure of each country. Data has limitations: used sample could not be an average citizen of each culture and countries were considered as national culture. Future studies should research intracultural differences in character strengths, identify causes of intercultural differences in each population and analyze character strengths in others Latin-American countries.
Since the term “positive psychology coaching” was coined, in 2007, there has been increasing attention to and enthusiasm for this topic. Despite this, there is no consistent definition of positive psychology coaching nor is there sufficient clarity regarding the specifics of its practice or the standards for training. This chapter discusses these issues without attempting to provide a single, authoritative answer. Instead, we discuss the nuanced ways in which positive psychological science can and should inform coaching practice. We identify four areas that constitute the core of psychological knowledge for coaches: wellbeing, strengths, emotion, and future mindedness. We conclude with reflective questions to guide responsible and effective positive psychology coaching practice.
Dans la maladie d’Alzheimer et les maladies apparentées, l’entourage est essentiel à l’accompagnement quotidien de la personne malade. Toutefois, avec l’évolution des troubles, les proches-aidants sont amenés à s’adapter continuellement à de nouvelles situations qui les confrontent à de nombreuses difficultés sur les plans physique et psychologique. Pour y faire face, différents programmes d’accompagnement leurs sont proposés. Essentiellement basés sur des approches psycho-éducationnelles et de soutien, ces programmes ont fait état d’une efficacité prouvée mais relativement modérée. Si ces approches prennent en considération les vulnérabilités des proches-aidants, elles ne visent pas un changement de leurs attitude et comportements, et négligent les dimensions positives de la relation d’aide. De plus, de par leur format, ces dispositifs ne sont pas toujours adaptés aux contraintes personnelles des proches-aidants, ni à leur ambivalence concernant un soutien. L’objectif général de cette thèse est de mettre en évidence la faisabilité et l’efficience d’un accompagnement pour les proches-aidants centré sur le bien-être et l’acceptation - le tout proposé en ligne. Ce travail de thèse s’articule autour de quatre études. La première est une étude qualitative qui vise à explorer la perception d’un programme d’accompagnement multi-composantes à domicile pour les proches-aidants basé sur l’acceptation, la transition de rôle et la dynamique de couple. La seconde consiste à explorer les représentations et les préconisations relatives à la construction d’un accompagnement en ligne, au travers d’entretiens individuels de proches-aidants et de focus groups de professionnels de l’aide aux aidants. La troisième propose la validation d’un outil d’évaluation de l’évitement expérientiel des proches-aidants en langue française. Enfin, la dernière étude présente le développement d’un programme d’accompagnement en ligne pour les proches-aidants basé sur les approches de pleine conscience, psychologie positive et thérapie d’acceptation et d’engagement. Une étude pilote relative à l’impact de ce dispositif est également proposée. Les premiers résultats indiquent que, après leur participation au programme Opulse, les proches-aidants sont mieux informés, ressentent moins de stress et plus d’autocompassion, et utilisent moins de comportements de contrôle. L’ensemble de ces résultats met en évidence la faisabilité d’un accompagnement en ligne pour les proches-aidants dans le cadre de la maladie d’Alzheimer et des maladies apparentées, et démontre l’intérêt d’orienter l’accompagnement vers des approches qui visent à améliorer le fonctionnement global et le bien-être des proches-aidants.
A partir del siglo XX el ocio ha tenido un papel crucial en la sociedad, la economía, la cultura y la educación. Este hecho ha despertado un gran interés por estudiar la conexión que tiene este fenómeno con los estilos de vida, la satisfacción, el entorno, y la relación entre ocio y trabajo. Este artículo analiza la influencia del ocio en la vida de los jóvenes. En la primera parte, se realiza una revisión bibliográfica de las principales teorías sociológicas y psicológicas que explican su sentido, evolución y relación con el trabajo. En la segunda parte, se expone el modelo de desarrollo positivo, centrado más en el florecimiento del potencial de los jóvenes que en prevenir conductas de riesgo. El uso positivo del tiempo libre se basa en la realización de actividades estructuradas, con participación voluntaria, motivación intrínseca y supervisadas por adultos. Se concluye que la implicación de los jóvenes en asociaciones, organizaciones e instituciones que desarrollen actividades estructuradas de participación voluntaria o autoimplicada facilita la transición a la vida adulta, en relación con el uso constructivo del tiempo unido a un ocio libre y placentero.
Positivity, a common and latent factor between self-esteem, optimism and life satisfaction, is the "basic disposition" of positive affect. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the influence of positivity on mental health. It is made up upon three objectives : - (1) to define the place of positivity in the subjectivity of mental health by proposing : (a) to conceive the structure of the cognitive dimension in a multidimensional way, involving the presence of the dimensions of positive cognition and negative cognition, (b) adapt and validate the positivity scale of Caprara and collaborators (2012) in French, (c) a model of mental subjectivity composed of four dimensions : positive cognition, negative cognition, positive affect and negative affect. - (2) to determine the role of positivity among the other indicators of positive mental health by exploring : (1) the major influence of positivity on positive psychological functioning, positive affect and negative affect, (2) the function of positivity in the influence of autonomous motivational regulation of behaviors on happiness. - (3) to identify the role of positivity in the effect of functional emotional regulation on the affective sphere of mental health, both in positive and negative situations. Finally, this thesis presents a meta-model explaining the place and the preponderant influence of positivity on mental health. Based on the meta-theory of self-determination, a theoretical articulation will be put forward, reflecting the development of positivity in a similar way to that of the human being.
La positivité, facteur commun et latent entre l'estime de soi, l'optimisme et la satisfaction de vie, est la “disposition de base” de l’affect positif. L’objectif de cette thèse est d’explorer l’influence de la positivité sur la santé mentale. Elle se décompose en trois objectifs :
- (1) définir la place de la positivité dans la subjectivité de la santé mentale en proposant : (a) de concevoir la structure de la dimension cognitive de manière multidimensionnelle, impliquant la présence des dimensions Cognition positive et Cognition négative, (b) d’adapter et de valider l’échelle de positivité de Caprara et collaborateurs (2012) en langue française, (c) un modèle de la subjectivité mentale composé de quatre dimensions : la Cognition positive, la Cognition négative, l’Affect positif et l’Affect négatif.
- (2) déterminer le rôle de la positivité parmi les autres indicateurs de la santé mentale positive en explorant : (1) l’influence majeure de la positivité sur le fonctionnement psychologique positif, l’affect positif et l’affect négatif, (2) la fonction de la positivité dans l’influence de la régulation motivationnelle autonome des comportements sur le bonheur.
- (3) identifier le rôle de la positivité dans l’effet de la régulation émotionnelle fonctionnelle sur la sphère affective de la santé mentale, que ce soit dans les situations positives ainsi que dans les situations négatives.
Enfin, cette thèse présente un méta-modèle expliquant la place et l’influence prépondérante de la positivité sur la santé mentale. En s’appuyant sur la méta-théorie de l’autodétermination, il sera proposé une articulation théorique reflétant le développement de la positivité, de manière analogue à celui de l’être humain.
According to social psychology, radicalization occurs for a variety of reasons reasons. They include a sense of exclusion, threatened identity, loss of meaning and significance, negative emotions and defensive identification with a group representing power and a clear-cut ideology. In the terms of the Dialogical Self Theory, radicalization implies atrophy of the internal polyphony and dialogical functions of the self. Two hypothetical models of the radicalized self are proposed. The first posits the creation of a powerful I-position that represents a “universal” truth that is not open to doubt. The second introduces twin I-positions, one representing a sense of insecurity and another depicting a redemptive idea. Both types imply lowered openness and reduction of social and internal dialogs, resulting in a dysfunctional, rigid organized self. The question discussed in this article is: How can such an internal organization of the self be changed? Thus it aims to describe and explain the process of de-radicalization, which is proposed to consist of three elements: (1) reorganization of the self-structure and stimulation of a promoter position, (2) restoration of security, which can awaken the polyphony and dialogicality of the self, and (3) supporting internal dialog, promoter functions and a meta-position by reference to values that are significant for the relevant I-positions and the system as a whole.
Over the past two decades, the field of positive psychology has grown substantially and has shown great promise as a new approach to mental health care (Pawelski J Posit Psychol 11:357–65, 2016). Positive psychiatry is closely allied with positive psychology and shares many overlapping constructs and aims (Jeste et al. J Clin Psychiatry 76:675, 2015). New approaches are greatly needed, as we are facing many crises in mental health that a traditional pathology-focused approach has not been able to sufficiently address (Seligman, Handb Posit Psychol 2:3–12, 2002; Seligman, Character strengths and virtues: a handbook and classification. Oxford University Press, New York, 2004). This has particular relevance for people of color in the United States, for whom there are significant disparities in mental health care that traditional models of care have been ineffective in addressing (Ruiz and Primm, Disparities in psychiatric care: clinical and cross-cultural perspectives. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2010; Primm et al. Prev. Chronic Dis 7(1), 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/ issues/2010/jan/09_0125.htm. Accessed 18 December 2018).
Administered a 12 item investigativeness scale with questions on leisure activities, career interests, and preference for challenging or nonchallenging tasks in 2 studies. In Study 1, 59 male and 42 female undergraduates were assessed for negative life events (NLE), mood disturbance (MDB), and sensation seeking. Investigativeness was found to moderate the relationship between NLE and MDB. In Study 2, 161 females suffering from rheumatoid arthritis were assessed for psychological disturbance (PD), pain, (PN), and functional disability (FD). Investigativeness was negatively related to PD, PN, and FD. Findings show that investigativeness operated as a buffer to stressful experiences but did not moderate the relationship between Ss' physical status and their psychological distress. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)