Browsing by Author "Pellava, Sanna"

Research has shown that concentrating on the positive sides of human nature can increase well-being. Promoting well-being is also the goal of the practice of character strengths, a school of thought arising from the field of positive psychology that has seen its first applications by educators in recent years. The present thesis focuses on character strengths and examines the aims of character strengths -based teaching. We discuss the theory behind and present empirical research findings of the practice of character strengths as well as character strengths based teaching. The present text is a narrative literature review. We reviewed international monographs and articles as well as available Finnish literature that were relevant to our research goals. Character strengths’ definitions and the classification derived therefrom seem to be nearly consensually endorsed by researchers. Despite the fact that a certain degree of criticism is put forward in the literature, there seems to be consensus on the benefits of the practice of character strengths. Character strengths can be seen as a multidimensional concept. They are moral-based and are believed to be a skill developed by practice. The literature recognizes more than 20 character strengths which together provide a useful tool for educators. The benefits of character strengths based teaching have furthermore been demonstrated by research on the basis of which we conclude that practicing character strengths pays off. The literature on character strengths based teaching, on the other hand, is not as abundant. The aims of character strengths based teaching put forward in the literature have not yet been widely researched in the school context. Encouraging results with regard to well-being and school achievement have, nonetheless, been obtained by the studies that were performed. This literature has put forward as aims well-being, resilience, growth mindset, school engagement, as well as flourishing – a notion involving positive feelings, meaningful life, and social relations. All aforementioned aims seem to relate to and strengthen each other and can be perused through education.