Temperate but not Brave Children: Character Strengths in Life Science Course Curriculum

Year 2021, Volume: 8 Issue: 4, 409 - 425, 01.12.2021

Ferat Yılmaz

https://doi.org/10.17275/per.97.51.8.4

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Character encompasses six basic virtues. These virtues can be listed as wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence. Each virtue comprises various character strengths that are creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective, honesty, bravery, perseverance, zest, kindness, love, social intelligence, fairness, leadership, citizenship, forgiveness, modesty, prudence, self-regulation, appreciation of beauty and perfection, gratitude, hope, humor, and spirituality. It was aimed to examine the learning outcomes in the Life Science Course Curriculum (LSCC) in terms of character strengths in the present study. This research was carried out with the analytical research model. In the research framework, deductive content analysis was used. According to the results, prudence, self-regulation, citizenship, kindness, and social intelligence were the top five character strengths in LSCC. The strengths of bravery, persistence, leadership, forgiveness, modesty, hope, and humor were not found in LSCC. The most prominent virtue in LSCC was temperance. It is noteworthy that courage was the least emphasized virtue in LSCC. As the grade increased, the virtue of wisdom was more emphasized within LSCC learning outcomes. Considering the units, self-regulation, social intelligence, citizenship, kindness, prudence, and open-mindedness were the most emphasized character strengths in the unit of Life in Our School. Self-regulation, prudence, social intelligence, open-mindedness, love, and appreciation were the most common ones in the unit of Life in Our Home. Prudence and self-regulation came to the fore in the units of Healthy Life and the Safe Life. Citizenship in the unit of Life in Our Country and curiosity, love of learning, and love in the unit of Life in Nature became distinctive.

Keywords

character strengths, virtues, life science course curriculum

References

• Abasimi, E., Gai, X., & Wang, G. (2017). Character strengths and life satisfaction of high school students. International Journal of Applied Psychology, 7(2), 36-43. doi: 10.5923/j.ijap.20170702.02
• Aydın, F. T. (2017). Forgiveness as a positive character strength. The Journal of Happiness & Well-Being, 5(1), 1-22.
• Azañedoa, C. M., Fernández-Abascal, E. G., & Barraca, J. (2014). Character strengths in Spain: Validation of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) in a Spanish sample. Clínica y Salud, 25, 123-130.
• Baer, R. (2015). Ethics, values, virtues, and character strengths in mindfulness-based interventions: A psychological science perspective. Mindfulness, 6, 956-959. doi: 10.1007/s12671-015-0419-2
• Berkowitz, M. W. (2002). The science of character education. In W. Damon (Ed.), Bringing in a new era in character education (pp. 43-63). Stanford, CA: Hoover Institution Press.
• Biswas-Diener, R. (2006). From the Equator to the North Pole: A study of character strengths. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7, 293–310. doi:10.1007/s10902-005-3646-8
• Brdar, I., & Kashdan, T. B. (2010). Character strengths and well-being in Croatia: An empirical investigation of structure and correlates. Journal of Research in Personality, 44, 151-154. doi: 10.1016/j.jrp.2009.12.001
• Buschor, C., Proyer, R. T., & Ruch, W. (2013). Self- and peer-rated character strengths: How do they relate to satisfaction with life and orientations to happiness? The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8(2), 116-127. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2012.758305
• Corral-Verdugo, V., Tapia-Fonllem, C., & Ortiz-Valdez, A. (2015). On the relationship between character strengths and sustainable behavior. Environment and Behavior, 47(8), 877-901. doi: 10.1177/0013916514530718
• Crossan, M., Mazutis, D., & Seijts, G. (2013). In search of virtue: The role of virtues, values and character strengths in ethical decision making. J Bus Ethics, 113, 567–581. doi:10.1007/s10551-013-1680-8
• Davidson, M., Lickona, T., & Khmelkov, V. (2008). Smart & good schools: A new paradigm for high schools character education. In L. P. Nucci, & D. Narvaez (Eds.), Handbook of moral and character education (pp. 370-390). New York, NY: Routledge.
• Elo, S., & Kyngäs, H. (2008). The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of advanced nursing, 62(1), 107-115. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x
• Ersoy, A. (2015). Doktora öğrencilerinin ilk nitel araştırma deneyimlerinin günlükler aracılığıyla incelenmesi. Pegem Eğitim ve Öğretim Dergisi, 5(5), 549-568. doi: 10.14527/pegegog.2015.030
• Freidlin, P., Littman-Ovadia, H., & Niemiec, R. M. (2017). Positive psychopathology: Social anxiety via character strengths underuse and overuse. Personality and Individual Differences, 108, 50-54. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2016.12.003
• García Castro, F. J., Alba, A., & Blanca, M. J. (2020). Association between character strengths and caregiver burden: Hope as a mediator. Journal of Happiness Studies, 21, 1445–1462. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00138-2
• Gillham, J., Adams-Deutsch, Z., Werner, J., Reivich, K., Coulter-Heindl, V., Linkins, M., . . . Seligman, M. E. (2011). Character strengths predict subjective well-being during adolescence. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 6(1), 31-44. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2010.536773
• Güsewell, A., & Ruch, W. (2012). Are only emotional strengths emotional? Character strengths and disposition to positive emotions. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 4(2), 218-239. doi: 10.1111/j.1758-0854.2012.01070.x
• Han, H. (2019). The VIA inventory of strengths, positive youth development, and moral education. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 14(1), 32-40. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2018.1528378
• Harzer, C., & Ruch, W. (2013). The application of signature character strengths and positive experiences at work. J Happiness Stud, 14, 965–983. doi: 10.1007/s10902-012-9364-0
• Harzer, C., & Ruch, W. (2015). The relationships of character strengths with coping, work-related stress, and job satisfaction. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00165
• Hausler, M., Strecker, C., Huber, A., Brenner, M., Höge, T., & Höfer, S. (2017). Distinguishing relational aspects of character strengths with subjective and psychological well-being. Frontiers in psychology, 8, 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01159
• Heintz, S., & Ruch, W. (2020). Character strengths and job satisfaction: Differential relationships across occupational groups and adulthood. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 15, 503-527. doi: 10.1007/s11482-018-9691-3
• Işık, Ş., Kılıç, S., Üzbe Atalay, N., Terzi İlhan, S., & Kaynak, Ü. (2019). İlkokul ve ortaokul öğrencileri için önerilen 100 temel eserde karakter güçlerinin incelenmesi. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 34(3), 839-859. doi: 10.16986/HUJE.2018045432
• Kabakçı, Ö. F. (2016). Karakter güçleri ve erdemli oluş: Güçlü yanlara-dayalı psikolojik danışma ve değerler eğitimine yeni bir yaklaşım. Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi, 6(45), 25-40.
• Lavy, S. (2020). A review of character strengths interventions in twenty-first-century schools: their Importance and how they can be fostered. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 15, 573–596. doi: 10.1007%2Fs11482-018-9700-6
• Leontopoulou, S., & Triliva, S. (2012). Explorations of subjective wellbeing and character strengths among a Greek University student sample. International Journal of Wellbeing, 2(3), 251-270. doi: 10.5502/ijw.v2.i3.6
• Lickona, T. (1999). Character Education: Seven Crucial Issues. Action in Teacher Education, 20(4), 77-84.
• Littman-Ovadia, H., & Lavy, S. (2012). Character strengths in Israel Hebrew adaptation of the VIA inventory of strengths. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 28(1), 41–50. doi: 10.1027/1015-5759/a000089
• Lounsbury, J. W., Fisher, L. A., Levy, J. J., & Welsh, D. P. (2009). An investigation of character strengths in relation to the academic success of college students. Individual Differences Research, 7(1), 52-69.
• Macfarlane, J. (2019). Exploring how awareness of character strengths can benefit mental health nurses. British Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 8(3), 145-152.
• Martínez-Martí, M. L., & Ruch, W. (2017). Character strengths predict resilience over and above positive affect, self-efficacy, optimism, social support, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(2), 110-119. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2016.1163403
• McGrath, R. E. (2015). Character strengths in 75 nations: An update. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(1), 41-52. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2014.888580
• Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). An expanded sourcebook qualitative data analysis. Thousan Oaks, California: Sage Publications.
• Ministry of National Education [MNE]. (2018). Hayat bilgisi dersi öğretim programı (ilkokul 1, 2 ve 3. sınıflar). Retrieved from http://mufredat.meb.gov.tr/ProgramDetay.aspx?PID=326 on January 14, 2020.
• Niemiec, R. M. (2020). Six functions of character strengths for thriving at times of adversity and opportunity: A theoretical perspective. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 15, 551-572. doi: 10.1007%2Fs11482-018-9692-2
• Park, N. (2004). Character strengths and positive youth development. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 591(1), 40-54.
• Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2006a). Character strengths and happiness among young children: Content analysis of parental descriptions. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7(3), 323-341. doi: 10.1007/s10902-005-3648-6
• Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2006b). Moral competence and character strengths among adolescents: The development and validation of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth. Journal of adolescence, 891-909. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2006.04.011
• Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2009). Character strengths: Research and practice. Journal of College & Character, 10(4), 1-10.
• Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. (2004). Strengths of character and well-being. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23(5), 603-619.
• Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. (2006). Character strengths in fifty-four nations and the fifty US states. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1(3), 118-129. doi: 10.1080/17439760600619567
• Peterson, C., & Park, N. (2004). Classification and measurement of character strengths: Implications for practice. In P. A. Linley, & S. Joseph (Eds.), Positive psychology in practice (pp. 433-446). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
• Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. New York: Oxford University Press.
• Proctor, C., Tsukayama, E., Wood, A. M., Maltby, J., Eades, J. F., & Linley, P. A. (2011). Strengths Gym: The impact of a character strengths-based intervention on the life satisfaction and well-being of adolescents. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 6(5), 377-388. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2011.594079
• Proyer, R. T., Gander, F., Wellenzohn, S., & Ruch, W. (2013). What good are character strengths beyond subjective well-being? The contribution of the good character on self-reported health-oriented behavior, physical fitness, and the subjective health status. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 8(3), 222-232. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2013.777767
• Rashid, T., Anjum, A., Lennox, C., Quinlan, D., Niemiec, R. M., Mayerson, D., & Kazemi, F. (2013). Assessment of character strengths in children and adolescents. In C. Proctor, & P. A. Linley (Eds.), Research, applications, and interventions for children and adolescents (pp. 81-115). Dordrecht: Springer.
• Shoshani, A. (2019). Young children’s character strengths and emotional well-being: Development of the character strengths inventory for early childhood (CSI-EC). The Journal of Positive Psychology, 14(1), 86-102. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2018.1424925
• Wagner, L. (2019). Good character is what we look for in a friend: character strengths are positively related to peer acceptance and friendship quality in early adolescents. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 39(6), 864-903. doi: 10.1177/0272431618791286
• Wagner, L., & Ruch, W. (2015). Good character at school: positive classroom behavior mediates the link between character strengths and school achievement. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 1-13. doi: doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00610
• Wagner, L., Gander, F., Proyer, R. T., & Ruch, W. (2020). Character strengths and PERMA: Investigating the relationships of character strengths with a multidimensional framework of well-being. Applied Research in Quality of Life(15), 307–328. doi: 10.1007%2Fs11482-018-9695-z
• Weber, M., & Ruch, W. (2012). The role of a good character in 12-year-old school children: Do character strengths matter in the classroom? Child Indicators Research, 5(2), 317-334. doi: 10.1007/s12187-011-9128-0
• Weber, M., Wagner, L., & Ruch, W. (2016). Positive feelings at school: On the relationships between students’ character strengths, school-related affect, and school functioning. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(1), 341-355. doi: 10.1007/s10902-014-9597-1