ERIC Number: EJ880355
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Dec
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1096-2409
EISSN: N/A
Positive Psychology and Character Strengths: Application to Strengths-Based School Counseling
Park, Nansook; Peterson, Christopher
Professional School Counseling, v12 n2 p85-92 Dec 2008
The basic premise of positive psychology is that the happiness and fulfillment of children and youth entail more than the identification and treatment of their problems. This article provides an overview of positive psychology and the Values in Action (VIA) project that classifies and measures 24 widely recognized character strengths. Good character is multidimensional, made up of a family of positive traits manifest in an individual's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Recent research findings are presented concerning the correlates and the consequences of the VIA character strengths for positive youth development. Character strengths are related to achievement, life satisfaction, and well-being of children and youth. Further, the implications and specific techniques informed by positive psychology are discussed for school counselors in the context of a strengths-based approach. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Life Satisfaction, Personality, Adolescents, School Counseling, Psychology, School Counselors, Identification (Psychology), Psychological Patterns, Children, Youth, Achievement, Well Being, Evaluation, Psychopathology, Academic Achievement, Intervention, Delay of Gratification, Altruism
American School Counselor Association. 1101 King Street Suite 625, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tel: 703-683-2722; Fax: 703-683-1619; Web site: http://www.schoolcounselor.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A