Good character at college: the combined role of second-order character strength factors and phronesis motivation in undergraduate academic outcomes

A renewed interest in the study of character and virtue has recently emerged in the fields of Education and Psychology. The latest research has confirmed the association between virtuous consistent behaviours and academic positive outcomes. However, the motivational dimension of character (the intentions underlying the patterns of observed behaviours) has received little attention. This research aims to extend the knowledge on this topic by examining the predictive relationships between the behavioural and motivational dimensions of character, with reference to academic engagement, career self-doubt and performance of Spanish university students. A total of 183 under- graduates aged 18–30 (142 of whom were women) from the north of Spain completed specific parts of self-report questionnaires, including the Values in Action VIA-72, a Spanish translated and validated version of the Moral Self-Relevance Measure MSR, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Student Scale UWES-S9. The collected data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling. The behavioural dimension of character (character strength factors of caring, self-control and inquisitiveness) showed positive associations with academic engagement and performance. The motivational dimension of character (phronesis motivation), was negatively related to career self-doubt. For the first time, the present study has provided support for the contribution of both dimensions of character to undergraduate academic outcomes

El carácter y su relación con las elecciones de carrera. Una aproximación psicológica basada en la ética de la virtud

En la actualidad se constata un creciente interés por el estudio científico del carácter y su aplicación en diversos ámbitos. El presente trabajo, haciendo eco de tales iniciativas, tiene por objeto describir el estado de la literatura psicológica con respecto a la relación entre el carácter y las elecciones de carrera. Para cumplir este propósito se realizó, en primer lugar, una búsqueda manual de las teorías que trataran por separado estos temas. Los principales autores y modelos teóricos del carácter y la elección de carrera son presentados en los capítulos uno y dos del actual trabajo. A continuación, se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática exploratoria o scoping review para localizar fuentes donde se trate la relación entre el carácter y diversas variables de elección de carrera. Fueron encontrados 16 documentos cuya descripción es presentada en el capítulo tres. Se observó mayor cantidad de estudios empíricos (10/16) que teóricos. Hay evidencia, aunque limitada por el escaso número de estudios existentes, de una posible asociación entre el carácter y los aspectos de contenido y proceso en la toma de decisiones de carrera. En el cuarto y último capítulo se propone un diseño de investigación empírica basado en el estado de la literatura

El carácter y su relación con las elecciones de carrera. Una aproximación psicológica basada en la ética de la virtud

En la actualidad se constata un creciente interés por el estudio científico del carácter y su aplicación en diversos ámbitos. El presente trabajo, haciendo eco de tales iniciativas, tiene por objeto describir el estado de la literatura psicológica con respecto a la relación entre el carácter y las elecciones de carrera. Para cumplir este propósito se realizó, en primer lugar, una búsqueda manual de las teorías que trataran por separado estos temas. Los principales autores y modelos teóricos del carácter y la elección de carrera son presentados en los capítulos uno y dos del actual trabajo. A continuación, se llevó a cabo una revisión sistemática exploratoria o scoping review para localizar fuentes donde se trate la relación entre el carácter y diversas variables de elección de carrera. Fueron encontrados 16 documentos cuya descripción es presentada en el capítulo tres. Se observó mayor cantidad de estudios empíricos (10/16) que teóricos. Hay evidencia, aunque limitada por el escaso número de estudios existentes, de una posible asociación entre el carácter y los aspectos de contenido y proceso en la toma de decisiones de carrera. En el cuarto y último capítulo se propone un diseño de investigación empírica basado en el estado de la literatura

Good character at college: the combined role of second-order character strength factors and phronesis motivation in undergraduate academic outcomes

A renewed interest in the study of character and virtue has recently emerged in the fields of Education and Psychology. The latest research has confirmed the association between virtuous consistent behaviours and academic positive outcomes. However, the motivational dimension of character (the intentions underlying the patterns of observed behaviours) has received little attention. This research aims to extend the knowledge on this topic by examining the predictive relationships between the behavioural and motivational dimensions of character, with reference to academic engagement, career self-doubt and performance of Spanish university students. A total of 183 under- graduates aged 18–30 (142 of whom were women) from the north of Spain completed specific parts of self-report questionnaires, including the Values in Action VIA-72, a Spanish translated and validated version of the Moral Self-Relevance Measure MSR, and the Utrecht Work Engagement Student Scale UWES-S9. The collected data were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling. The behavioural dimension of character (character strength factors of caring, self-control and inquisitiveness) showed positive associations with academic engagement and performance. The motivational dimension of character (phronesis motivation), was negatively related to career self-doubt. For the first time, the present study has provided support for the contribution of both dimensions of character to undergraduate academic outcomes

Character strengths, moral motivation and vocational identity in adolescents and young adults: a scoping review

Past reviews have examined the association between positive personality traits known as character strengths and workrelated outcomes. However, little is known about the role of positive traits in the pre-career stage. This study aims to fill this gap by mapping the peer-reviewed literature on the relationships between character strengths, moral motivation and vocational identity in adolescents and young adult students. Scopus and Web of Science databases were used to identify English written sources published between 1980 and October 2020. Documents had to include one of the 24 positive psychology character strengths or a moral motivation construct (moral reasoning, moral identity or moral emotions) and one vocational identity process (commitment, exploration or reconsideration). 136 documents were selected (123 quantitative, 8 qualitative, and 5 theoretical). 15 strengths were studied together with a vocational identity process. The most investigated strengths were prudence (27.9%) curiosity (20.6%), hope (20.6%) and love (19.9%). Only one moral motivation construct (the moral emotion of empathy) was associated with vocational commitment. Four character strengths were the most studied in association with vocational identity. These strengths coincided with some skills and competencies promoted in career counselling. Some suggestions for future research on vocational development and character education are stated