Disentangling character strengths from developmental competencies: The virtue of patience and self-regulatory competencies

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite renewed interest in the psychological study of character strengths, positive psychology remains marked by criticisms surrounding the differentiation of character strengths from other personality and developmental constructs. To highlight pathways for increased precision in character theory and empirical work, the study examined bidirectional associations between the character virtue of patience and three self-regulatory developmental competencies (anger regulation, sadness regulation, self-control). A diverse sample of 618 adolescents completed assessments across six months. Cross-lagged models revealed links between anger regulation at T1 and higher general and lower interpersonal patience six months later. General and life hardships patience were associated with later higher sadness regulation, and general patience was associated with later higher inhibitory self-control. Inhibitory self-control was associated with higher subsequent self-control and life hardships patience. Findings shed light on the dynamic association between developmental competencies and character strengths across time, offering a step forward for theory building.