Linking Character Strengths and Key Competencies in Education and the Arts: A Systematic Review

Pedro Vazquez-Marin,Francisco Cuadrado,Isabel Lopez-Cobo

doi:10.3390/educsci12030178

Pedro Vazquez-Marin, Francisco Cuadrado + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12030178

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Abstract

Positive education, as a method for the positive development of students’ personality, embodies the 24 character strengths that Peterson and Seligman developed in their studies and that are necessary for new professional profiles. This new social and work landscape inspired supranational institutions, such as the European Union, to develop theories for new educational systems. These Key Competencies seek the comprehensive training of students, on not only the cognitive but the socioemotional plane, as occurs with arts education. With this literature review, we intend to demonstrate the relationship between the Key Competencies as catalysts for the development of character strengths in students through art education programmes. The results conclude that it is possible to define a relationship between the Key Competencies and character strengths and to outline the nature of these relationships, noting that certain patterns of combinations of strengths are repeated in the Key Competencies. Additionally, our work leads us to propose the need to increase the volume of research in this field and to design future studies that allow an empirical evaluation of the nature of these connections and whether they are efficient and enduring.

Highlights

Positive psychology is a branch of psychology that studies optimal human functioning from a scientific basis [1]
We considered the following search terms: Positive psychology (Character Strengths, Values in Action, Positive Psychology, Eudaemonic Happiness, Happiness, Wellbeing, Well-being, Eudaemonic Wellbeing and Wellness), education (Education and Positive Education), Arts
The Key Competencies have been linked to character strengths, the terminology used by researchers has not always been explicit

Summary

Introduction

Positive psychology is a branch of psychology that studies optimal human functioning from a scientific basis [1] This trend, driven by Seligman, promotes research and the fostering of the positive aspects of the human being as the basis for happiness. Seligman bases his study on three pillars: positive emotions; positive traits, which are personal virtues and strengths; positive institutions, which should facilitate the development of the other two pillars. He proposes two premises as foundations: that cultivating virtues and strengths will make us happy and that a happy life is a pleasant life, but one that must have meaning [2].

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