U.S. Mexicans’ Pathways to Character

Rebecca M. B. White / May 3, 2019

The Pathways to Character initiative is inherently interested in our scientific understanding of growth following adversity. Can adversity lead to character growth? What factors influence whether and how individuals do or do not experience character changes following adversity? To address these research questions, it is important to have accurate assessments of individuals’ character strengths both […]

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The Relocation and Transitional Experiences (RELATE) Study: Elucidating Pathways to Character via Individual and Dyadic Approaches

Devin Dinenno & Gloria Luong, Colorado State University / February 4, 2019

Character strengths and virtues, such as altruism, humility, gratitude, relatedness, empathy, and open-mindedness, have been linked to a meaningful life and adaptive psychosocial functioning, including affective well-being, life satisfaction, and greater social support and integration (e.g., Aghababaei, Mohammadtabar, & Saffarinia, 2014; Ciarrochhi & Deneke, 2005; Post, 2005; Shimai, Otake, Park, Peterson, & Seligman, 2006). Thus […]

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A pathway to wisdom in the face of adversity: Type of self-reflection matters

Igor Grossmann, Anna Dorfman, & David Moscovitch / January 7, 2019

Open-mindedness, humility, and empathy represent key character strengths for the virtue of wisdom1–3. There is a longstanding view that such aspects of wisdom may develop by accumulating critical life experience. In particular, various theories suggest that wisdom-related character strengths develop by mastering adversity1,4,5. At the same time, mechanisms through which experience of adversity produces growth […]

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Exploring Character Growth in Young Adults Who Seek or Have Refugee Status

Joanne Chung, Jennifer Stellar, and Renee Zonneveld / December 5, 2018

Presently, almost 6 million people have refugee status worldwide, with more than 1.2 million people seeking asylum in Europe alone. In the Netherlands, many of these individuals are young adults of Syrian origin who have faced immense social, economic, and psychological hardship, and may continue to do so as they resettle in their host country. […]

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Could Adversity Increase Open-Mindedness?

Marie Forgeard / November 5, 2018

According to anecdotal reports and past research, many people perceive that going through significant hardship changed their outlook on life by opening their minds up to new possibilities for their lives. Whether they started new initiatives or activities, changed jobs, or became more receptive to new perspectives, people report feeling compelled to question long-held assumptions […]

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