Character strengths and wellbeing in academic practice - step 2: new applications 1600-SZD-SPEC-MS2-PS
The course constitutes the continuation of the course Character strengths and wellbeing in academic practice - step 1: awareness. The aim of this course is to develop the ability to apply character strengths in new, optimal ways across various areas of everyday academic work (scientific, teaching, and administrative/organizational) in order to enhance psychological well-being. The program is based on concepts and research from the field of positive psychology, including the theory of virtues and character strengths by Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson, the Awareness-Exploration-Application model by Ryan Niemiec, as well as the Golden Mean concept of using character strengths—covering optimal, overuse, and underuse — by Ryan Niemiec. Reference will be made to his Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice and relevant research on the relationship between strengths use and well-being.
The topics will include optimal, overuse, and underuse of character strengths, balancing overuse and underuse with other strengths, and long-term conditions for using character strengths to promote well-being. Participants will have the opportunity to develop potentially optimal new ways of applying their signature strengths in selected areas of academic work.
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge | The graduate knows and understands:
WG_01 - to the extent necessary for existing paradigms to be revised - a worldwide body of work, covering theoretical foundations as well as general and selected specific issues - relevant to a particular discipline
within the social sciences
WG_02 - the main development trends in the disciplines of the social sciences in which the education is provided
WG_03 - scientific research methodology in the field of the social sciences
WK_01 - fundamental dilemmas of modern civilisation from the perspective of the social sciences
Skills | The graduate is able to:
UK_05 - speaking a foreign language at B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages using the professional terminology specific to the discipline within the social sciences, to the extent enabling participation in an international scientific and professional environment
Social competences | The graduate is ready to
KO_01 - fulfilling the social obligations of researchers and creators
KO_02 - fulfilling social obligations and taking actions in the public interest, in particular in initiating actions in the public interest
KO_03 - think and acting in an entrepreneurial manner
Assessment criteria
Description of requirements related to participation in classes, including the
permitted number of explained absences: Participants learn through active participation in proposed individual activities, activities in small groups, and in the whole group forum, though self-observing, engaging in self-reflection, as well as learning from others' experiences. This requires a safe atmosphere, sharing experiences and reflections, and engagement during the classes. Therefore, during the classes, one class hour of absence is allowed, only during the second day of the sessions. Between sessions, students are required to read a chapter of literature on the chosen character strength overuse and underuse, and keep a journal of self-observation of new applications of one selected signature character strength.
Principles for passing the classes and the subject (including resit session): A week after the end of the classes, participants present the individual paper consisting of two parts: a reflection on literature regarding one chosen personal signature character strength, its optimal use, underuse and overuse, and a journal of self-observations of the new applications of this character strength conducted for 7 days (initiated during the interval between sessions). Students may improve their work once, one month after receiving assessment.
Methods for the verification of learning outcomes: Written individual paper.
Evaluation criteria: Literature Reflection: Addressing at least one of the issues mentioned in the literature regarding the overuse or underuse of the chosen signature character strength and engaging in deep reflection on these issues in light of one's own beliefs and experiences. Structuring the work to include an introduction defining the purpose of the reflection, organized development, and conclusion. Adhering to formal requirements – minimum of 1000, maximum of 2000 characters with spaces.Diary: Description of the new application of the signature strength includes information about the action plan, situational context, behaviors, feelings, and thoughts for each of the 7 days. The work includes final conclusions drawn from the reflection on the described applications referring to the conditions of long-term voluntary intervention use.
Practical placement
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Bibliography
1. Grant, A. M., & Schwartz, B. (2011). Too much of a good thing: The challenge and opportunity of the inverted U. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6(1), 61–76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691610393523
2. Niemiec, R. M. (2019). Finding the golden mean: the overuse, underuse, and optimal use of character strengths. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 32(3–4). https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2019.1617674
3. Niemiec, R. M., & Wedding, D. (2013). Positive Psychology at the Movies: Using Films to Build Character Strengths and Well-Being Gottingen, Germany: Hogrefe. – chapters on theoretical description of overuse and underuse of character strengths description of character strengths and examples of overusing and underusing.
4. Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification. Washington, DC: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=129815 =pl&site=eds-live
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: