S

SCULPTOR

OR

GARDENER?

Dilemmas in

Strength-Based Education

Background

In a Danish research project [1], I identified VIA-strengths in children age 6-16 in order to confirm whether all 24 VIA-strength is developed by the age of 6 when the children

start school in Denmark, and to confirm at what age the different Character Strengths seem relatively stable corresponding to the criteria for VIA-strengths [2]. Lopez & Louis

[3] and Linkins et al [4] have suggested different principles for strength-based education and how to implement it in schools. The findings in my research project have an im-

pact on the pedagogical methods used in education as well as the upbringing of children making it necessary to discuss strength-based education and two different, common-

ly used strength-based approaches: The Sculptor cultivating specific and valued strengths or The Gardener nurturing and fertilizing the strengths of the specific child.

Aim

The research project aims to create new knowledge of strength development in children. Furthermore, to research pros and cons of cultivating or nurturing strengths in chil-

dren.

Method

750 children age 6-16 has identified their strengths using the Strength Compass [5] before and after strength-based interventions [1].

Results & Conclusions

All 24 VIA-strengths are developed at the age of 6 supporting the hypothesis of Seligman [6]: “I have no idea, but so far, I prefer to believe that normal infants have capacities

for each of the 24 strengths. The Strength-profile is developed during the first six years of life. When the child finds the niches that bring praise, love and attention, it cuts out

its strengths. The chisel is the interplay between the child's talents, interests and strengths, and as it detects what works and does not work in its small world, it will detail the

face of several strengths. At the same time it will get rid of excess material. After some time, there are regularities, and we find that each child presents the same ideosyncratic

strengths time after time.”

16 out of 24 VIA-strengths seem relatively stable from the age of 6. Whether we choose to be sculptors or to be gardeners, it is highly relevant to consider nurturing strengths

already established in the child, or sculpturing the strengths that are considered best at the time being in school or society; The way we handle our strengths-approach is as a

flashlight lightening up a specific area while others are left to darkness. The important message from the project is: “All 24 Character Strengths matter” [7]

References:

[1]Ledertoug, M.M. (2016): Strength-based Learning—Character Strengths as a mean to the learning potentials. Ph.D.-Thesis. Aarhus University, Denmark

[2]Peterson; C. & Seligman, M. (2004): Character Strengths and Virtues—A Handbook of Classification, New York. Oxford University Press

[3]Lopez, S.J & Louis, M.C (2009): The Principles of Strengths-Based Education. Journal of College & Character; Routledge.

[4]Linkins, M., Niemiec, R.M., Gillham, J. ,Mayerson, D. (2015): Through the Lens of Strengths: A Framework for Educating the Heart. The Journal of Positive Psychology

[5]Ledertoug, M.M. (2014): The Strengths Compass. Copenhagen, Dansk Psykologisk Forlag

[6]Seligman, M. (2002): Authentic Happiness. Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment. New York: Free Press. p. 244-245.

[7]Niemiec, R.M. (2017) Character Strengths Interventions. A Field Guide for Practioners. Boston: Hogrefe.

StrengthsTotal

(N=2027)

Gender Diagnosis? Mother-tongue?

Boys

(N=1055)

Girls

(N=972)No (N=626)

Yes

(N=149)

Andet

(N=166)

Dansk

(N=609)

Creativity 6,4342 6,1869 6,7027** 6,6663 6,3152 6,5208 6,6201

Curiosity 6,5486 6,4892 6,6132 6,7208 6,9171 6,8043 6,7461

Openmindedness 6,2159 6,1663 6,2697 6,3466 6,6883 6,2927 6,4449

Love of learning 6,0148 6,1013 5,9210 6,2733 5,9002 6,2500 6,1884

Wisdom 6,1167 6,2230 6,0012 6,2831 5,8063* 5,8251 6,2913*

Courage 6,8135 7,1014 6,5011** 7,0477 6,9163 7,2126 6,9706

Perseverance 6,6145 6,6633 6,5615 6,7083 6,2164* 6,7885 6,5660

Honesty 7,0715 6,9067 7,2504** 7,2938 6,5745** 7,1144 7,1668

Energy & zest 7,2322 7,2228 7,2423 7,3800 7,2490 7,5423 7,3037

Love 7,4544 6,9593 7,9917** 7,6777 7,3665 7,4456 7,6648

Kindness 7,5892 7,3268 7,8740** 7,7396 7,8360 7,7969 7,7476

Social intelligens 6,7745 6,5693 6,9973** 7,0018 6,9086 7,0048 6,9781

Teamwork 7,0431 7,0641 7,0203 7,1860 7,7151** 7,2944 7,2859

Fairness 6,9397 6,7864 7,1062** 7,1020 6,8045 7,0203 7,0515

Leadership 5,6797 5,7377 5,6167 5,9072 5,5355 5,7925 5,8475

Foregiveness 6,6325 6,4860 6,7915* 6,9518 6,4550* 6,9378 6,8341

Modesty 6,1839 6,1315 6,2408 6,4078 6,3209 6,4410 6,3775

Prudence 6,3191 6,3178 6,3205 6,6079 6,2910 6,6481 6,5194

Self-control 6,1651 6,1455 6,1865 6,2964 5,9838 6,3375 6,2087

Appreciation of beauty 6,3155 5,8777 6,7907** 6,6592 6,3216 7,1262 6,4494**

Gratitude 7,2321 7,1721 7,2972 7,4234 7,0737 7,2869 7,3750

Hope & optimism 6,8287 6,8276 6,8300 6,9993 6,7219 7,1540 6,8893

Humor 7,4625 7,4967 7,4253 7,5944 7,0710* 7,7154 7,4334

Spirituality 5,6262 5,4951 5,7684 6,0946 5,4089* 6,8323 5,7257**

Tabel 1 Strengths mean for gender, diagnosis and mother-tongue

* p < 0,05** p < 0,01t-test for independent samples

Results:Topstrenght Topstrength Topstrength Topstrength Topstrength

Total Kindness Humor Love Energy and zest Gratitude

Boys Kindness Humor Courage Energy and zest Gratitude

Girls Kindness Humor Love Honesty Gratitude

Danish mother-

tongue

Kindness Humor Love Energy and zest Gratitude

Other mother-tongue Kindness Humor Love Energy and zest Teamwork

No diagnosis Kindness Humor Love Energy and zest Gratitude

Diagnosis Kindness Teamwork Love Energy and zest Gratitude

Table 2: Summary of top 5 strength for gender, mother-tongue language and diagnosis

Bottom strength Bottom strength Bottom strength

Total Spirituality Leadership Love of learning

Boys Spirituality Leadership Appreciation of beauty

Girls Spirituality Leadership Love of learning

Danish mother-tungue Spirituality Leadership Love of learning

Other mother- tungue Wisdom Leadership Love of learning

No diagnosis Spirituality Leadership Wisdom

Diagnosis Spirituality Leadership Wisdom

Table 3 : Summary of Bottom strength for gender, mother-tongue langue and diagnosis

Strengths Age 6-9 (N=586) Age 10-12 (N=774) Age 13-16 (N=651)

Creativity** 7,1938 6,4271 5,7877

Curiosity**6,8476 6,5822 6,2841

Openmindedness** 6,5861 5,9425 6,2584

Love of learning** 6,8427 5,9192 5,3923

Wisdom** 6,4474 5,9347 6,0718

Courage** 7,0143 6,9360 6,5212

Perseverance** 6,8566 6,6582 6,3568

Honesty 7,0222 6,9839 7,2524

Energy and zest** 7,7519 7,2711 6,7652

Love 7,6451 7,3927 7,3691

Kindness** 8,0315 7,5764 7,2284

Social intelligens** 7,0989 6,6523 6,6613

Teamwork** 7,6338 7,0764 6,5187

Fairness** 7,2442 6,8767 6,7620

Leadership** 6,2346 5,5120 5,4278

Forgiveness** 7,0716 6,6538 6,2338

Modesty** 6,6275 6,1732 5,8008

Prudence** 6,7314 6,2837 6,0301

Self-control* 6,4110 6,1433 5,9831

Appreciation of Beauty** 7,0522 6,3072 5,7290

Gratitude** 7,7325 7,3499 6,6675

Hope and optimism** 7,2998 6,8764 6,3721

Humor* 7,6215 7,5651 7,2486

Spirituality** 6,7633 5,6132 4,6651

Table 4 Strengths mean for age groups

* p < 0,05

** p < 0,01One-Way Anova

Conclusion:What can we learn from this?

• Kindness is the topstrength for all children & adolescents in Denmark

• Love

• Humor

• Energy & Zest

• Gratitude

• Are all among the most common topstrengths for children & adolescents in Denmark

• They are therefore an important source of well-being and achievement

ConclusionWhat can we learn from this?

• Love of learning & wisdom are among the lesser strengths for all most all children and adolescents

• We need to find new ways in education to ignite the fire of these strengths – using topstrengths as leverage

ConclusionWhat can we learn from this?

• Strengths seems to be rather stabile from 6 years of age when the children start school. This is in agreement with hypothesis made by Seligman.

• This is important knowledge for teachers in order to create strength-based education.

• It is also important knowledge for considering cultivating specific strengths or building on existing topstrengths.

Postdoc Mette Marie Ledertoug, Aarhus University, Denmark.

Email: Mele@Edu.au.dk