engleski

What makes us happy: stenghts of mind, strenghts of heart or self-control?

Positive psychology focuses on what constitutes the life that leads to the greatest sense of well-being, satisfaction and happiness. This concept of good life is closely related to the concept of human strengths. According to Peterson and Seligman (2004) all character strengths have some benefits for the individual but it is still not clear what these benefits are for specific strengths. So, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between character strengths and life satisfaction. Two questionnaires: Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (Peterson & Seligman, 2004), and Satisfaction With Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985) were administered to 378 college students (228 females and 150 males). Factor analyses of Values in Action Inventory of Strengths revealed three factors: strengths of mind, strengths of heart and self-control strengths. Generally, females scored higher on strengths of heart, while in other two categories of strengths and life satisfaction no gender differences were found. Strengths of hope/optimism, vitality, gratitude, humor, love/intimacy and curiosity were the most related to life satisfaction. Ones the least related to life satisfaction were prudence, modesty, judgment/critical thinking, fairness and love for learning.

character strenghts; strenghts of mind; strenghts of heart; self-control strenghts; life satisfaction

nije evidentirano