2.1 What are character strengths and how can they help you and your family?

One of the key aims of positive psychology is to help people to experience more positive emotions and build more positive relationships.

During the pandemic, it may be that you have spent more time with family members, which in some ways may have been a positive experience. It is also true that due to the pandemic you may have experienced additional pressure and stress, whilst trying to balance the competing demands of work, caring responsibilities and financial uncertainty.

These demands, as well as the uncertainty and fear surrounding the virus, may have caused you to find that maintaining positive emotions and relationships has been challenging.

A key area of positive psychology looks at building more positive emotions and relationships by knowing and using our strengths, rather than our possible weaknesses, in order to apply these to situations in our lives.

What is meant by character strengths?

Watch this short video, in which Michelle introduces what is meant by character strengths, and how they might help you and your family.

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MICHELLE:
Also known as the backbone to positive psychology, one of the greatest contributions to come from this field is the knowledge that we all have 24 value-in-action character strengths. Different to the other strengths that we might have, like our talents or hobbies, character strengths are defined as the positive parts of our personalities that impact how we think, feel, and behave.
They are the keys to us being the best that we can be and the authentic part of who we truly are at the very core. Whilst knowing your strengths alone can be empowering, it is when they are applied effectively using the right strengths in the right amount and in the right situations that our character strengths can be the most beneficial. And this includes to you, your family, and society as a whole.
Research has also shown that by adopting a strengths-based parenting style, where parents will encourage their children to use and develop their own strengths, has been related to lower levels of stress, greater academic achievement, and higher levels of wellbeing in children. And what's even better is that we all have these same 24 character strengths, albeit at different levels.
It is our top five to seven signature strengths, however, that are the most important for us. Strengths can also interact, and you can build on the levels of strengths that you have. As part of this unit, you will learn how you can find out what your levels of the 24 character strengths are as well as some of the many benefits that you can gain and provide by using them.
For example, research has shown that using your character strengths can help buffer against, manage, and overcome problems. They can also help improve our relationships and enhance our health and overall wellbeing. And when we're thinking about our children, they can help us develop skills and learning, and enable us to achieve.
Strengths-based approaches that have been used in schools, which is also called positive education, have also identified values, such as increased life satisfaction and wellbeing, increased engagement and hope, and also self-perception of academic ability, expectancy, and self-empowerment.
Using your character strengths has also been shown to be particularly important during times of uncertainty, like COVID. And this is because by using the best parts of yourself can help keep you safe, make effective decisions, take measured action, engage in prevention, and keep yourself balanced.
Spotting strengths in others, which is another activity that you will learn this unit, is also a great way to enhance the wellbeing of others. Strengths spotting is simple. You just point out to others the things you admire in them and what they might do really well. And don't we all like to give compliments, especially if it comes as a surprise to the person who receives them?
So, at the end of the day, it's not only superheroes who have strengths, we all have them. And as such, each one of us is a superhero in our own way.
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The video highlights that a knowledge of your character strengths can be of particular use during times of difficulties, like the COVID-19 crisis, as it can help to boost your wellbeing, as well as offer ways to build your resilience and cope with challenges.

As an example, during the COVID-19 pandemic many people used humour (a character strength) as a way of lightening the load and connecting with others through funny ‘memes’ on social media. Others were able to use a keen sense of perspective to help them to cope and feel hopeful during the uncertain times.

How character strengths can be learned, practised and cultivated

The following video explains in more details some of the research behind character strengths and how they can be learned, practised and cultivated.

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The first of six themes

2.2 How to use character strengths with your family to enhance wellbeing