A positive psychological viewpoint for success at school – 10 characteristic strengths of the Finnish high-achieving students |
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Authors: | Mari Salmela Satu Uusiautti |
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Institution: | Faculty of Education, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland |
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Abstract: | People who exploit their strengths flourish; they are not only engaged with their goals, but also to their well-being and the content of life. In this study, interest focused on the high-achieving students in the Finnish general upper secondary education, in other words, on straight-A graduates’ characteristic strengths. This was a narrative study in which the data were obtained through written narratives and narrative interviews among 14 Finnish straight-A graduates. The data were analyzed with narrative analyzing methods. Ten typical strengths found and further categorized into three key dimensions were: (1) the thirst of knowledge and passion for learning, (2) fortitude and authenticity, and (3) love. This study implied that the youth’s school paths and well-being actively increased their own characteristic strengths. |
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Keywords: | characteristic strengths general upper secondary education high-achieving student matriculation examination positive psychology straight-A graduates well-being |
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