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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Character Strengths: Measurement and Studies in Argentina with Military and General Population Samples

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description

The publication of the book so-called “Manual of the Sanities” (Peterson and Seligman, Character strengths and virtues: a handbook and classification, vol. xiv. Oxford University Press, New York, 2004) has inspired the scientific study of individuals’ positive traits with different populations from different countries. Studies conducted in Argentina (general and military population) in relation to the pillar of positive traits are shown. An inventory of complex bipolar items was developed to measure character strengths. This self-report inventory – that covers a broad range of strengths of character with few items – has demonstrated acceptable levels of reliability and validity. Relationships that have been informed in previous studies between character strengths and empirical and theoretically linked constructs such as satisfaction with life, personality and social desirability, were also found using this inventory. Moreover, studies on character strengths have been conducted with Argentinean military students (cadets). There was found that character strengths reliably discriminate between junior and senior students, and that character strengths are predictors of academic and military performance at the beginning and final stage of the military course. Results from Argentina have shown original aspects compared to studies done in other countries.