The Importance of Character and How to Form it in Young People

Daniel S. MulhallNCCYM

December 2014

Quick Survey

• 1. Youth Ministry programs should focus solely on the spiritual formation of young people.

• 2. YM programs are responsible for the spiritual, emotional, moral development of young people.

Everything We Think We Know About Mass Shooters is Wrong

http://www.esquire.com/features/mass-shooters-1014

by Tom Junod Esquire October 2014

Recent Articles of Interest

Why Kids Sext

By Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, Nov 2014

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/11/why-kids-sext/380798/

Recent Articles of Interest

What Do We Learn from These Articles?

• Young people live in a world not of there making and out of their control

• Young people are capable of acting with or without guidance

• Adults can make a difference in the lives of young people.

• The Catholic School, Congregation on Education, March 19, 1977

The Importance of Catholic Formation

• Catholic formation “serve humanity until it reaches its fullness in Christ.”

• Evangelization = mission of the Catholic formation– “proclaim the good news of salvation to all, generate new

creatures in Christ through Baptism, and train them to live knowingly as children of God.”

• Catholic formation is “privileged means of promoting the formation of the whole” person

• Centers to develop, consider and convey “a specific concept of the world, of man, and of history”

Serving Humanity

• the simultaneous development of man's psychological and moral consciousness “

• “need to ensure the presence of a Christian mentality”

• Use Christian thought to develop a sound criterion of judgment of behavior, concepts, and values

• Form students of strong character, capable of living healthy, wholesome, and holy lives and making a positive contribution to society.

• Dialogue with culture

Forming Christian Character

• Through a living encounter with cultural inheritance, integral formation occurs– Art, Music, Rituals, Traditions– Values, Beliefs, Attitudes, Behaviors

• Consider absolute values in a life-context; insert them into a life-framework.

• Catholic formation – helps young people relate study to real-life situations;– stimulates the use of intelligence – Encourages them to Identify the meaning of experiences and

their truths

Human Formation

• Christ is the foundation of the whole educational enterprise– Renews life; shapes thoughts, actions, and will

• Committed to the development of the whole person• Cultivates human values • Worldview: Redeemed by Christ– Shapes understanding of culture and formation of the

individual– Focus on virtues and virtuous living

• Understanding in the light of the Gospel

Catholic Formation

• Knowledge valued• No particular Catholic method or methodology• Wrong to consider subjects as adjuncts to faith or

apologetics. • Education helps pupils assimilate

– Skills– Knowledge– Intellectual methods– Moral and social attitudes

• Develop personality and active member of community • Aim is acquisition of values and the discovery of truth

Integration of Faith and Knowledge

• Guide—Helps the young person to deepen faith; enrich knowledge through faith

• Form the mind, heart and personality of YP

• Help YP discover Truth, discover Christ

Role of Youth Minister

• Character Strengths and Virtues (CSV) (Peterson and Seligman, 2004)

– Character is a set of abilities or strengths that can be taught, practiced, and learned

• CSV– Have intrinsic value

• They cannot be wasted like gifts or aptitudes

– Not the opposite or a rival of a desirable trait (i.e., steadfast and flexible are opposites but both are valuable);

– Habitual patterns of behavior that remain relatively stable over time)

– Nurtured by society– Lead to happiness and well-being

What Is Character

• Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

• By Paul Tough

How Children Succeed

1. Wisdom and Knowledge (strengths that involve the acquisition and use of knowledge) – Creativity– Curiosity– Love of Learning– Open-mindedness– Perspective/Wisdom• coordination of "knowledge and

experience" and "its deliberate use to improve wellbeing."

Six Core CVS

(strengths that allow one to accomplish goals in the face of opposition) – Bravery –Persistence–Integrity–Vitality

2. Courage

(strengths of tending and befriending others) –Love–Kindness–Social Intelligence

3. Humanity

(strengths that build healthy community) –active citizenship / social

responsibility / loyalty / teamwork–fairness– leadership

4. Justice

(strengths that protect against excess) –Forgiveness and Mercy –Humility and Modesty –Prudence –Self-regulation and self control

5. Temperance

(strengths that forge connections to the larger universe and provide meaning) – Appreciation of beauty– Appreciation of excellence– Gratitude – Hope – Humor and Playfulness– Spirituality or a sense of purpose and

coherence

6. Transcendence

• Moral Excellence• A positive, morally good trait or

quality that provides the foundation and principle for a good moral being.

• Promote collective and individual greatness.

• The opposite of virtue is vice• Virtues are good habits (Aristotle)

Virtue (Latin: virtus, Greek: ἀρετή "arete")

• Theological Virtues– Faith– Hope– Love

• Cardinal (Hinge) Virtues– Prudence– Temperance– Justice– Fortitude

Catholic Perspective on Virtues

• Character is just as important as intellect for success

• Key Character Traits for Successful Living – Self-Control– Willpower (delayed gratification)– Motivation– Conscientiousness– Grit (a passionate commitment to a single mission

and an unswerving dedication to achieve the mission; stick-to-it-ness, commitment to get the job done no matter what)

Angela Duckworth

• NO relation between people’s abilities or intelligence and the development of mastery-oriented qualities.

• Requires the right mind-set. – People become more able over time– They think about learning, not grades or how

smart they are. – They focus on effort and strategies instead of

worrying • Growth Mindset essential

Carol DweckMastery-Orientation

• Grit• Self-control• Zest• Social intelligence• Gratitude• Optimism• Curiosity

Essential Strengths

• Preparing people for a lifetime– Skills and understanding to live happy,

healthy, holy, and wholesome lives– Preparing the whole person

Faith Formation and CSV

• Focus on people‘s efforts, not abilities. • Praise successful effort and strategies, not intelligence• Give feedback about effort or strategies -- what the student

did wrong and what he or she could do now • Help YP value effort and understand that sustained effort

over time is the key to outstanding achievement• Teach YP to relish a challenge and appreciate the satisfaction

in overcoming difficulties • Help YP focus on and value learning, not outcomes• outcomes are not a sign of intelligence, only current status

of skill set or work on task• Put children in charge of their own self-esteem

What We Can DoDweck

• Incorporate CSV into all activities• Provide opportunities to practice• Provide opportunities to overcome

obstacles– Try and fail; pick oneself up and try again– Learn from mistakes

• Establish rules, make sure everyone knows and understand the rules, make sure everyone follows the rules (prefrontal cortex)– Rewards and penalties

What We Can Do

• Think and talk about the importance of CSV

• Incorporate CSV into all aspects of the program

• Encourage group identity• Encourage optimism• Present CSV as developed over a lifetime• Teach a new way to think– Take responsibilities for decisions and actions– Take steps to learn from success and failures

(losing is something you do, not who or what you are)

What We Can Do

• Encourage – Cognitive flexibility –the ability to see alternative

solutions to problems, think outside the box– Cognitive self-control—ability to inhibit instinctive

response and use a more effective, less obvious one. (you thought you had a good idea but didn’t)

• Provide– Comfort in times of stress– Challenge for Excellence– Guidance and stability

What We Can Do

• Learn to think deeply and differently• Develop internal motivation• How to persevere when faced with

difficulties• How to deal with failure• How to overcome obstacles• Guided by faith in Christ and the Church

Young People Need