Core qualities

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Core qualities are the basis of the core square, a model developed by Daniel Ofman that focuses on the skills and positive characteristics of a person. By emphasizing the personal qualities of people, there is a clear reference to positive psychology .

definition

Example of core quality in a core square

Core qualities are positive characteristics that color a person and are predisposed to be present from the beginning of life. Examples of core qualities include a. Character traits such as energy, determination, empathy, order, care, open-mindedness or humor. A core quality is always there, it can neither be switched on nor off, but it can be suppressed or neglected. This, however, would be regrettable, because core qualities set a person apart. Gerrickens defines core qualities as the “most original” human characteristics. They shaped the potential of personal development opportunities that are available to you, even if they are not always needed.

Practical application and empirical research

The practical naming and development of core qualities are used in practice in educational institutions (schools, universities, etc.) and companies in particular in the Netherlands. The aim is to promote mutual understanding between students and colleagues and to train respect for one another, especially when the core qualities in the respective target groups are particularly broad.

Dealing with core qualities can be helpful in a variety of situations and areas. For example, they are regularly relevant for appraisal interviews and individual support and have proven to be helpful in creating personal development plans and developing leadership skills more effectively . Logically, the employment in the area of ​​conflict management and mediation , e.g. in the context of cultural change programs and mergers, for stress management and in team building processes.

Underlying this, character strengths and core qualities play an important role in research on positive psychology in the US and Anglo-Saxon countries. In particular, the scientists Park, Peterson and Seligman carried out numerous empirical studies in connection with the identification of human character strengths and examined, among other things, the relationship to general life satisfaction, gender and age of people and discussed the meaning of traumatic experiences.

In continental European research on positive psychology in the educational context, core qualities also play a special role. B. in research to promote people's personal abilities through positive activities. As part of their study on the awareness and promotion of core qualities in elementary school children, Peter Ruit and Fred Korthagen demonstrate the positive effects and illustrate the importance of promoting core qualities, especially in children. They report improvements in self-esteem and, as a result, better academic performance.

The naming of core qualities

The basic assumption that everyone has positive characteristics is a widespread view that is also represented in the positive psychology already mentioned, described in 1998 by Martin Seligman and Mihály Csíkszentmihályi .

Precisely because core qualities are about positive character traits, people find it easier to accept their existence and use it productively. Instead of concentrating on weaknesses and mistakes - as often happens in schools, feedback discussions and in private communication - the concept of core qualities focuses on positive characteristics and development potential of a person. With the recognition of this development potential (the challenges), goals can be formulated and plans can be developed to achieve them. This creates a greater consensus and increases the chance that people will actually develop further instead of focusing on avoiding mistakes. Monique Dankers-van der Spek emphasizes the importance of dealing with core qualities for teamwork, as this makes the participants aware of the influence each individual with his / her special abilities has within the group. On this basis, you can decide much better what you think is good and important and what you would like to change.

literature

  • Daniel Ofman: Hello, me there ...?! Kiesby, 2010, ISBN 978-3-9813065-1-4 .
  • Daniel Ofman, Guust Verpaalen: You just wouldn't believe it by. Servire, Utrecht / Antwerp 2006, ISBN 90-215-8216-3 .
  • Monique Dankers-van der Spek: Study Path Development - Building Vocational Skills. 2006, ISBN 90-430-1297-1 .
  • Nansook Park, Christopher Petersen, Martin P. Seligman: Strengths of Character and Well-Being. In: Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. Volume 23, No. 5, 2004.
  • Peter Alex Linley et al .: Character Strengths in the United Kingdom: The VIA Inventory of Strengths. In: Personality and Individual Differences. Volume 43, 2007.
  • Peter Gerrickens: Kwaliteiten: een erfrissende kijk op eigen-aardigheden. 's-Hertogenbosch, 2007, ISBN 90-74123-02-3 .
  • Peter Ruit, Fred Korthagen: Bewustwording en ontwikkeling van kernkwaliteiten bij leerlingen. In: Tijdschrift voor orthopedagogiek. 51, 2012. (German translation of the article here: https://kernquadrat.de/das-kernquadrat-in-grundschulen )
  • Steven Ten Have: Key Management Models. 2002, ISBN 0-273-66201-5 .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Nansook Park, Christopher Peterson, Martin P. Seligman: Strengths of Character an Wellbeing. In: Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. Vol. 23, No. 5, 2004, pp. 603f.
  2. ↑ Daniel Ofman: Hello, me there ... ?! Kiesby, 2010, ISBN 978-3-9813065-1-4 , pp. 20f.
  3. ↑ Peter Gerrickens: Kwaliteiten: een verfrissende kijk op Eigen-aardigheden. 's-Hertogenbosch, 2007, ISBN 90-74123-02-3 , p. 14.
  4. ↑ Steven Ten Have: Key Management Models. 2002, ISBN 0-273-66201-5 , p. 58.
  5. ↑ Daniel Ofman, Guust Verpaalen: You just wouldn't believe it by. Servire, Utrecht / Antwerp 2006, ISBN 90-215-8216-3 , p. 108.
  6. ^ Nansook Park, Christopher Peterson, Martin P. Seligman: Strengths of Character and Wellbeing. 2004, pp. 603-619.
  7. ^ Nansook Park, Christopher Peterson, Martin P. Seligman, Reply Strengths of Character and Wellbeing: A Closer Look at Hope and Modesty. 2004, pp. 628-634.
  8. ↑ P. Alex Linley et al.: Character Strengths in the United Kingdom: The VIA Inventory of Strengths. 2006, pp. 341-351.
  9. ↑ Peter Ruit, Fred Korthagen: Bewustwording en ontwikkeling van kernkwaliteiten bij leerlingen. In: Tijdschrift voor orthopedagogiek. 51, 2012, pp. 491-505.
  10. ↑ Monique Dankers-van der Spek: Study Path Development - Building Vocational Skills. 2006, ISBN 90-430-1297-1 , pp. 115ff.