Character Strenghts and Virtues in University Students from Ecuador, Paraguay and Perú: A Derived Etic Study

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/apl/a.12031
Título de la obra: Stop the World I want to Get off 1 Autora: Leda Almar

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Published: Apr 24, 2025
Issue: Vol. 42 No. 3 (2024): Avances en Psicología Latinoamericana 42(3)
Section Artículos


Keywords: positive psychology character strengths derived etics Ecuador Peru Paraguay

Main Article Content

Authors

  Jonathan Ayala
Universidad de Palermo
  Alejandro Cosentino
Universidad de Palermo
  Alejandro Castro Solano
Universidad de Palermo

Abstract

Good character is a principal area in positive psychology. This paper assesses character strengths with a qualitative method using content analysis. The main purpose is to identify cultural variations of the VIA Classification using a mixed method: derived etic. This approach serves to identify cultural variations that psychological constructs present in certain cultures, that is, a derived etic study is a systematic comparison of one psychological process in different cultures. A non-probabilistic intentional sample was used: 854 university students (273 Ecuadorians, 277 Peruvians and 304 Paraguayans). Participants completed the Protocol of Positive Qualities. Main results show a dimensional structure with intercultural differences because each country has specific relations with some character strengths (e.g., Ecuador with perseverance; Peru with honesty and prudence; and Paraguay with modesty, love and bravery). The main conclusion is that the investigation detected transcultural differences in the dimensional structure of character strengths. Among the limitations, there is the possibility that the samples might not correspond to the average citizien of each culture. Future studies should research intracultural differences in character strengths and identify causes of the intercultural differences found.

How to Cite
Ayala, J., Cosentino, A., & Castro Solano, A. (2025). Character Strenghts and Virtues in University Students from Ecuador, Paraguay and Perú: A Derived Etic Study. Avances En Psicología Latinoamericana, 42(3). https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/apl/a.12031
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