The development and validation of a measure of character: The CIVIC |
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Authors: | Vincent Ng Louis Tay Lauren Kuykendall |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA;2. Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA |
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Abstract: | The present research study sought to develop and validate a character scale – the Comprehensive Inventory of Virtuous Instantiations of Character using a total sample size of 3679 across five studies. In Study 1, character trait items were generated using an integrative classification system. In Study 2, character trait scales were further refined and their factor structure examined, revealing eight higher-order character dimensions or character cores: appreciation, intellectual engagement, fortitude, interpersonal consideration, sincerity, temperance, transcendence, and empathy. Study 3 established convergent validity of character traits with extant measures and discriminability from personality facets, social desirability, and moral cognitive development. Study 4 revealed that character cores were more strongly related to evaluative constructs than personality dimensions. Study 5 demonstrated that character cores predicted performance and psychological well-being outcomes above and beyond personality. The implications of our findings for the assessment and taxonomy of character are discussed. |
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Keywords: | Virtue character strengths personality morality scale development measurement exploratory structural equation modeling subjective well-being eudaimonia |
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