Conception of integrated high school students in Rio de Janeiro about character strengths and virtues

Strengths and virtues are defined as positive characteristics that have moral value. The objectiveof this research wasto investigate the conception of the students of Integrated Technical High School on strengths and virtues, if there is a difference between the conception between female and male students, how they understand the role of strengths and virtues in the choice and performance of the future technical profession and if the perception of the concept differs from the literature.Participated 21 students, 10 girls and 11 boys from the first year of different coursesfrom a Brazilianpublic educational institution.Two focus groups were held on different dates. The results showed thatconceptions brought by the students are related to characteristics responsible for promoting personal and academic goals for current and future situationstotheir professional career.The data obtained can contribute to actions, expanding the possibilities of applying positive psychology in the school context as a resource favorable to learning and the development of strengths and virtues.Prospective research can investigate the impact of strengths and virtues with constructions related to the concept investigated in the present studywith the use of instruments that can collaborate with qualitative data presented.