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CHARACTER EDUCATION AS A FORM OF RESISTANCE TO SOCIAL PRESSURES

Victoria Ferescu, Ion Croitoru

First published: 2025https://doi.org/10.35603/sws.iscss.2025/s05.68View metrics

Abstract

Contemporary society, marked by axiological instability, cultural conformity and growing social pressures, needs a repositioning on the moral values axis, in which character education is an essential factor of moral and personal resilience of the young people of generations Z and Alpha, born in the era of digital technology, high-speed internet, artificial intelligence, digital assistants and augmented reality. The article analyzes the formative role of character in young people's ability to resist the destructive influences of the social environment - from peer pressure to the moral relativism promoted in the digital space. Starting from a personalist perspective and integrating Christian values with a patristic foundation - in particular from the thought of the Three Hierarchs - the work emphasizes character not only as a set of moral traits, but also as an expression of a conscience enlightened by truth and love. By highlighting the character traits that support resilience - uprightness, discernment, perseverance and moral courage - an educational model can be constructed that not only informs but also forms consciences capable of resisting the temptations of conformity, ideological manipulation and value instability. These traits become inner anchors that enable young people to remain faithful to truth and goodness, even in contexts of intense social pressure, cultivating a genuine and responsible inner freedom. In the applied part, we propose pedagogical strategies to develop these traits, through moral reflection exercises, an empathic educational climate and living formative models. Thus, without character formation, education remains vulnerable to social pressures, and human beings end up lacking inner roots.

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Publication details

Title
CHARACTER EDUCATION AS A FORM OF RESISTANCE TO SOCIAL PRESSURES
Authors
Victoria Ferescu, Ion Croitoru
Proceedings
Proceedings of 12th SWS International Scientific Conference on Social Sciences - ISCSS 2025
Publisher
SGEM WORLD SCIENCE (SWS) Scholarly Society
Year
2025
Pages
565-572
SWS Citekey
Ferescu20259565572
ISSN
2682-9959
ISBN
978-3-903438-16-3
Language
en
Publication type
Proceedings Paper
Keywords
character educationmoral resiliencesocial pressuresChristian personalismThe Holy Three Hierarchsconsciencemoral pedagogy
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