Character and Emotions on Social Media

By Aidan Thompson, Director of Strategic Initiatives The Jubilee Centre for Character & Virtues, University of Birmingham Engaging meaningfully on social media platforms can mean keeping up to date with former friends and colleagues, throwing yourself into discussions and debates with strangers, filtering through endless memes, or watching videos of current affairs, sports, and politics. … Continue reading “Character and Emotions on Social Media”

Happiness is in a good book

By Rachael Hunter, Research Fellow at the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues The child, through emulation, can develop the love of reading that the adult possesses. On the other hand, the child can enhance the adult’s virtues of open mindedness, optimism and courage, which come from a life less tainted by experience. The mental health … Continue reading “Happiness is in a good book”

Friendship in the age of social media: Friend-collectors and well-wishers

By Dr Katy Dineen, Research Fellow Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham What does friendship mean in a world of clicks, likes, emojis and pokes? The idea of a ‘friend’ is becoming increasingly unrecognizable; from a noun denoting some form of sanctuary, sympathy and simpatico to a verb conferring social status (or, … Continue reading “Friendship in the age of social media: Friend-collectors and well-wishers”

Should we still ‘marvel’ at comic book heroes?

By Michael Fullard, Research Fellow Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, University of Birmingham I can only hope that the thousands of fans attending the current Comic-Con convention, and the millions of other fans around the world, ‘marvel’ at these superheroes not only because of their extraordinarily feats of strength or speed, but because of … Continue reading “Should we still ‘marvel’ at comic book heroes?”