Reimagining character formation: a new approach to guiding young people

In a thought-provoking book launch at Murphy Clarke Financial Ltd on November 9, Opus Dei priest Fr Mark Georges introduced his groundbreaking work, Introduction to Anthropology of Integration, offering a fresh perspective on character development for young people in today’s complex world.

During an engaging interview with journalist Franka Philip, Fr Georges explained the book emerged from his extensive work with youth, recognising the profound challenges facing younger generations.

“Young people live in a world that is very confusing,” he noted, highlighting the rise of identity politics and the growing divide between different social groups.

The book proposes a radical departure from traditional character education. Instead of prescribing rigid rules or moral lectures, Fr Georges advocates for a more nuanced, empathetic approach. “Before, what we would do was teach character as a rise of obligation, a series of things that you need to do,” he explained. “Now, we need a new approach where rather than telling people what to do, we try to have them see and discover it for themselves.”

Central to this new methodology is what Fr Georges calls a three-principle strategy: knowing, accepting, and doing. This approach uses storytelling as a powerful tool for moral education. By presenting scenarios and asking thought-provoking questions, educators and parents can guide young people to discover values naturally.

Take, for instance, the book’s approach to addressing bullying. Rather than simply condemning negative behaviour, the method encourages young people to empathise. “We want to say, ‘Well, here’s a story. What do you think here? What happens? If you were in that person’s position, would you like to be treated this way?’” This technique helps young people internalise values like kindness through personal reflection.

A key philosophical underpinning of the work is the belief in human dignity and inherent goodness. “Everybody’s a good person deep down,” Fr Georges emphasised. This perspective challenges prevailing narratives that view individuals as permanently damaged by their circumstances. “We don’t want to say that any person, because of their crime or because of where they’ve grown up or whatever disadvantage, that they have no chance.”

The book also addresses the emotional challenges faced by young people, particularly young men. Fr Georges advocates for a healthy approach to emotions, arguing that feelings themselves are not problematic. “Don’t be afraid of emotions. Emotions are good,” he said, suggesting that emotions can be constructive when properly understood and channelled.

For parents and educators, the book offers a hopeful message. Adults must learn to let go of rigid scripts and be open to dialogue. “We’re quick to want to tell them what to do,” Fr Georges noted, “but we need to know how to let go of that and help them think about long-term consequences.”

The methodology has already shown promising results. Communities Alive, which hosted the launch, reports implementations in 22 countries and eight languages. The approach focuses on preventative character formation, starting with children as young as five and guiding them through different developmental stages.

Virtues are presented not as a checklist of behaviours, but as natural expressions of fundamental human values. “We’re putting the dignity of the person at the core,” Fr Georges explained. Virtues like loyalty, charity, and dependability are connected to relatable life goals such as maintaining good relationships and building strong friendships.

Introduction to Anthropology of Integration represents more than just a book—it’s a comprehensive framework for understanding human development. By emphasising empathy, personal discovery, and intrinsic human dignity, Fr Georges offers a refreshing and hopeful approach to guiding young people in an increasingly complex world.

Assisted generation using Claude.ai