International Journal of Education & the Arts

Citation: Olander, K., & Saarikallio, S. (2025). Community, identity and control as keywords in building fortitude, grit, and flourishing through positive organizational behavior: The case of Finnish music classes. International Journal of Education & the Arts, 26(18). https://doi.org/10.26209/ijea26n18

This research sought evidence for the claim (Haslam et al., 2009) that supportive communities are essential for the building of positive identity and feeling of control that nurture the social type of resilience. The study investigated the presence of these three elements in an educational context. The data were collected by mixed methods from two Finnish comprehensive schools, including 79 music class students (ages 9–13) and their teachers. The results revealed how the old music class tradition strengthened children’s trust and hope related to their goals. Elements that supported fortitude and a “zone of challenge and vulnerability” were identified and integrated into the grit model of Trust, Hope, and Love (Olander & Saarikallio, 2024a). The resulting model of positive education displays ideal conditions for fostering an educational process that builds personal growth and flourishing.