What’s New: VIA strengths updated

All 24 VIA Character strengths are updated with information on tapping into each including book recommendations. 

  1. Wisdom and Knowledge – Cognitive strengths that entail the acquisition and use of knowledge

       

    • Creativity [originality, ingenuity]: Thinking of novel and productive ways to conceptualize and do things; includes artistic achievement but is not limited to it
    • Curiosity [interest, novelty-seeking, openness to experience]: Taking an interest in ongoing experience for its own sake; finding subjects and topics fascinating; exploring and discovering
    • Judgment [critical thinking]: Thinking things through and examining them from all sides; not jumping to conclusions; being able to change one’s mind in light of evidence; weighing all evidence fairly
    • Love of LearningMastering new skills, topics, and bodies of knowledge, whether on one’s own or formally; obviously related to the strength of curiosity but goes beyond it to describe the tendency to add systematically to what one knows
    • Perspective [wisdom]: Being able to provide wise counsel to others; having ways of looking at the world that make sense to oneself and to other people
  2. Courage – Emotional strengths that involve the exercise of will to accomplish goals in the face of opposition, external or internal

       

    • Bravery [valor]: Not shrinking from threat, challenge, difficulty, or pain; speaking up for what is right even if there is opposition; acting on convictions even if unpopular; includes physical bravery but is not limited to it
    • Perseverance [persistence, industriousness]: Finishing what one starts; persisting in a course of action in spite of obstacles; “getting it out the door”; taking pleasure in completing tasks
    • Honesty [authenticity, integrity]: Speaking the truth but more broadly presenting oneself in a genuine way and acting in a sincere way; being without pretense; taking responsibility for one’s feelings and actions
    • Zest [vitality, enthusiasm, vigor, energy]: Approaching life with excitement and energy; not doing things halfway or halfheartedly; living life as an adventure; feeling alive and activated
  3. Humanity – Interpersonal strengths that involve tending and befriending others

       

    • LoveValuing close relations with others, in particular those in which sharing and caring are reciprocated; being close to people
    • Kindness [generosity, nurturance, care, compassion, altruistic love, “niceness”]: Doing favors and good deeds for others; helping them; taking care of them
    • Social Intelligence [emotional intelligence, personal intelligence]: Being aware of the motives and feelings of other people and oneself; knowing what to do to fit into different social situations; knowing what makes other people tick
  4. Justice – Civic strengths that underlie healthy community life

       

    • Teamwork [citizenship, social responsibility, loyalty]: Working well as a member of a group or team; being loyal to the group; doing one’s share
    • Fairness: Treating all people the same according to notions of fairness and justice; not letting personal feelings bias decisions about others; giving everyone a fair chance.
    • Leadership: Encouraging a group of which one is a member to get things done, and at the same time maintaining good relations within the group; organizing group activities and seeing that they happen.
  5. Temperance – Strengths that protect against excess

       

    • ForgivenessForgiving those who have done wrong; accepting the shortcomings of others; giving people a second chance; not being vengeful
    • Humility Letting one’s accomplishments speak for themselves; not regarding oneself as more special than one is
    • PrudenceBeing careful about one’s choices; not taking undue risks; not saying or doing things that might later be regretted
    • Self-Regulation [self-control]: Regulating what one feels and does; being disciplined; controlling one’s appetites and emotions
  6. Transcendence – Strengths that forge connections to the larger universe and provide meaning

       

    • Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence [awe, wonder, elevation]: Noticing and appreciating beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in various domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience
    • GratitudeBeing aware of and thankful for the good things that happen; taking time to express thanks
    • Hope [optimism, future-mindedness, future orientation]: Expecting the best in the future and working to achieve it; believing that a good future is something that can be brought about
    • Humor [playfulness]: Liking to laugh and tease; bringing smiles to other people; seeing the light side; making (not necessarily telling) jokes
    • Spirituality [faith, purpose]: Having coherent beliefs about the higher purpose and meaning of the universe; knowing where one fits within the larger scheme; having beliefs about the meaning of life that shape conduct and provide comfort

© 2004-2013 VIA® Institute on Character; All Rights Reserved

Locations of visitors to this page