What Are the 24 Character Strengths?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistoryCharacter StrengthsAssessingMaximizing

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

History

Character Strengths

Assessing

Maximizing

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Learn how the idea of these character strengths came about, how they are organized, and how to assess which strengths a person may possess. We also share ways to maximize one’s character strengths, enabling a person to live to their fullest potential.

History of the 24 Character Strengths

A character strength inventory can identify both a person’s strengths and ways they can use those strengths in their life. Building on one’s positive character strengths can help them improve their life andemotional well-being, as well as address the challenges and difficulties they are facing.

It’s also important to note that the 24 character strengths that these tools identify have been studied across cultures.These strengths are important components of individual and social well-being globally, with different strengths predicting different outcomes.

For instance, intellectual, emotional, and interpersonal character strengths can help a person better cope with work-related stressors, ultimately impacting their level of job satisfaction.Interventions that help build character strengths can also improve the psychological well-being of people withchronic illnesses.

Classification of Character Strengths

The 24 character strengths are divided into six classes of virtues: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.Here is a closer look at the six virtues and the positive character strengths that are grouped with each of them.

Wisdom

Those who score high in the area of wisdom tend to have character strengths that lead them to acquire knowledge and use it in creative and useful ways. The core wisdom character strengths are:

Courage

People who score high in courage have emotional character strengths that allow them toaccomplish goalsdespite any opposition they face—whether internal or external. The character strengths associated with courage are:

Humanity

Those who score high in humanity have a range of interpersonal character strengths that involve caring for andbefriending others. These core character strengths are:

Justice

People who arestrong in justicetend to possess civic strengths that underscore the importance of a healthy community. The character strengths in the justice group are:

Temperance

Those who score high in temperance tend to have strengths that protect against the excesses in life. These strengths are:

Transcendence

People who are strong in transcendence tend to forge connections with God, the universe, or religions that provide meaning, purpose, and understanding. The core positive character strengths associated with transcendence are:

Positive Character Traits ListThe 24 positive character strengths are split into six virtue classes:Wisdom: Creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspectiveCourage: Honesty, bravery, persistence, zestHumanity: Kindness, love, social intelligenceJustice: Fairness, leadership, teamworkTemperance: Forgiveness, modesty, prudence, self-regulationTranscendence: Appreciation of beauty, gratitude, hope, humor, religiousness

Positive Character Traits List

The 24 positive character strengths are split into six virtue classes:Wisdom: Creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspectiveCourage: Honesty, bravery, persistence, zestHumanity: Kindness, love, social intelligenceJustice: Fairness, leadership, teamworkTemperance: Forgiveness, modesty, prudence, self-regulationTranscendence: Appreciation of beauty, gratitude, hope, humor, religiousness

The 24 positive character strengths are split into six virtue classes:

How Character Strengths Are Assessed

A person’s character strengths can be determined using one of two inventories. The VIA Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) is for people aged 18 and older, while the VIA Inventory of Strengths—Youth Version (VIA-Youth) is designed for kids and teens aged 10 to 17.

The goal behind the classification of strengths is to focus on what is right about people rather than pathologize what is wrong with them. It’s important to point out that people typically have varying degrees of each positive character strength. In other words, they will be high in some strengths, average in some, and low in others.

There is no single indicator of good character. Instead, a person’s character should be viewed across a continuum.

The VIA Institute on Character stresses that the traits not included as signature strengths are not necessarily weaknesses, but rather lesser strengths in comparison to the others.Likewise, the top five strengths should not be rigidly interpreted because there are usually no meaningful differences in their magnitudes.

How to Be a Better Person

Uses for Character Strengths

One of the main reasons for assessing positive character strengths is to use this information to better understand, identify, and build on these strengths. For example, identifying and harnessing character strengths can help young people experience greater academic success.It can also help peopleincrease feelings of happiness.

Knowinga person’s characterstrengths provides a lens through which psychologists, educators, and even parents can look. It helps them see not only what makes a person unique but also enables them to better understand how to help that person build on those strengths to improve their situations or outcomes.

For example, one strategy involves encouraging people to use their signature strengths in a new way each week. Studies have found that taking this approach can lead to increases in happiness anddecreases in depression.Another approach involves focusing on a person’s lowest-rated character strengths in an attempt to enhance those areas of their lives.

Summary

Overall, determining and using one’s character strengths has the potential to improve their health and well-being, enhance their job performance, and improve their academic success. It’s also a more positive way of viewing and improving oneself than focusing on their shortcomings and faults.

Why Learn About Your Personality Type?

13 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lavy S.A review of character strengths interventions in twenty-first-century schools: their importance and how they can be fostered.App Res Qual Life. 2019;15:573-596. doi:10.1007/s11482-018-9700-6Wagner L.Good character is what we look for in a friend: Character strengths are positively related to peer acceptance and friendship quality in early adolescents.J Early Adolesc. 2018;39(6):864-903. doi:10.1177/0272431618791286VIA Institute on Character.About.Harzer C, Ruch W.The relationships of character strengths with coping, work-related stress, and job satisfaction.Front Psychol. 2015;6:165. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00165McGrath RE.Character strengths in 75 nations: An update.J Posit Psychol. 2015;10(1):41-52. doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.888580Yan T, Chan C, Ming Chow K, Zheng W, Sun M.A systematic review of the effects of character strengths-based intervention on the psychological well-being of patients suffering from chronic illnesses.J Adv Nurs. 2020;76(7):1567-1580. doi:10.1111/jan.14356Najderska M, Cieciuch J.The structure of character strengths: variable- and person-centered approaches.Front Psychol. 2018;9:153. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00153Wagner L, Ruch W.Good character at school: positive classroom behavior mediates the link between character strengths and school achievement.Front Psychol. 2015;6:610. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00610VIA Institute on Character.Frequently asked questions.Schutte NS, Malouff JM.The impact of signature character strengths interventions: A meta-analysis.J Happiness Stud. 2018;10:1179-1196. doi:10.1007/s10902-018-9990-2Abdullah Basurrah A, O’Sullivan D, Seeho Chan J.A character strengths intervention for happiness and depression in Saudi Arabia: A replication of Seligman et al.’s (2005) study.Midd East J Pos Psychol. 2020;6:41-72.Schueller SM, Jayawickreme E, Blackie LER, Forgeard MJC, Roepke AM.Finding character strengths through loss: An extension of Peterson and Seligman (2003).J Pos Psychol. 2015;10(1):53-63. doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.920405Raney AA, Ai AL, Paloutzian RF.Faith factors, character strengths, and depression following Hurricane Michael.Int J Psychol Religion. 2022;32(4):330-346. doi:10.1080/10508619.2022.2029045

13 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lavy S.A review of character strengths interventions in twenty-first-century schools: their importance and how they can be fostered.App Res Qual Life. 2019;15:573-596. doi:10.1007/s11482-018-9700-6Wagner L.Good character is what we look for in a friend: Character strengths are positively related to peer acceptance and friendship quality in early adolescents.J Early Adolesc. 2018;39(6):864-903. doi:10.1177/0272431618791286VIA Institute on Character.About.Harzer C, Ruch W.The relationships of character strengths with coping, work-related stress, and job satisfaction.Front Psychol. 2015;6:165. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00165McGrath RE.Character strengths in 75 nations: An update.J Posit Psychol. 2015;10(1):41-52. doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.888580Yan T, Chan C, Ming Chow K, Zheng W, Sun M.A systematic review of the effects of character strengths-based intervention on the psychological well-being of patients suffering from chronic illnesses.J Adv Nurs. 2020;76(7):1567-1580. doi:10.1111/jan.14356Najderska M, Cieciuch J.The structure of character strengths: variable- and person-centered approaches.Front Psychol. 2018;9:153. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00153Wagner L, Ruch W.Good character at school: positive classroom behavior mediates the link between character strengths and school achievement.Front Psychol. 2015;6:610. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00610VIA Institute on Character.Frequently asked questions.Schutte NS, Malouff JM.The impact of signature character strengths interventions: A meta-analysis.J Happiness Stud. 2018;10:1179-1196. doi:10.1007/s10902-018-9990-2Abdullah Basurrah A, O’Sullivan D, Seeho Chan J.A character strengths intervention for happiness and depression in Saudi Arabia: A replication of Seligman et al.’s (2005) study.Midd East J Pos Psychol. 2020;6:41-72.Schueller SM, Jayawickreme E, Blackie LER, Forgeard MJC, Roepke AM.Finding character strengths through loss: An extension of Peterson and Seligman (2003).J Pos Psychol. 2015;10(1):53-63. doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.920405Raney AA, Ai AL, Paloutzian RF.Faith factors, character strengths, and depression following Hurricane Michael.Int J Psychol Religion. 2022;32(4):330-346. doi:10.1080/10508619.2022.2029045

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Lavy S.A review of character strengths interventions in twenty-first-century schools: their importance and how they can be fostered.App Res Qual Life. 2019;15:573-596. doi:10.1007/s11482-018-9700-6Wagner L.Good character is what we look for in a friend: Character strengths are positively related to peer acceptance and friendship quality in early adolescents.J Early Adolesc. 2018;39(6):864-903. doi:10.1177/0272431618791286VIA Institute on Character.About.Harzer C, Ruch W.The relationships of character strengths with coping, work-related stress, and job satisfaction.Front Psychol. 2015;6:165. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00165McGrath RE.Character strengths in 75 nations: An update.J Posit Psychol. 2015;10(1):41-52. doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.888580Yan T, Chan C, Ming Chow K, Zheng W, Sun M.A systematic review of the effects of character strengths-based intervention on the psychological well-being of patients suffering from chronic illnesses.J Adv Nurs. 2020;76(7):1567-1580. doi:10.1111/jan.14356Najderska M, Cieciuch J.The structure of character strengths: variable- and person-centered approaches.Front Psychol. 2018;9:153. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00153Wagner L, Ruch W.Good character at school: positive classroom behavior mediates the link between character strengths and school achievement.Front Psychol. 2015;6:610. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00610VIA Institute on Character.Frequently asked questions.Schutte NS, Malouff JM.The impact of signature character strengths interventions: A meta-analysis.J Happiness Stud. 2018;10:1179-1196. doi:10.1007/s10902-018-9990-2Abdullah Basurrah A, O’Sullivan D, Seeho Chan J.A character strengths intervention for happiness and depression in Saudi Arabia: A replication of Seligman et al.’s (2005) study.Midd East J Pos Psychol. 2020;6:41-72.Schueller SM, Jayawickreme E, Blackie LER, Forgeard MJC, Roepke AM.Finding character strengths through loss: An extension of Peterson and Seligman (2003).J Pos Psychol. 2015;10(1):53-63. doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.920405Raney AA, Ai AL, Paloutzian RF.Faith factors, character strengths, and depression following Hurricane Michael.Int J Psychol Religion. 2022;32(4):330-346. doi:10.1080/10508619.2022.2029045

Lavy S.A review of character strengths interventions in twenty-first-century schools: their importance and how they can be fostered.App Res Qual Life. 2019;15:573-596. doi:10.1007/s11482-018-9700-6

Wagner L.Good character is what we look for in a friend: Character strengths are positively related to peer acceptance and friendship quality in early adolescents.J Early Adolesc. 2018;39(6):864-903. doi:10.1177/0272431618791286

VIA Institute on Character.About.

Harzer C, Ruch W.The relationships of character strengths with coping, work-related stress, and job satisfaction.Front Psychol. 2015;6:165. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00165

McGrath RE.Character strengths in 75 nations: An update.J Posit Psychol. 2015;10(1):41-52. doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.888580

Yan T, Chan C, Ming Chow K, Zheng W, Sun M.A systematic review of the effects of character strengths-based intervention on the psychological well-being of patients suffering from chronic illnesses.J Adv Nurs. 2020;76(7):1567-1580. doi:10.1111/jan.14356

Najderska M, Cieciuch J.The structure of character strengths: variable- and person-centered approaches.Front Psychol. 2018;9:153. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00153

Wagner L, Ruch W.Good character at school: positive classroom behavior mediates the link between character strengths and school achievement.Front Psychol. 2015;6:610. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00610

VIA Institute on Character.Frequently asked questions.

Schutte NS, Malouff JM.The impact of signature character strengths interventions: A meta-analysis.J Happiness Stud. 2018;10:1179-1196. doi:10.1007/s10902-018-9990-2

Abdullah Basurrah A, O’Sullivan D, Seeho Chan J.A character strengths intervention for happiness and depression in Saudi Arabia: A replication of Seligman et al.’s (2005) study.Midd East J Pos Psychol. 2020;6:41-72.

Schueller SM, Jayawickreme E, Blackie LER, Forgeard MJC, Roepke AM.Finding character strengths through loss: An extension of Peterson and Seligman (2003).J Pos Psychol. 2015;10(1):53-63. doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.920405

Raney AA, Ai AL, Paloutzian RF.Faith factors, character strengths, and depression following Hurricane Michael.Int J Psychol Religion. 2022;32(4):330-346. doi:10.1080/10508619.2022.2029045

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