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CHARACTER STRENGTHS: WHAT ARE THEY AND WHY DO THEY MATTER?

12/4/2018

What Are Character Strengths?

Background: The work of 55 scientists who reviewed historical literature (dating back 2,500 years to Buddhism) on the topics of human virtue, strengths, and goodness culminated in the Values In Action (VIA) classification of 6 universal virtue categories: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence. Additional analysis led to the emergence of 24 character strengths (or pathways to the 6 virtues).
Description:
1. positive traits that 1) describe what is best in human beings, and 2) are valued across cultures
2. the building blocks of a flourishing life
3. pathways to wellbeing