Virtues and strengths Virtues and Strengths Peterson and

Virtues and strengths

Virtues and Strengths Peterson and Seligman Societal concern about good character 1999 survey most important problem facing youth was “not learning values”. Values education in public schools. What is character? Can it be learned, developed? What roles do parents, schools, play?

Develop a classification system Positive Psychology steering committee: Martin Seligman, Christopher Peterson, Mike Csikszentmihalyi, Ed Deiner, Kathleen Jamieson and George Valliant. Looked at historical models. Current research. Develop selection criteria.

Strengths and virtues 1. Contribute to fulfillment. 2. Valued in their own right. 3. Celebrated when present and mourned if lost. 4. Taught by parents and institutions. 5. Subject of parables and morality tales. 6. Held and expresses in different degree. 7. Malleable and learnable. 8. Prompt joyful response from others when expressed.

Virtues Core characteristics valued by moral philosophy and religion. Universal Survival value All needed to be an individual of good character.

The virtues 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Wisdom and knowledge Courage Humanity Justice Temperance Transcendence

Character strengths Psychological ingredients that define the virtues. Routes to display one of the virtues. Ex: virtue of justice displayed by strength of fairness. Person may have only 1 or 2 strengths within a virtue. Rarely display them all

Wisdom 1. Wisdom and knowledge—cognitive strengths that entail the acquisition and use of knowledge. Creativity [originality, ingenuity] Curiosity [interest, novelty-seeking, openness to experience] Open-mindedness [judgment, critical thinking] Love of learning Perspective [wisdom]

Courage 2. Courage—emotional strengths that involve the exercise of will to accomplish goals in the face of opposition, external or internal. Bravery [valor] Persistence [perseverance, industriousness] Integrity [authenticity, honesty] Vitality [zest, enthusiasm, vigor, energy]

Humanity 3. Humanity—interpersonal strengths that involve tending and befriending others. Love Kindness [generosity, nurturance, care, compassion, altruistic love, “niceness”] Social intelligence [emotional intelligence, personal intelligence]

Justice 4. Justice—civic strengths that underlie healthy community life. Citizenship [social responsibility, loyalty, teamwork] Fairness Leadership

Temperance 5. Temperance—strengths that protect against excess Forgiveness and mercy Humility / Modesty Prudence Self-regulation [self-control]

Transcendence 6. Transcendence—strengths that forge connections to the larger universe and provide meaning. Appreciation of beauty and excellence [awe, wonder, elevation] Gratitude Hope [optimism, future-mindedness, future orientation] Humor [playfulness] Spirituality [religiousness, faith, purpose]