Descriptions of every VIA character strength

The VIA® Classification of Character Strengths

The VIA Classification of Strengths is the "backbone" of the science of positive psychology. Click here to take the VIA Survey and discover your character strengths.

"Peterson and Seligman's endeavor to focus on human strengths and virtues is one of the most important initiatives in psychology of the past half century." Howard Gardner, Hobbs Professor of Education and Cognition, Harvard Graduate School of Education

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 Learning: Mastering 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

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

Humanity - Interpersonal strengths that involve tending and befriending others
- Love: Valuing 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

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.

Temperance – Strengths that protect against excess
- Forgiveness: Forgiving 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
- Prudence: Being 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

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
- Gratitude: Being 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

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Click here for a printable version of the VIA Classification of Character Strengths.

How does the VIA Classification compare to other lists of strengths?

The VIA Classification is the product of a multi-year research project with the goal of identifying what's best about human beings and how we use those best characteristics to build our best lives for ourselves and others. What are the human traits that are valued in all cultures, religions and across time? The Classification reflects the world's major religious writings, including the Bible, the Koran, and the Bhagavad Gita, as well as studies of major philosophies. The search was conducted by 55 top social scientists over a period of three years beginning in 2001. The classification has been studied by many scientists with research published in peer-reviewed journals.

The resulting classification of 6 virtues and the 24 character strengths within them form a language of common ground. People - in remote villages in Greenland, or the Ukraine, or in urban Australia - agree upon the goodness of these strengths and virtues. A notable characteristic of the character strengths is that they do not diminish another. For example: all people value wisdom in themselves and others - yet knowing a wise person does not diminish one's self-concept -- rather it elevates it.

The VIA Inventory of Strengths Survey identifies traits of character (consistent traits people universally express across all areas of their life -- home, family, social life, work). Other instruments identify people's talents, skills, aptitudes and personality styles or preferences (such as being an introvert or extrovert) and frequently focus on a specific part of life, such as the workplace.

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