If you want to know more about your character strengths, there is a website from the University of Pennsylvania that you can access and you go into the questionnaire section and take a test to determine what your strengths are. I think it's called the VIA Survey of Character Strengths. It's free, you just have to register.
https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu
My six traits were persistence, love of learning, leadership, kindness, forgiveness, and gratitude
Below, I also copied more information about the 24 character strengths noted by Dr. Seligman - from the following website:
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-character-strengths-4843090
The 24 character strengths that Dr. Seligman identified are divided into six classes of virtues. These six virtues include wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence. Here is a closer look at the six virtues and the character strengths that are classified under each.
Wisdom
Those who score high in the area of wisdom tend to have cognitive strengths that lead them to not only acquire knowledge but to use it in creative and useful ways. Here is an overview of the core character strengths that fall under wisdom.
- Creativity: Thinking of new ways to do things
- Curiosity: Taking an interest in a wide variety of topics
- Open-Mindedness: Examining things from all sides; thinking things through
- Love of Learning: Mastering new topics, skills, and bodies of research
- Perspective: Being able to provide wise counsel to others; looking at the world in a way that makes sense
Courage
People who score high in courage have emotional strengths that allow them to accomplish goals despite any opposition they face—whether internal or external. Here is a closer look at the core character strengths that are classified under courage.
- Honesty: Speaking the truth; being authentic and genuine
- Bravery: Embracing challenges, difficulties, or pain; not shrinking from threat
- Persistence: Finishing things once they are started
- Zest: Approaching all things in life with energy and excitement
Humanity
Those who score high in humanity have a range of interpersonal strengths that involve caring for and befriending others. Here's an overview of the core character strengths that are classified under humanity.
- Kindness: Doing favors and good deeds
- Love: Valuing close relations with others
- Social Intelligence: Being aware of other people's motives and feelings
Justice
People who have a number of character strengths under justice tend to possess civic strengths that underscore the importance of a healthy community. Here is a closer look at the core character strengths that fall under justice.
- Fairness: Treating all people the same
- Leadership: Organizing group activities and making sure they happen
- Teamwork: Working well with others as a group or a team
Temperance
Those who score have a number of character strengths that fall under temperance tend to have strengths that protect against the excesses in life. Here's an overview of the core character strengths that fall under temperance.
- Forgiveness: Forgiving others who have wronged them
- Modesty: Letting one's successes and accomplishments stand on their own
- Prudence: Avoiding doing things they might regret; making good choices
- Self-Regulation: Being disciplined; controlling one's appetites and emotions
Transcendence
People who have a number of character strengths that fall under transcendence tend to forge connections with God, the universe, or religions that provide meaning, purpose, and understanding. Here's a closer look at the core character strengths that fall under transcendence.
- Appreciation of Beauty: Noticing and appreciating beauty and excellence in everything
- Gratitude: Being thankful for the good things; taking time to express thanks
- Hope: Expecting the best; working to make it happen; believing good things are possible
- Humor: Making other people smile or laugh; enjoying jokes
- Religiousness: Having a solid belief about a higher purpose and meaning of life
How Character Strengths Are Used
One of the main reasons for assessing character strengths is to use that information to understand, identify, and build on a person's strengths.
Knowing a person's character strengths provides a lens through which psychologists, educators, and even parents can see not only what makes a person unique, but also understand how to help that person build on those strengths to improve situations or outcomes.
For example, one widely researched strategy involves encouraging people to use their signature strengths in a new way each week. In fact, one study found that having adults do this every day led to increases in happiness and decreases in depression for six months.
This study then became the basis for several more studies that utilized the same methods for older adults, employees, and people with traumatic brain injuries. Another approach involves focusing on a person's lowest-rated strengths in an attempt to enhance those areas of their lives.
Research also has demonstrated the living through a traumatic event can impact character strengths. In the six months following the 9/11 attacks, the character strengths of religiousness, hope, and love were elevated among U.S. respondents but not among European respondents.
