Character strengths in the United Kingdom: the VIA inventory of strengths

P. Alex Linley; John Maltby; Alex M. Wood; Stephen Joseph; Susan Harrington; Christopher Peterson; Nansook Park; Martin E.P. Seligman

doi:10.1016/j.paid.2006.12.004

Character strengths in the United Kingdom: the VIA inventory of strengths

P. Alex Linley, John Maltby, Alex M. Wood, Stephen Joseph, Susan Harrington, Christopher Peterson, Nansook Park, Martin E.P. Seligman

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

143 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The development of a classification of strengths, the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths, has done much to advance research into strengths of character. Using an Internet sample of 17,056 UK respondents, we present data on the character strengths of a large UK sample.

Women typically scored higher on strengths than did men. However, four of the top five "signature strengths" of the UK men and women overall were the same (open-mindedness, fairness, curiosity, and love of learning).

Strengths typically showed small but significant positive associations with age, with the strongest associations with age between curiosity and love of learning (strengths of wisdom and knowledge), fairness (a strength of justice), and forgiveness and self-regulation (strengths of temperance). The discussion addresses potential limitations and suggests pertinent directions for future research.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	341-351
Number of pages	11
Journal	Personality and Individual Differences
Volume	43
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2006.12.004
Publication status	Published - 30 Jan 2007

Keywords

Character strengths
UK sample
VIA Inventory of Strengths

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Cite this

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AU - Harrington, Susan

AU - Peterson, Christopher

AU - Park, Nansook

AU - Seligman, Martin E.P.

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Character strengths in the United Kingdom: the VIA inventory of strengths

Abstract

Keywords

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