VIA Caucus on Character
The Virtue Categories

  • Wisdom and Knowledge: traits used to acquire and use information
  • Courage: traits used to exercise will and accomplish goals in the face of opposition
  • Humanity: traits used in caring relationships with others
  • Justice: traits used when individuals interract with groups or community
  • Temperance: traits used to protect from excess
  • Transcendence: traits used to forge connections to the larger universe and thereby provide meaning

The Strengths
Wisdom and Knowledge

  • Creativity: Thinking of New Ways to Do Old Things
  • Curiosity: Finding the World Fascinating
  • Love of Learning: Loving to Learn for its Own Sake
  • Open-mindedness: Looking at Things From All Angles
  • Perspective: Providing Wise Counsel

Courage

  • Integrity: Being Genuine
  • Bravery: Not Shrinking from Fear
  • Persistence: Sticking with Things
  • Zest: Being Excited about Life

Humanity

  • Kindness: Doing Good for Others
  • Capacity to Love and be Loved: Sharing and Caring
  • Social Intelligence: Knowing What Others Think and Feel

Justice

  • Fairness: Treating People Justly
  • Leadership: Inspiring Others
  • Teamwork: Working Well with Others

Temperance

  • Forgiveness: Having Mercy
  • Modesty: Letting What You Do Speak for Itself
  • Prudence: Making Careful Choices
  • Self-Regulation: Being in Charge of Yourself

Transcendence

  • Appreciation of Beauty: Valuing Beauty and Excellence
  • Gratitude: Being Thankful
  • Hope: Expecting the Best
  • Humor: Bringing Smiles to Others
  • Spirituality/Religiousness: Knowing What Matters
The VIA Institute was created in 2000 by the Manuel D. And Rhoda Mayerson Foundation to ask the question: "What are the most important aspects of character and how can they be measured?" With input from the most established scholars in the world, Dr. Marty Seligman and Dr. Chris Peterson created the VIA Classification of Character Strengths in 2004. This Classification defines 24 specific strengths of character that are universally valued. Each person has their own unique pattern of these character traits and each trait occurs with a particular strength.


VIA Character Caucus is managed by the VIA Institute on Character, a non profit organization.
It is an initiative of the Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation located in Cincinnati.
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