The 24 VIA character strengths at a glance
The VIA classification describes 24 positive qualities everyone has in different amounts. A strength near the bottom of your list is not a weakness, just one you reach for less often, so skim the summaries to find the ones that feel familiar.
Find your signature strengths with the VIA testThe 24 VIA character strengths
Wisdom
Strengths of learning, thinking and finding new ways
- CreativityYou tend to link ideas in new ways and improve how things are done.
- CuriosityYour curiosity keeps you asking questions, exploring, and broadening your view.
- JudgmentYou tend to weigh the evidence and make balanced judgments.
- Love of learningYou enjoy learning for its own sake and building your knowledge over time.
- PerspectiveYou’re good at seeing the big picture and suggesting a direction worth taking.
Courage
Strengths of pushing toward goals despite difficulty
Humanity
Strengths of caring for and connecting with others
Justice
Strengths that keep communities fair and healthy
Temperance
Strengths that guard against excess and keep balance
- ForgivenessAfter a conflict, you can help mend things and start fresh.
- HumilityYou tend to stay grounded and open to learning and collaboration.
- PrudenceYou tend to consider risks carefully and choose safer options.
- Self-regulationYou can keep your impulses in check and stay on track toward your goals.
Transcendence
Strengths that connect you to a larger meaning and enrich your life
- Appreciation of beautyYou notice beauty and excellence and let them refresh you.
- GratitudeYou notice what you’re grateful for, which can make daily life and relationships more satisfying.
- HopeYou move forward with hope for the future and a plan to get there.
- HumorYou use humor to ease tension and set the right tone with people.
- SpiritualityYou look to meaning, values, and the bigger picture to set your direction in life.
Twenty-four strengths under six virtues
The VIA classification groups 24 character strengths under six virtues valued across many cultures and philosophical traditions: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance and transcendence. A virtue is a broad direction; a strength is a concrete way of living it out. Courage, for instance, can show up as stepping forward despite fear, sticking with something to the end, speaking honestly, or throwing yourself in with energy, each a different strength. The classification was put together by positive psychologists Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman after comparing lists of virtues across traditions.
A VIA result ranks all 24 strengths, and the top few are called signature strengths: the ones that feel natural and even energizing to use. Strengths lower on the list are not missing; you simply reach for them less often. Any strength can look like a weakness when overused, so finding the right amount for the situation matters more than the ranking itself. Too much prudence can look like hesitation, and too much humor like dodging serious talk. So use your result to choose which strengths to draw on more right now, rather than to define yourself narrowly.
Common questions
How many signature strengths should I count?
The top three to seven are usually treated as signature strengths. Among them, pick the ones that feel truly like you and leave you energized rather than drained. If several rank close together, think about which ones you actually used most in recent weeks. Signature strengths can shift a little with life stage and role, so it is worth checking again every year or two.
Should I build up my lowest strengths?
Not necessarily. Strengths research and practice suggest that using your signature strengths in new ways tends to do more for well-being than forcing up weaker ones. If a strength is essential for your work or relationships, though, you can practice it a little at a time through small habits.
Are character strengths the same as talents?
No. Talents, like music or arithmetic, are closer to natural aptitudes; character strengths, like kindness or perseverance, are good qualities in how you act and relate to others. You can choose and practice to use character strengths more often.
Keep reading
- Character strengths ranked: all 24 VIA strengths among Korean and US respondentsKorean respondents rated honesty, love and fairness highest. All 24 VIA strengths ranked for Korea and the US from a 75-nation study, and how to read them.
- VIA strengths vs RIASEC: what does each show?VIA reveals the character strengths that energize you; RIASEC maps the work you are drawn to. Learn to read both together and use your strengths at work.
- How to build self-esteem: 7 small habits you can start todaySelf-esteem is not bragging but a steady sense that you are okay. See why comparison and perfectionism shake it, plus 7 small daily habits that help.
These are self-reflection descriptions, not a diagnosis. People with the same type can differ a lot by person and situation.