24 Strengths

Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman singled out six core virtues that religious and moral philosophers have, over history and across cultures, tied to human flourishing and achievement of the good life:  courage, humanity, justice, temperance, transcendence, and wisdom.  The 24 strengths are the positive character traits that are components of the virtues.  Courage encompasses bravery, industry (perseverance and diligence), honesty (authenticity, sincerity, and integrity) and vitality. The strengths of Humanity include intimate attachment, kindness, and intelligence.  Justice includes citizenship and teamwork, fairness, and leadership, while Temperance consists of forgiveness and mercy, modesty and humility, prudence, and regulation of oneself. Transcendence is comprised of an appreciation of beauty and excellence (awe and wonder), gratitude, hope (optimism, future-mindedness, future orientation), playfulness and humor, and spirituality. Wisdom contains creativity (originality and ingenuity), curiosity, active open-mindedness, love of learning, and perspective.  Although these strengths are universally valued, individuals almost never display all of them.