Ancient Chinese graph for De (virtue)
The top line: the work of positive psychologists like Martin Seligman appears to show that the happiest people are those that have discovered their unique strengths (such as persistence and critical thinking) and virtues (such as humanity or justice) and use those strengths and virtues for a purpose that is greater than their own personal goals.
You may have had certain strengths that are so natural to you that you may not even consider them strengths. Think about an episode in your life when you were at your very best. What qualities enabled you to perform like that? While there are numerous talents and strengths that humans can possess, Character Strengths and Virtues are ones that humanity universally values. When Martin Seligman and Chris Peterson sought to discover and classify commonly held strengths and virtues across cultures, they created a classification of core virtues that humans morally value no matter their cultural, racial, and religious differences.
Take the VIA Signature Strengths questionnaire to determine your top three signature strengths:
http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx
(Note: you will have to register on the Authentic Happiness website first to take the test. This is a short form that should take only a few minutes to complete).
Current research indicates that you are most likely to value a job, relationship, hobby or institution that aligns with your core signature strengths and allows you to regularly utilize them. In fact, research indicates that one of the best ways to boost your long-term happiness is to use your strengths in new ways and situations, rather than focusing on your weaknesses. This is well in keeping with the philosophy of positive psychology: to focus on the positive in your life, not the negative!
Links to the Philosophy of Happiness
KEY STUDIES
Biswas-Diener, Robert. (2006). From the Equator to the North Pole: A Study of Character Strengths. Journal of Happiness Studies 7:293-310.
Cawley, M. J., Martin, J. E., & Johnson, J. A. (2000).A virtues approach to personality. Personality and Individual Differences, 28, 997–1013.
DeNeve, K. M.&Cooper, H. (1998).The happy personality:Ameta–analysis of 137 personality traits and subjective well–being. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 197–229.
Gillham, J. E., Reivich, K. J., Jaycox, L. H., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1995). Preventing depressive symptoms in schoolchildren: Two year follow–up. Psychological Science, 6, 343–351.
McCullough, M. (2000). Forgiveness as human strength: Theory, measurement, and links to well–being. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 19, 43–55.
Park, N., Peterson, C., Seligman, M. (2004). Strengths of Character and Well Being. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 23, No.5, 2004, pp. 603-619.
Park, N., Peterson C. (2006). Character Strengths and Happiness among Young Children: Content Analysis of Parental Descriptions. Journal of Happiness Studies. Vol.7, 3, 323-341.
Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A classification and handbook.NewYork: Oxford University Press/Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness. New York: Free Press.
Yearley, L. H. (1990). Mencius and Aquinas: Theories of virtue and conceptions of courage. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
This website is a wonderful move in the right direction and a sign of progress with respect to our understanding and appreciation of human flourishing. So thank you for the good work you’re doing.
It occurs to me that we’re seeing a renaissance in philosophy that is anchored in the concerns of everyday life. Here, I thought I’d mention some other useful sites that readers can peruse and explore.
1.) Philosophical Practice. Since the 1990s, trained philosophical counselors (see, for instance, appa.edu) having been working with individuals and institutions on questions concerning the meaning and value of life. Since Freud, the focus has been almost exclusively on individuals who were suffering from mental illness. There’s much to be said for helping those who are suffering, but what about rational, intact individuals who would like to learn how to live better? What of those who are doing all right but find that there’s something in their lives that’s missing? Something left unfulfilled? How could our lives be optimized by coming to understand ourselves more completely?
2.) Organizations: From GDP to Happiness. Among many others, Action for Happiness (actionforhappiness.org) and The Happiness Initiative at Sustainable Seattle (http://sustainableseattle.org/sahi) are seeking to change the topic of conversation from economic growth to happiness metrics. What would society be like, they ask, if we measured economic viability in terms of individual and group happiness?
3.) Public Policy. The UK in particular has begun trying to implement Positive Psychology and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy into its schools. Jules Evans has been discussing this movement at his website (http://www.politicsofwellbeing.com).
4.) Journals and Magazines. The Philosophers’ Magazine (TPM) and the recently launched Journal of Modern Wisdom (http://www.modernwisdom.co.uk) both seek to return philosophy to the public sphere. JMW is quite refreshing and very readable.
5.) Schools. The School of Life and Idlers’ Academy, both of which are based in London, offer courses, seminars, and workshops on philosophy of life for individuals who would like to understand the modern world more clearly.