Summary of Robert E. McGrath & Ryan M. Niemiec's The Power of Character Strengths

Everest Media

Description

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.
Sample Book Insights:
#1 There are 24 central character strengths in human beings, and each strength falls under a larger category called a virtue. These character strengths are the positive parts of our personality, and they are valued by others.
#2 The VIA Classification is a system of character strengths that was developed by the researchers Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman. It was developed to help people understand what makes us human, and it is based on the research of more than fifty scientists.
#3 Character strengths are the basic elements of our identity. When we express these character strengths through our thoughts and actions, research says we tend to feel happier, more connected, and more productive.
#4 The six character strengths are different from our interests and passions, which engage us in topics and activities we enjoy, and from our skills, which we develop and improve over time. They are centered on our feelings, intuitions, and emotional relationships.

Sujets

• Général
• Self-help

Informations

• Publié par: Everest Media LLC
• Date de parution: 05 mai 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9798822500723
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Insights on Robert E. McGrath & Ryan M. Niemiec's The Power of Character Strengths
Contents Insights from Chapter 1 Insights from Chapter 2 Insights from Chapter 3 Insights from Chapter 4
Insights from Chapter 1

#1

There are 24 central character strengths in human beings, and each strength falls under a larger category called a virtue. These character strengths are the positive parts of our personality, and they are valued by others.

#2

The VIA Classification is a system of character strengths that was developed by the researchers Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman. It was developed to help people understand what makes us human, and it is based on the research of more than fifty scientists.

#3

Character strengths are the basic elements of our identity. When we express these character strengths through our thoughts and actions, research says we tend to feel happier, more connected, and more productive.

#4

The six character strengths are different from our interests and passions, which engage us in topics and activities we enjoy, and from our skills, which we develop and improve over time. They are centered on our feelings, intuitions, and emotional relationships.

#5

The importance of character strengths can be seen in how they help us see what is best in ourselves and others, and how they help us overcome the negative aspects of life. They help us learn from and reframe the negative.

#6

All of us have blind spots in our self-understanding. We don’t know everything about ourselves, and in some cases, others are more aware of how we are coming across than we are.

#7

The field of psychology has developed a common language for talking about what’s best in people. This was accomplished in 2004 with the VIA Classification of Character Strengths and Virtues.

#8

Character is plural. It cannot be captured in a single concept such as honesty or integrity, but people express a variety of character strengths, and almost always are expressing multiple strengths at the same time.

#9

After you have explored your top strengths, consider how you bring forth your middle and lesser strengths, and boost those. Each strength can make a positive difference in your life and the lives of others.

#10

Your character can be developed. The last decade of research in personality psychology has shown that your personality, including your character, can change. These changes can be caused by changes in your life role, such as getting married, having a child, or joining the military, or by unexpected events, such as a trauma experience.

#11

It is easy to take your strengths for granted. They are present in many small ways that are important for your life. Many researchers have discussed how strengths can present as Big and little. For example, Creativity is a strength that has a huge impact, while little c creativity is shown in your thinking of a new way to drive home that avoids bad traffic.

#12

Once you have the language of 24 strengths in hand, you can be mindful of how they appear in many big and small ways in your life. You can watch movies and television in a new way, take a fresh look at what people say on social media, and see strengths in every conversation.

#13

strengths-spotting involves two simple steps: labeling the character strength you notice during any observation or conversation, and describing how you see the character strength being expressed.

#14

The VIA Survey is the only free, online test of these character strengths. It is comprehensive, in that after you spend fifteen minutes taking it, you’ll receive your strengths profile, a personal rank-ordered list of the 24 strengths.
Insights from Chapter 2

#1

In this section, you will learn what science has shown about each character strength. You will learn why this particular strength matters, why it is important to use it, and what outcomes might be expected if you regularly use this strength in a balanced way in your life.

#2

Self-reflection and self-exploration are important for building insights into your character. For each strength, you'll find a number of questions you can think about, journal on, or discuss with others.

#3

The most powerful way to strengthen a character strength is to observe others and learn from them. This can be done by listening to people’s stories of strengths use, or by observing the behaviors of others.

#4

There are seven to ten concrete, practical strategies for using each character strength in daily life. Some of these are evidence- or research-based activities, and others are commonsense wisdom.

#5

When you express your character strengths in your actions, that is not a guarantee that what you do will be successful, well-received by others, or the best choice for the situation. You can overuse a strength by coming across too intensely for the situation or by negatively impacting another person unintentionally.
Insights from Chapter 3

#1

The VIA Classification defines wisdom as the ability to gain knowledge and use it effectively to solve problems. Wisdom is related to intelligence, but it is different. A person can be naturally smart, but that does not mean they put effort into learning deeply about the world and challenging their beliefs.

#2

Creativity is the ability to generate new ideas and behaviors. It is not enough for these ideas and behaviors to be original, they must also be useful or adaptable. People gravitate toward those who are highly creative, as they can generate unique ideas and strategies that build their knowledge and the knowledge of others.

#3

The benefits of the strength of creativity include the following: creativity helps you solve practical problems, especially when you begin thinking in new ways about the causes and consequences of everyday life events.