VIA Inventory of Strengths
Values in Action Inventory of Strengths · Also known as: VIA Character Strengths, VIA-IS
The Values in Action (VIA) Inventory of Strengths, developed by Peterson and Seligman in 2004, is a comprehensive instrument designed to identify and measure 24 core character strengths organized under six virtues. Grounded in ancient philosophy and contemporary psychology, the VIA shifts the focus from deficits and pathology to human strengths and positive potential. It exists in multiple versions (full 240-item VIA-240, brief 96-item VIA-96, and mobile-optimized formats), making it accessible for research, clinical practice, coaching, and organizational development.
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When to use it
Positive psychology coaching and career counseling to identify client strengths and build development plans; educational settings to foster strength-based learning and resilience; organizational talent development and leadership assessment; clinical practice (especially trauma recovery, depression, PTSD) to shift focus toward what is right with the person; research on how strength cultivation relates to well-being, life satisfaction, and recovery; character education and virtue-based programs in schools and communities.
Strengths & limitations
- Comprehensive mapping of 24 strengths across six virtues; one of the most thorough classification systems of human strengths
- Strength-based orientation shifts conversation from deficits to assets; particularly powerful in clinical contexts to restore agency and identity
- Available in multiple versions and languages (50+); flexible administration time (5–40 min) suits diverse contexts
- Strong theoretical foundation grounded in philosophical and cross-cultural analysis of virtue traditions
- Free online assessment available (viacharacter.org) enabling widespread access for personal development and research
- Extensive normative data and research base; used in hundreds of published studies and applied programs
- Some overlap between conceptually similar strengths (e.g., Leadership and Teamwork) leading to multicollinearity in research analyses
- Longer versions (VIA-240) require significant time commitment; respondent fatigue can affect response consistency
- Self-report bias: respondents may rate themselves according to social desirability or cultural ideals rather than lived reality
- Limited clinical validation for specific populations (e.g., autism spectrum, severe mental illness); most research in general and higher-education samples
- Strength scores on the VIA correlate moderately with each other; independence of the 24 constructs is imperfect
- Cultural variation in how strengths are valued and expressed; some strengths (e.g., humility, spirituality) may be interpreted differently across nations
Frequently asked
If I score low on a particular strength, does that mean I am deficient in that character trait?
No. Lower scores indicate a strength that is less central to your identity or daily expression; it does not mean you lack the capacity for that strength. All strengths exist in everyone on a spectrum. Development of lesser strengths is possible and sometimes desirable depending on life goals.
How do I use my VIA results in coaching or therapy?
Typical approaches include: (1) deepening awareness of signature strengths and how they appear in daily life; (2) identifying how strengths can be applied to current challenges; (3) considering whether lesser-developed strengths might support specific life goals; (4) building strength development plans aligned with the client's vision. Discussion of top and bottom strengths is most actionable.
Can the VIA be used in clinical settings alongside symptom measures like PHQ-9?
Yes. A growing body of literature supports combining strength identification (VIA) with symptom measurement (PHQ-9, etc.) in clinical practice. Identifying strengths alongside symptoms provides a more complete picture and can motivate engagement and resilience-building.
How does the VIA differ from personality assessments like the Big Five or Myers-Briggs?
The VIA measures character strengths and virtues—positive qualities valued across cultures and conducive to well-being. Personality measures (Big Five, MBTI) assess traits that are morally neutral (extraversion is neither good nor bad). VIA is strengths-focused; personality measures are descriptive.
Sources
- Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. Oxford University Press. link ↗
- McGrath, R. E. (2015). Integrating psychological and cultural perspectives on virtue: The hierarchical structure of character strengths. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(3), 208–214. DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2014.994222 ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Values in Action Inventory of Strengths. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/positive-psychology/via-character-strengths
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