VIA Institute on Character: Unlock Your Character Strengths Today
Why does understanding your character matter? Your character strengths are the positive traits that energize you, represent your authentic self, and contribute to your overall well-being and success. The VIA Institute on Character has developed the world's most scientifically rigorous character assessment, helping over 20 million people worldwide discover their unique combination of strengths.
What is the VIA Institute on Character Assessment?
The VIA Institute on Character, founded by Dr. Christopher Peterson and Dr. Martin Seligman, represents decades of psychological research into human strengths and virtues. This comprehensive assessment identifies your top character strengths from 24 scientifically-validated traits, providing insights that can transform how you approach work, relationships, and personal growth.
Unlike other personality tests that focus on preferences or behaviors, the VIA assessment examines your core character—the essential qualities that make you who you are. The VIA Institute has established this tool as the gold standard for character assessment, used by researchers, educators, coaches, and individuals worldwide.
How the Assessment Works
| Duration | 15-20 minutes |
|---|---|
| Questions | 96 statements to rate |
| Output | Ranked list of 24 character strengths with detailed descriptions |
| Format | Self-assessment questionnaire with Likert scale responses |
The assessment presents statements about various behaviors and attitudes, asking you to rate how much each describes you. Advanced psychometric analysis then generates your personalized character strengths profile, highlighting your top five "signature strengths" that represent your most authentic self.
The Science Behind Character Strengths
The VIA Classification System is grounded in rigorous scientific research published in peer-reviewed journals. According to Frontiers in Psychology, character strengths research has demonstrated significant correlations with life satisfaction, resilience, and overall psychological well-being, with the VIA assessment administered to over 13 million people worldwide.
The 24 character strengths are organized into six core virtues that appear across cultures and throughout history:
- Wisdom and Knowledge: Creativity, Curiosity, Judgment, Love of Learning, Perspective
- Courage: Bravery, Perseverance, Honesty, Zest
- Humanity: Love, Kindness, Social Intelligence
- Justice: Teamwork, Fairness, Leadership
- Temperance: Forgiveness, Humility, Prudence, Self-Regulation
- Transcendence: Appreciation of Beauty, Gratitude, Hope, Humor, Spirituality
Research published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information shows that individuals who use their signature strengths regularly experience higher levels of engagement, meaning, and life satisfaction.
Key Benefits of Taking the VIA Assessment
Enhanced Self-Awareness
Gain deep insights into your authentic character traits and understand what energizes and motivates you most.
Improved Relationships
Better understand how your strengths complement others and how to communicate more effectively in personal and professional settings.
Career Development
Align your career choices with your natural strengths for greater job satisfaction and performance.
Increased Well-being
Research shows that using your signature strengths regularly leads to higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction.
Leadership Growth
Develop authentic leadership skills by leveraging your natural character strengths in team and organizational contexts.
Personal Development
Create targeted growth plans that build on your existing strengths rather than focusing solely on weaknesses.
What People Are Saying
"Taking the VIA assessment was a game-changer for my career. Understanding that 'Love of Learning' was one of my top strengths helped me pivot to a role in training and development where I truly thrive." - Sarah M., Learning & Development Manager
"As a team leader, the VIA assessment helped me understand not just my own strengths but how to better support and develop my team members based on their unique character profiles." - Marcus T., Project Manager
"I was surprised to discover that 'Gratitude' was one of my signature strengths. It explained why keeping a gratitude journal felt so natural and energizing for me." - Elena R., Healthcare Professional
Applications in Team Building and Development
The VIA Institute on Character assessment has proven invaluable for organizations looking to enhance team dynamics and employee engagement. Many companies incorporate character strengths into their team building activities to create more cohesive and effective work environments.
When team members understand each other's character strengths, they can better appreciate diverse perspectives, delegate tasks more effectively, and create complementary partnerships that leverage everyone's natural talents. This approach moves beyond traditional skill-based assessments to examine the underlying character traits that drive behavior and motivation.
Understanding Your Results
Your VIA assessment results provide a comprehensive ranking of all 24 character strengths, with particular focus on your top five "signature strengths." These signature strengths represent the character traits that:
- Feel authentic and true to who you are
- Energize rather than drain you when used
- Come naturally and feel effortless
- You feel compelled to use regularly
- Others recognize in you
The assessment also identifies your "lesser strengths"—not weaknesses, but simply character traits that are less central to your identity. Understanding your complete profile helps you appreciate your unique character combination and provides insights for personal and professional development.
For deeper insights into the scientific foundation of these assessments, explore our comprehensive guide on the science behind VIA personality and character tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
The VIA Survey has demonstrated strong reliability and validity across multiple studies and populations. It has been translated into over 40 languages and validated with millions of respondents worldwide.
While your core character remains relatively stable, your expression of strengths can evolve with life experiences, personal growth, and conscious development efforts.
Unlike tests that measure preferences or behaviors, VIA focuses specifically on character strengths—the positive traits that represent your best self and contribute to flourishing.
The basic VIA Survey is available for free, providing your complete character strengths ranking. Premium reports with additional insights and development suggestions are available for purchase.
Use your results to make more informed decisions about career choices, relationship dynamics, personal development goals, and daily activities that align with your authentic self.
Beyond Individual Assessment
The VIA Institute on Character offers resources for educators, coaches, therapists, and organizational leaders who want to integrate character strengths into their practice. The research-backed approach provides a common language for discussing human potential and positive development across various contexts.
Whether you're exploring various personality assessments or specifically interested in character development, the VIA assessment provides unique insights into your authentic self that complement other psychological tools and frameworks.
Maximize Your Character Strengths Impact
Taking the VIA Institute on Character assessment is just the beginning of your character strengths journey. Once you understand your signature strengths, the real transformation begins when you intentionally apply them in your daily life, relationships, and work.
Consider sharing your results with family members, colleagues, or friends to spark meaningful conversations about character and values. Many people find that discussing character strengths creates deeper connections and mutual understanding than traditional personality discussions.
Remember that character development is a lifelong process. While your signature strengths remain relatively stable, you can always grow in how you express and apply them. Use your VIA results as a foundation for continued personal growth and authentic living.
Ready to discover what makes you uniquely you? Your character strengths are waiting to be unveiled, understood, and unleashed in service of your best life.