Values in Action-classificatie van karaktersterktes
Peterson, C. & Seligman, M. E. P. · 2004
Ook bekend als: VIA-IS · Character Strengths · Values in Action · VIA Character Strengths · Values in Action Character Strengths
De Values in Action (VIA)-classificatie identificeert 24 karaktersterktes die zijn georganiseerd onder zes brede deugden: wijsheid, moed, menselijkheid, rechtvaardigheid, gematigdheid en transcendentie. Ontwikkeld als de positieve-psychologie-tegenhanger van de DSM, kwam het voort uit een driejarig project met 55 sociale wetenschappers die filosofische, religieuze en psychologische geschriften bestudeerden over een periode van 2.500 jaar. De VIA-vragenlijst is door miljoenen mensen wereldwijd ingevuld, en onderzoek koppelt consistent sterktes zoals hoop, levenslust, dankbaarheid, liefde en nieuwsgierigheid aan levenstevredenheid.
Classificatie van 24 karaktersterktes, georganiseerd onder 6 kernvirtuositeiten, ontwikkeld als een positieve-psychologie-tegenhanger van klinische diagnostische taxonomieën.
- Bron:
- Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification.
Doe een gevalideerde test gebaseerd op deze theorie
Lezen over een construct vertelt je wat het is. Een gevalideerd instrument vertelt je waar je op staat. Gratis te maken, resultaten binnen enkele minuten.
Bewijs in één oogopslag
- Empirische onderbouwing
- Gematigd bewijs
- Replicatie
- Deels gerepliceerd
- Cross-cultureel
- Grotendeels universeel
- Meta-analyses
- 15 geïndexeerd
Deze beoordelingen vatten de gepubliceerde literatuur over de theorie samen, niet de kwaliteit van een specifieke test die erop is gebaseerd. Het zijn redactionele oordelen op basis van de hieronder vermelde bronnen, en ze veranderen naarmate er meer bewijs beschikbaar komt.
Historische Context
De VIA-classificatie kwam voort uit Martin Seligmans oprichting van de positieve psychologie als formele discipline in 2000, samen met Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Seligman en Christopher Peterson leidden een systematisch overzicht van deugdtraditities binnen filosofie, theologie en psychologie, die 2.500 jaar omspant, om universeel gewaardeerde karaktersterkten te identificeren. Het handboek 'Character Strengths and Virtues' uit 2004 was expliciet ontworpen als een positieve tegenhanger van de classificatie van psychische stoornissen in de DSM, waardoor de wetenschappelijke aandacht verschoof van tekortkomingen naar sterktes.
Constructen
Waardering voor Schoonheid
The character strength of noticing and being moved by beauty and excellence — in nature, in art, and in skilled performance (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It describes being interrupted by something well made, not taste or knowledge about art.
Vermogen tot Liefhebben
The character strength of valuing close relationships and being able both to give and to receive affection and care (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). The receiving side is often the harder half: accepting care means letting someone else matter that much.
Burgerschap/Teamwork
The character strength of loyalty to a group and pulling one's weight in something collective (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is not sociability — it often shows up in people who dislike parties — and a low score can mean independence rather than distance.
Nieuwsgierigheid
The character strength of taking interest in ongoing experience for its own sake — the breadth of appetite for the new (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It sits close to love of learning without being the same: curiosity opens the door, love of learning keeps a person in the room.
Rechtvaardigheid/Eerlijkheid
The character strength of treating all people the same according to notions of fairness and justice, without letting personal feelings bias decisions about others (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). Its real test is consistency under pressure: whether the rules bend for people one likes or dislikes.
Vergevingsgezindheid/Genade
The character strength of forgiving those who have done wrong and giving people a second chance (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is about what happens after being hurt: whether the account closes or stays open.
Dankbaarheid
The character strength of being aware of and thankful for the good things that happen (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is a habit of noticing rather than a mood, and it is one of the strengths that tends to move with practice.
Hoop/Optimisme
The character strength of expecting the best in the future and working to achieve it (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is expectation, not cheerfulness: a default forecast that leans favorable, as opposed to rehearsing the bad outcome.
Humor/Speelsheid
The character strength of liking to laugh and to bring smiles to other people — producing lightness, not merely appreciating it (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). Its clearest expression is producing it when things are grim.
Vlijt/Doorzettingsvermogen
The character strength of finishing what one starts and persisting in a course of action despite obstacles (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is the strength most likely to be praised by others and least likely to be enjoyed by its owner.
Integriteit/Eerlijkheid
The character strength of speaking the truth and presenting oneself in a genuine way (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). Its real content is the expensive case: keeping one's word, and the truth, when doing so costs something.
Beoordelingsvermogen/Open-mindedness
The character strength of thinking things through, examining them from all sides, and weighing evidence before deciding (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is deliberation rather than intelligence: the disposition to slow down and look for the other side on purpose.
Vriendelijkheid/Vrijgevigheid
The character strength of doing favors and good deeds for others as a disposition rather than a transaction (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). What separates the two is patience with other people's problems and kindness that does not keep score.
Leiderschap
The character strength of encouraging a group to get things done while maintaining good relations within it (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is about making a group work, not about authority or being in front.
Leergierigheid
The character strength of mastering new skills, topics, and bodies of knowledge for their own sake, outside any requirement (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It differs from curiosity in duration: curiosity opens the door, this strength keeps the person in the room.
Bescheidenheid/Nederigheid
The character strength of letting one's accomplishments speak for themselves (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is not low self-regard: the question is whether accomplishments need an audience, and a low score is not arrogance — some people simply enjoy being seen.
Originaliteit/Creativiteit
The character strength of thinking of novel and productive ways to do things (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is appetite for doing things differently rather than artistic talent; contentment with the method that already works is a preference, not a deficit.
Perspectief/Wijsheid
The character strength of being able to provide wise counsel and to see the world in a way that makes sense to oneself and others (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is largely confirmed from the outside — by whether people bring their hard questions to the person.
Behoedzaamheid
The character strength of being careful about one's choices and considering consequences before acting (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). A low score is not carelessness: liking risk is a preference, not a failure to notice that it exists.
Zelfregulatie
The character strength of regulating what one feels and does — discipline over appetites and impulses, and the ability to forgo a present pleasure for a future good (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is the strength people most often wish were higher.
Sociale/Emotionele Intelligentie
The character strength of being aware of the motives and feelings of other people and knowing what to say and do in social situations (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is the reading, not what is done with it — it is not the same as warmth and does not have to be used kindly.
Spiritualiteit
The character strength of holding coherent beliefs about a higher purpose and the meaning of life (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is deliberately wide, covering religious belief and a secular sense of purpose alike; a low score describes a worldview, not a deficiency in one.
Moed/Dapperheid
The character strength of not shrinking from threat, challenge, or difficulty, and of speaking up for what is right even when it costs (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). The price is what separates it from simply having opinions.
Levenslust/Vitaliteit
The character strength of approaching life with excitement and energy — feeling alive and activated (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). It is the strength most tied to physical state, so a low reading is worth interpreting alongside sleep, health, and recent months rather than as a fixed trait.
Instrumenten
- IPIP-VIA-R Korte Schalen(IPIP-VIA-R)Bluemke, Partsch, Saucier & Lechner2021
Tests gebaseerd op deze theorie
Praktische Toepassingen
De VIA-classificatie wordt veel gebruikt in coaching, therapie en onderwijs om mensen te helpen hun kenmerkende sterktes te herkennen en te benutten voor meer welzijn en prestaties. Op sterktes gebaseerde interventies hebben significante effecten laten zien op welzijn en verminderde depressie in klinische en niet-klinische populaties. Het kader wordt ook toegepast in organisatieontwikkeling, schoolbegeleidingsprogramma's en gemeenschapsgezondheidsinterventies binnen diverse culturele contexten.
Hoe Het Wordt Gemeten
De 24 sterktes werden geïdentificeerd door middel van deskundige beoordeling van filosofische, religieuze en psychologische tradities, in plaats van door empirische factoranalyse, wat deels de mismatch verklaart tussen de theoretische structuur van zes deugden en de empirische factoroplossingen.
Kritiek & Beperkingen
De meest hardnekkige kritiek betreft de factorstructuur: hoewel 24 sterktes worden toegewezen aan zes deugden, leveren empirische factoranalyses doorgaans drie tot vijf factoren op in plaats van de voorgestelde structuur van zes deugden, wat de theoretische onderbouwing ondermijnt. De VIA-vragenlijst is bekritiseerd vanwege idiomatische itemformulering die de vertaalbaarheid tussen culturen bedreigt en bijdraagt aan inconsistente factoranalytische resultaten in verschillende taalversies. Verschillende sterktes, zoals levenslust, sociale intelligentie, eerlijkheid, hoop en humor, vertonen relatief lage of diffuse factorladingen, wat vragen oproept over hun onderscheidbaarheid als afzonderlijke constructen.
Belangrijke Publicaties
- Peterson, C. & Seligman, M. E. P.. (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification.
- Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P.. (2004). Strengths of Character and Well-Being. 10.1521/jscp.23.5.603.50748
- Niemiec, R. M.. (2013). VIA Character Strengths: Research and Practice (The First 10 Years). 10.1007/978-94-007-4611-4_2
- McGrath, R. E.. (2015). Character Strengths in 75 Nations: An Update. 10.1080/17439760.2014.888580
- Seligman, M. E. P. & Csikszentmihalyi, M.. (2000). Positive Psychology: An Introduction. 10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.5