VIA Character Strengths Assessment

VIA Character Strengths Assessment

Moral Fabric integrates character strengths assessment to help team members understand their intrinsic capacities, the ways that their team mates work closest to their strenghts, and choose roles that energize them. We use the  VIA Character Strengths  framework: a research-backed assessment identifying 24 universal character strengths.
Why character strengths matter:
  • Helps individuals find roles that align with their natural qualities
  • Reveals team composition (strengths, gaps, complementarities)
  • Supports values-based development and growth
  • Aligns with self-organization philosophy (intrinsic motivation over external control)


What Are Character Strengths?

Character strengths are the positive qualities that:
  • Feel natural and authentic to you
  • Energize rather than drain you
  • You're drawn to use regularly
  • Contribute to your sense of purpose
Example: Someone high in Curiosity naturally loves learning, asking questions, and exploring new ideas. Someone high in Teamwork thrives in collaborative settings and feels fulfilled supporting group goals.
Not the same as skills or talents:
  • Skills are learned (e.g., accounting, coding)
  • Talents are innate abilities (e.g., athleticism, musical ear)
  • Character strengths are ways of being (e.g., kindness, bravery, humor)


The 24 Strengths Across 6 Virtues

1. Wisdom & Knowledge
  • Creativity (originality, ingenuity)
  • Curiosity (interest, exploration, openness)
  • Judgment (critical thinking, open-mindedness)
  • Love of Learning (mastering new skills and topics)
  • Perspective (wisdom, providing wise counsel)
2. Courage
  • Bravery (valor, not shrinking from threat/challenge)
  • Perseverance (persistence, industriousness)
  • Honesty (authenticity, integrity)
  • Zest (vitality, enthusiasm for life)
3. Humanity
  • Love (valuing close relations with others)
  • Kindness (generosity, nurturance, compassion)
  • Social Intelligence (aware of motives/feelings of self and others)
4. Justice
  • Teamwork (citizenship, social responsibility, loyalty)
  • Fairness (treating all people equally and justly)
  • Leadership (organizing group activities, getting things done)
5. Temperance
  • Forgiveness (mercy, accepting others' shortcomings)
  • Humility (modesty, letting accomplishments speak for themselves)
  • Prudence (careful, cautious, not taking undue risks)
  • Self-Regulation (self-control, discipline)
6. Transcendence
  • Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence (awe, wonder, elevation)
  • Gratitude (aware of and thankful for good things)
  • Hope (optimism, future-mindedness)
  • Humor (playfulness, bringing smiles to others)
  • Spirituality (purpose, meaning, connection to something larger)
Everyone has all 24 strengths to some degree, but your top 5-7 strengths are your "signature strengths"—the ones that:
  • Feel most authentic and effortless
  • Energize you when you use them
  • You're drawn to naturally
  • Contribute most to your well-being
How we use them in Moral Fabric:
  • Match signature strengths to role accountabilities
  • Understand team composition and gaps
  • Support role selection and evolution
  • Guide personal development


How to Take the Assessment

Now: VIA Institute (Free)

    Complete the free 120-question assessment (~10 minutes)
    View your ranked 24 strengths
    Add your top 10 into your  Moral Fabric profile page 

Later: In-Platform Assessment (Coming Soon)

We're working on licensing VIA to host the assessment directly in Moral Fabric. This will:
  • Eliminate manual import step
  • Automatically sync results to your profile
  • Enable deeper team analytics
  • Still use the same VIA methodology
Timeline: Expected Q2-Q3 2025


Comparison to Other Assessments

Feature
VIA Character Strengths
CliftonStrengths (Gallup)
HIGH5
Focus
Character & values
Performance & talent
Work strengths
Number of traits
24 strengths
34 themes
20 strengths
Results
All 24 ranked
Top 5 or all 34
Top 5
Cost
Free
$49.99+
$29
Research backing
StarStarStarStarStar 20+ years academic
StarStarStarStar Corporate research
StarStar Limited
Nonprofit usage
Check Mark Button Very common
Warning Some
Cross Mark Rare
Self-org fit
Check Mark Button Excellent
Warning Management-focused
Warning Hierarchy-focused
Values alignment
Check Mark Button Character-based
Warning Output-based
Warning Performance-based
API/Integration
Warning License required
Cross Mark No public API
Check Mark Button Yes
Best for
Mission-driven orgs
Corporate teams
Startups

Why We Chose VIA

1. Research Foundation
  • Founded by Dr. Martin Seligman and Dr. Christopher Peterson
  • Based on extensive review of virtue traditions across cultures
  • 20+ years of peer-reviewed research
  • Published in Character Strengths and Virtues (2004) - the positive psychology equivalent to DSM
2. Values Alignment
  • Character-based (who you are, not just what you do)
  • Virtue ethics foundation
  • Universal across cultures
  • Focuses on human flourishing and meaning
3. Nonprofit Sector Credibility
  • Widely used in education and social impact
  • Free accessibility removes financial barriers
  • Trusted by mission-driven leaders globally
  • Not corporate/commercial feeling
4. Self-Organization Fit
  • Emphasizes intrinsic qualities over external control
  • Supports personal agency in role selection
  • Values-based rather than hierarchy-based
  • Maps naturally to Holacracy roles
5. Accessibility
  • Always free for individuals
  • No paywall for basic results
  • Available in 40+ languages
  • Used by millions worldwide

Why Not CliftonStrengths (Gallup)?

Excellent tool, but:
  • Cost barrier ($50/person minimum)
  • Management-oriented language ("command," "achiever")
  • No public API or integration options
  • Feels corporate rather than mission-driven
  • Built for traditional hierarchies
When it makes sense: Large organizations with training budgets, corporate culture, traditional management structures

Why Not HIGH5?

Decent tool, but:
  • Limited research backing
  • Unknown in nonprofit sector
  • Performance optimization focus
  • Cost ($29/person) without brand recognition
  • Built for startup/tech culture
When it makes sense: Tech startups, sales teams, performance-driven cultures


Scientific Backing & Research

Key Publications

Foundational Work:
  • Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification. Oxford University Press.
  • The "DSM" of positive psychology
  • Defines and validates all 24 strengths
  • Cross-cultural analysis of virtues
Validation Studies:
  • Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). "Strengths of character and well-being." Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23(5), 603-619.
  • Links strengths to life satisfaction
  • Validates 24-factor structure
  • McGrath, R. E. (2015). "Character strengths in 75 nations: An update." The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(1), 41-52.
  • Cross-cultural validity
  • 75 countries, 970,000+ participants
Applications Research:
  • Harzer, C., & Ruch, W. (2012). "When the job is a calling: The role of applying one's signature strengths at work." The Journal of Positive Psychology, 7(5), 362-371.
  • Using signature strengths at work increases job satisfaction
  • Links to calling and meaning
  • Littman-Ovadia, H., & Steger, M. (2010). "Character strengths and well-being among volunteers and employees: Toward an integrative model." The Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(6), 419-430.
  • Strengths use predicts work engagement
  • Particularly relevant for mission-driven work

Research Institution

VIA Institute on Character
  • Nonprofit research organization
  • Based in Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Collaborates with universities globally
  • Maintains free assessment for public benefit
  • Publishes ongoing research


Using Strengths in Moral Fabric

Individual Level

Profile Display:
  • Your top 5-10 signature strengths
  • Virtue category distribution
  • Import date and method
Personal Insights:
  • Which roles might energize you
  • How to approach challenges from your strengths
  • Areas for development (lesser strengths)

Team Level

Team Dashboard Shows:
  • Strengths distribution across team
  • Most common team strengths (3-5)
  • Rare or missing strengths (gaps)
  • Virtue category balance
  • Team complementarity score
Team Insights:
  • Strengths we share: Common ground, team identity
  • Gaps to be aware of: Where team might struggle
  • Complementarity: How diverse/redundant we are
  • Role coverage: Do we have strengths for all needed roles?

Role Matching (Future)

We're building features to:
  • Suggest roles based on your signature strengths
  • Identify best-fit person for a role
  • Highlight when role requires strengths team lacks
  • Support role evolution based on who holds it
Example:
Strategy Role Accountabilities:
- "Develop quarterly strategic plans"
- "Analyze competitive landscape"
- "Advise leadership on long-term direction"

Suggested Strengths:
- Judgment (critical thinking)
- Perspective (wisdom, seeing big picture)
- Curiosity (exploring possibilities)
- Love of Learning (staying informed)

Current Holder:
Julia - Top strengths: Curiosity, Judgment, Perspective
Match: 95% - Excellent fit!



Privacy & Data

What we store:
  • Your top 5-10 strengths (names only, not full descriptions)
  • Rank order (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.)
  • Import date
  • Import method (manual or API once available)
What we don't store:
  • Individual question responses
  • Full 24-strength rankings (unless you choose to import all)
  • Scores or percentiles
  • VIA account information
Who can see:
  • You: Always see your own strengths
  • Your team members: See your strengths if you're on same team
  • Organization admins: Can view team-level analytics (not individual detail without permission)
Control:
  • You can delete your strengths anytime
  • You can re-take assessment and update
  • You choose how many strengths to share (5, 10, or all 24)


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I have to take this assessment?A: No, it's optional but recommended. Many find it valuable for role selection and team understanding.
Q: Can I retake the assessment?A: Yes. VIA recommends retaking every 12-18 months as you grow and change.
Q: What if I don't agree with my results?A: Results reflect how you answered questions, not an objective truth. If results surprise you:
  • Consider: Are these strengths you want to use, or ones you do use naturally?
  • Reflect: Do others see these strengths in you?
  • Retake: After a few months if circumstances have changed
Q: Are some strengths "better" than others?A: No. All 24 strengths are positive and valuable. The goal is knowing your strengths, not having the "best" ones.
Q: What's the difference between character strengths and personality?A: Personality describes how you are (traits like extroversion). Character strengths are positive qualities you can develop and choose to use. Strengths are more malleable than personality.
Q: Can my strengths change over time?A: Yes, especially middle-ranked strengths. Signature strengths (top 5-7) tend to be more stable but can shift with major life changes or intentional development.
Q: What if my team all has similar strengths?A: This can be good (shared values, easy collaboration) or challenging (blind spots, missing perspectives). Awareness is key—you might need to consciously develop lesser strengths or bring in diverse perspectives for certain roles.


Resources

Take the Assessment:
  • Free VIA assessment:  https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register 
Learn More:
  • VIA Institute:  https://www.viacharacter.org 
  • All 24 strengths:  https://www.viacharacter.org/character-strengths 
  • Research articles:  https://www.viacharacter.org/research 
Books:
  • Character Strengths and Virtues by Peterson & Seligman (2004) - Academic handbook
  • Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman (2002) - Popular introduction to positive psychology
  • The Power of Character Strengths by Ryan Niemiec & Robert McGrath (2019) - Practical applications
For Facilitators:
  • Using VIA in team workshops:  https://www.viacharacter.org/professionals 
  • Strengths-based coaching: VIA Pro certification program


Support

Questions about:
  • Taking the assessment → VIA Institute support
  • Importing results → Moral Fabric support ( help@moralfabric.org )
  • Interpreting your strengths → Your team lead or coach
  • Team analytics → Your organization admin
Feature requests:
  • Want licensed in-platform assessment? Let us know:  feedback@moralfabric.org 
  • Ideas for team analysis features? We're listening!

Last updated: February 2025Next review: After VIA licensing complete (Q2-Q3 2025)