Values in Action Inventory of Strengths

The VIA Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS), formerly known as the Values in Action Inventory, is a proprietary psychological assessment measure designed to identify an individual's profile of "character strengths".

It was created by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman, researchers in the field of positive psychology, in order to operationalize their handbook Character Strengths and Virtues (CSV).[1] The CSV is the positive psychology counterpart to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) used in traditional psychology.[1]

Unlike the DSM, which scientifically categorizes human deficits and disorders, the CSV classifies positive human strengths.[2] The CSV helps people recognize and build upon their strengths. This aligns with the overall goal of the positive psychology movement, to make people's lives more fulfilling.[2] People can use the VIA-IS to identify their own positive strengths and learn how to capitalize on them.[2]

  1. ^ a b Peterson, Christopher; Seligman, Martin E.P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: a handbook and classification (PDF). Oxford University Press.
  2. ^ a b c Lopez, Shane J.; Pedrotti, Jennifer Teramoto; Snyder, C. R. J. (2014). Positive Psychology: The Scientific and Practical Explorations of Human Strengths (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications.