Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification | 
 enlarge | Authors: Christopher Peterson, Martin Seligman
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Category: Book
List Price: $79.50
Buy New: $60.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 51158
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 816
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.4
Dimensions (in): 10.2 x 6.8 x 1.8
ISBN: 0195167015
Dewey Decimal Number: 155.232
EAN: 9780195167016
ASIN: 0195167015
Publication Date: April 8, 2004
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Product Description
"Character" has become a front-and-center topic in contemporary discourse, but this term does not have a fixed meaning. Character may be simply defined by what someone does not do, but a more active and thorough definition is necessary, one that addresses certain vital questions. Is character a singular characteristic of an individual, or is it composed of different aspects? Does character--however we define it--exist in degrees, or is it simply something one happens to have? How can character be developed? Can it be learned? Relatedly, can it be taught, and who might be the most effective teacher? What roles are played by family, schools, the media, religion, and the larger culture? This groundbreaking handbook of character strengths and virtues is the first progress report from a prestigious group of researchers who have undertaken the systematic classification and measurement of widely valued positive traits. They approach good character in terms of separate strengths-authenticity, persistence, kindness, gratitude, hope, humor, and so on-each of which exists in degrees.
Character Strengths and Virtues classifies twenty-four specific strengths under six broad virtues that consistently emerge across history and culture: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence. Each strength is thoroughly examined in its own chapter, with special attention to its meaning, explanation, measurement, causes, correlates, consequences, and development across the life span, as well as to strategies for its deliberate cultivation. This book demands the attention of anyone interested in psychology and what it can teach about the good life.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
 Text book on Character Strengths and Virtues October 15, 2008
This is a solid text book on the character strengths and virtues as seen within the study of positive psychology. It is interesting to take the assessments and then lay the character strengths and virtues out for the person being assessed. Corrolates relatively well with Strengthfinders2 and the Myers Briggs assessments. For those who study personalities, it is an interesting read.
A beginning and end point in one August 6, 2008
This is a positive psycholgy textbook with a focus on character traits and virtues. It is a great beginning point in uncovering what character is, examples of great character and how to form character as an aspect of your inner self or in helping others to the same outcome. It is alos an end in itself. It has depth and richness in content, it is both comprehensive and sufficiently concise to be useful for both the student of and practitioner of psychology and the person pursuing the virtous expression of their truer nature.
Although I can see how and why psychologists would be greatly enhanced in the roles through its application, I am the latter; a non-psychologist and it is true to say I have found it an axcellent tome in understanding character and virtue and in doing so living a better life.
Thorough and thoughtful May 11, 2007
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
This book exceeded my expectations. It covered in great detail the concepts of character, strengths, and virtues. Concepts were clearly defined, with extensive background and supporting information. While it is not a necessarily easy read, it is one of the most extensive and exhaustive works that I have come across. It was VERY useful and provided me with more information than I imagined.
A "must have" February 19, 2007
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
This is a "must have" for the updated and interested clinical psychologist. Now it is enough focusing on just the negative stuff. This is a good supplement to the traditional issues, and I think a good place to start to get to know the field of positive psychology
To make us better and happier January 9, 2007
9 out of 10 found this review helpful
This manual of character strengths and virtues attempts to place the study and improvement of 'Character' at the center of psychological study. Its aim is to focus on positive improvements in ourselves so as to make us happier in our daily lives. Seligman and Peterson are major figures in the whole area of 'Happiness Studies' and shifting the focus of psychological work from negative to positive, from the previous aim of making us somehow tolerably unhappy to one of making us truly happy in our lives.
Their analysis involves a historical cross- cultural study of the various character traits. The central part of the book however is their presenting six major Virtues and the respenctive strengths that are apart of them.
For instance the strengths of the Virtue Courage are Bravery, Persistence, Integrity, Vitality,- The strengfths of the Virtue Humanity are Love, Kindness, Social Intelligence- the strengths of Justice are Citizenship,Fairness, Leadership, - the strengths of Temperance are Forgiveness, Humility, Prudence, Self- Regulation, The Strengths of Transcendence are Appreciation of Beauty, Gratitude, Hope for the Future , Humor , Spirituality, the strengths of Wisdom and Knowledge are Creativity, Curiosity, Open- Mindedness.
Seligman and Peterson aim at providing a guide to professionals in psychology by which they can evaluate their clients and provide them means for improvement. I do not have the professional credentials to evalute the work on this basis.
I can say however that this is a rich and thoughtful work for anyone interested in the whole subject of human character and happiness.
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