Strengths Only or Strengths and Relative Weaknesses? A Preliminary Study

Teri Rust · Rhett Diessner · Lindsay Reade

148 citations0/0 files storedThe Journal of Psychology

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Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction Optimism, Hope, and Well-being Leadership, Courage, and Heroism Studies

Abstract

Does working on developing character strengths and relative character weaknesses cause lower life satisfaction than working on developing character strengths only? The present study provides a preliminary answer. After 76 college students completed the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (C. Peterson & M. E. P. Seligman, 2004), the authors randomly assigned them to work on 2 character strengths or on 1 character strength and 1 relative weakness. Combined, these groups showed significant gains on the Satisfaction With Life Scale (E. Diener, R. A. Emmons, R. J. Larsen, & S. Griffin, 1985), compared with a 32-student no-treatment group. However, there was no significant difference in gain scores between the 2-strengths group and the 1-character-strength-and-1-relative-character-weakness group. The authors discuss how focusing on relative character weaknesses (along with strengths) does not diminish-and may assist in increasing-life satisfaction.

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References

1985The Satisfaction With Life Scale 2000Positive psychology: An introduction.2001Handbook of Positive Psychology 2005Positive Psychology Progress: Empirical Validation of Interventions.2009Review of the Satisfaction With Life Scale 1995Who Is Happy?2004Strengths of Character and Well-Being 2003Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived.

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2016When Theory and Research Collide: Examining Correlates of Signature Strengths Use at Work 2017Character Strengths and Intellectual and Developmental Disability: A Strengths-Based Approach from Positive Psychology 2015Enhancing psychological capital and personal growth initiative: Working on strengths or deficiencies.2018Character Strengths, Strengths Use, Future Self-Continuity and Subjective Well-Being Among Chinese University Students 2016Facilitating well-being and Performance through the Development of Strengths at Work: Results from an Intervention Program 2017

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