Technique 5.39 Values in Action (character questionnaire)
Introduction
This questionnaire will identify your strengths and weaknesses by exploring 24 characteristics that make up what is best about your personality.
It is designed to help individuals and organisations identify what people do best at their core: their natural positive capacities for thinking, feeling and behaving.
Everyone possesses all 24-character strengths in different degrees, so each person has a truly unique character strengths profile. Each character strength falls under 1 of these 6 broad virtue categories, which are universal across cultures and nations.
The questionnaire measures 24 character strengths organised under 6 universal virtues, based on extensive cross-cultural research in positive psychology.
The 6 Virtues
1. Wisdom
2. Courage
3. Humanity
4. Justice
5. Temperance
6. Transcendence
The 24 Character Strengths
- Wisdom: Creativity, Curiosity, Judgment, Love of Learning, Perspective
- Courage: Bravery, Perseverance, Honesty, Zest
- Humanity: Love, Kindness, Social Intelligence
- Justice: Teamwork, Fairness, Leadership
- Temperance: Forgiveness, Humility, Prudence, Self-Regulation
- Transcendence: Appreciation of Beauty, Gratitude, Hope, Humour, Spirituality
Each person possesses all 24, but in differently ranked intensities.
It is best to build on your top character strengths as it will be most rewarding to do so. It is suggested to concentrate on the top 5 strengths as determined by the questionnaire.
When you reflect on your career and
"...realise the reason you are so good at certain areas and enjoy them so much, was because they were resonating with your strength..."
Garth Furber as quoted by Lucy Dean 2024
Then you can ask yourself, “what would it take to activate these character strengths again?”
The VIA Survey is the only free, scientific survey of character strengths in the world. Take this simple, ‘10 minute’ character test and discover your greatest strengths. Test can be found
Research shows that knowing and using your character strengths can help you:
- Increase happiness and well-being
- Find meaning and purpose
- Boost relationships
- Manage stress and health
- Accomplish goals
VIA Adult Survey
Please choose one option in response to each statement. Many of the questions reflect statements that many people would find desirable, but we want you to answer only in terms of whether the statement describes what you are like. Please be honest and accurate!
Need to answer all questions to rank your strengths by choosing from this range of answers:
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
Statements:
1. I experience deep emotions when I see beautiful things.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
2. I always speak up in protest when I hear someone say mean things.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
3. I am always coming up with new ways to do things.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
4. I have many interests.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
5. I always treat people fairly whether I like them or not.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
6. I do not want to see anyone suffer, even my worst enemy.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
7. I am an extremely grateful person.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
8. I always keep my promises.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
9. I can always find the positive in what seems negative to others.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
10. I try to add some humour to whatever I do.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
11. I always examine both sides of an issue.
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Very Much Unlike Me |
12. I am never too busy to help a friend.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
13. I am very good at leading group activities.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
14. I always go out of my way to attend educational events.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
15. I can accept love from others.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
16. I never brag about my accomplishments.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
17. I never get sidetracked when I work.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
18. Others consider me to be a wise person.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
19. I always make careful choices.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
20. It is easy for me to stay disciplined.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
21. I always get along well with people I have just met.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
22. I am a spiritual person.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
23. It is important to me to respect decisions made by my group.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
24. I have lots of energy.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
25. It is important to me that I live in a world of beauty.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
26. I am a brave person.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
27. I pride myself on being original.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
28. I think my life is extremely interesting.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
29. Even if I do not like someone, I treat him or her fairly.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
30. I rarely hold a grudge.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
31. I have been richly blessed in my life.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
32. I believe honesty is the basis for trust.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
33. If I feel down, I always think about what is good in my life.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
34. I am known for my good sense of humour.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
35. I make decisions only when I have all of the facts.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
36. I go out of my way to cheer up people who appear down.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
37. One of my strengths is helping a group of people work well together even when they have their differences.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
38. I am a true life-long learner.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
39. I am good at expressing love to someone else.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
40. I prefer to let other people talk about themselves.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
41. I always finish what I start.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
42. Others come to me for advice.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
43. I am a very careful person.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
44. I am a highly disciplined person.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
45. I have the ability to make other people feel interesting.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
46. I have a calling in my life.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
47. Without exception, I support my teammates or fellow group members.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
48. I awaken with a sense of excitement about the day's possibilities.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
49. I am always aware of the natural beauty in the environment.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
50. I have taken frequent stands in the face of strong opposition.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
51. My friends say that I have lots of new and different ideas.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
52. I am excited by many different activities.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
53. I treat all people equally regardless of who they might be.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
54. I am always willing to give someone a chance to make amends.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
55. I feel a profound sense of appreciation every day.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
56. I tell the truth even if it means I will get in trouble.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
57. I know that I will succeed with the goals I set for myself.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
58. I never allow a gloomy situation to take away my sense of humour.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
59. I try to have good reasons for my important decisions.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
60.I always try to help people in need.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
61. My friends always tell me I am a strong but fair leader.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
62. I never miss the chance to learn something new.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
63. I often express my love to others.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
64. I have been told that modesty is one of my most notable characteristics.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
65. I never quit a task before it is done.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
66. My friends think I am wise.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
67. I think through the consequences every time before I act.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
68. I do not give into temptation.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
69. I am good at sensing what other people are feeling.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
70. My faith makes me who I am.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
71. I work at my very best when I am a group member.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
72. I am genuinely excited to start each day.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
73. I see beauty that other people pass by without noticing.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
74. I never hesitate to publicly express an unpopular opinion.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
75. I am an original thinker.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
76. I am always curious about the world.
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Very Much Like Me |
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Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
77. I treat everyone the same.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
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Very Much Unlike Me |
78. I believe it is best to forgive and forget.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
79. At least once a day, I stop and count my blessings.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
80. My promises can be trusted.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
81. Despite challenges, I always remain hopeful about the future.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
82. I have a great sense of humour.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
83. When making a decision, I let the facts decide.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
84. I really enjoy doing small favours for friends.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
85. People usually turn to me to lead a group.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
86. I love to learn new things.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
87. I can express love to someone else.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
88. I am always humble about the good things that have happened to me.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
89. I finish things despite obstacles in the way.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
90. I may not say it to others, but I consider myself to be a wise person.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
91. I always think before I speak.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
92. I never want things that are bad for me in the long run, even if they make me feel good in the short run.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
93. I always know what to say to make people feel good.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
94. My beliefs make my life important.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
95. I really enjoy being a part of a group.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
96. People describe me as full of zest.
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Very Much Like Me |
Like Me |
Neutral |
Unlike Me |
Very Much Unlike Me |
Output
After completion, users receive:
A rank-order profile of all 24 strengths
Identification of:
- Signature strengths (Top 5–7)
- Middle strengths
- Lower or lesser-used strengths
This ranking reflects how naturally and frequently each strength is expressed, not whether a person “has” or “lacks” it.
(source: https://viacharacter.org/surveys/takesurvey )