VIA Me! Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who should take the VIA Inventory of Strengths Survey? 

Anyone interested in learning more about what is best about themselves should take the VIA Inventory of Strengths Survey.  There are VIA Surveys for youth and adults.  The VIA adult survey is available in 18 languages. 

Q. How long will it take me to complete the VIA Inventory of Strengths Survey?

A. The VIA Inventory of Strengths Survey for adults takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.  It is 120 questions.  The VIA Inventory for Youth is 96 questions.  You can stop taking the survey part way through and your responses will be saved.  You can then log back in to complete the survey.

Q. Is it necessary for me to work with a professional (coach, therapist, etc.) to get the most out of this?

A. It is not necessary to work with a professional to benefit from taking the VIA Inventory of Strengths Survey.   Many people have gained important insights from learning about their VIA Strengths.  However, other people do find it even more useful to purchase a VIA PRO Character Strengths Report for a more detailed view of their strengths and/or to work with a trained professional.  It is an individual choice. 

Q. Is the information I share in my survey secure?

A.  We collect your responses to the questionnaires on this site and store these, along with your scores, on our database server. We will never report your individual responses or scores to others, except for research purposes and in those cases, your responses will not be attached to identifying information. We will include your scores and responses in reports, publications, lectures, and Web sites only in summaries of groups of site users. We will not include your responses in the comparisons we provide on this site until there are at least 50 surveys from people in the same category (a geographic area, age range, occupational group, etc.).  Please click here to read our complete privacy policy.

Q. What sort of information will you send me when I complete my survey?

A.  Immediately after completing the survey you will receive a top down list of your top 5 character strengths.  If you are interested, you can request the list of your full 24 character strengths.

Q. Why do you offer the VIA Inventory of Strengths Survey for free?

A.  The VIA Inventory of Strengths Survey and the VIA Me! Character Profile is offered free of charge through a generous grant from the Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation. 

Q. How does this help me achieve my greatest potential?

A. The exercise of character strengths reduces the likelihood of distress and dysfunction while encouraging tangible outcomes like:

• Positive subjective experience
• Acceptance of oneself
• Reverence for life
• Competence, mastery, efficacy
• Mental and physical health
• Rich and supportive social networks
• Respect by and for others
• Satisfying work
• Material sufficiency
• Healthy communities and families

Click here to learn more about how to use your VIA Character Strengths to build your best life.

Q. What exactly is Positive Psychology?

A. Positive psychology has been given a variety of definitions over the years from being viewed as the science of well-being, the science of what is going right with people, the science behind what makes life worth living, and so forth. The original definition, as described by Martin Seligman during his Presidential year of the American Psychological Association in 1998, is that positive psychology is the scientific study of positive subjective experience (positive emotions), positive individual traits (positive character strengths), and positive institutions.

Q. What do you mean by Character Strengths?

A. VIA views character strengths as capacities humans have for thinking, feeling, and behaving. Specifically, they are the psychological ingredients for displaying virtues or human goodness. VIA views each person as having a capacity for expressing any of the 24 universal character strengths in the VIA Classification. Some strengths are easier and more natural for the individual to express (their signature strengths), other strengths arise in particular situations where they are needed (phasic strengths), and other strengths are expressed to a lesser degree or lesser frequency (lesser strengths).

Character strengths are viewed as stable over the lifespan, however, they can change over time. They are seen as plural, meaning that they interact and influence each other. Character strengths are expressed in situations and are often shaped by the context we are in.

Q. What are some ways VIA is being used around the world?

A. The VIA work is being used in many different ways by practitioners and non-practitioners.  Educators are infusing VIA strengths into school curricula, college/university professors are including it as a distinct course or as a core component of existing courses, psychologists are using it to take a different perspective on their clients, and coaches are using it as a way for clients to reach their goals more effectively. The business world has also taken up the VIA work by storm as CEOs, managers, consultants, and human resource professionals are readily infusing the VIA Inventory, VIA reports, and application approaches in their trainings, team development, employee assistance programs, and in ways to enhance employee engagement, productivity, and satisfaction. VIA is also popular among the everyday consumer looking to become happier, more successful, better their relationships, and/or improve themselves in some way.  Ultimately, the range of application is vast and can be tailored to virtually any profession and any client issue.

Further Questions?

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