14 Sep Strengths of character, orientatios to happiness, and life satisfaction
The latest edition of “The Journal of Positive Psychology” includes an article written by several authors including two of the leaders in the exciting new field of positive pschology and the study of happiness – Chris Peterson and Martin Seligman.
In short, the asked why certain character strengths appear to be more closely associated with happiness and life satisfaction than others.
Consistent with earlier research into strengths and happiness they found that the strengths most highly linked to life satisfaction included love, hope, curiosity and zest; they also found, as others have, that gratitude was a strong predictor of happiness and life satisfaction.
More generally, the authors concluded with the statement that the strengths of character most associated with life satisfaction were associated with orientations to pleasure, to engagement, and to meaning, implying that the most fulfilling character strengths are those that make possible a full life.