About this Research Topic
Over the past two decades, more than 500 peer-reviewed articles have been published in character strengths research, in various life domains, contexts and situations. Using valid empirical methodologies, much information has been gained regarding character strengths, such as their antecedents, mechanisms of operation and effects. In fact, character strengths have been shown to be robustly and consistently related to, and promoting of various positive outcomes.
Given the time that has passed and given the large and varied body of research that has accumulated, we feel that the time has come to examine the state of character strengths theory, research and practice. Specifically, we feel that strengths research has become substantial enough so as to examine its achievements to date, to pause momentarily and to evaluate the avenues that have been originally proposed, but left unexplored or understudied, as well as to consider completely novel directions. As such the current research topic proposes to summarize a point-in-time in character strength research.
The goal of this Research Topic is to provide a platform for future character strengths explorations, examining novel and innovative theory, research and practice. As such, we invite both theoretical and empirical papers, summarizing past research (e.g. integrative reviews, meta-analyses) in various character strengths domains and settings, propositions and examinations of novel and previously untouched directions in character strengths research (e.g. spirituality and character strengths), as well as research exploring previously unexamined theoretical propositions on character strengths (e.g. the moral criterion).
The Guest Editors would like to express their profound gratitude to Pavel Freidlin for his valuable work in initiating this Research Topic and actively contributing to it.
Keywords: VIA, character strengths, virtues, morality, spirituality
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.