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In order to best apply Seligman's 24 strengths in therapeutic/coaching/teaching settings, it is useful to understand them within the context of their principle, and ultimate, purposes.
Below I have outlined a categorization of the Strengths, and afterward briefly explain its more general significance.
The Twenty-Four Strengths
Ultimate Purpose: To achieve and/or increase personal and societal happiness
It is important to note that: All of the strengths enhance Self-Esteem
Their basic purpose is to:
1. Increase positive affect (emotions and moods), and
2. Decrease negative affect
Below is an outline of the main specific purposes of the various Strengths:
A. Enhancement of interaction with others
5. Social intelligence
9. Integrity
10. Kindness
11. Loving
12. Citizenship
13. Fairness
14. Leadership
17. Humility
22. Forgiveness
B. Accomplishment
1. Curiosity
2. Love of Learning
4. Ingenuity
7. Valor
8. Perseverance
C. Increase of Pleasant Emotions and Moods
18. Appreciation of Beauty
19. Gratitude
20. Hope
21. Spirituality
23. Humor
24. Zest
D. Decrease of Unpleasant Emotions and Moods
3. Judgment
6. Perspective
15. Self-control
16. Prudence
Understanding that self-esteem is related to, and can be increased through, all of the Strengths will help clients to appreciate the central role that self-esteem has in their achievement of happiness. Understanding that the basic purpose of each of the strengths is to increase pleasant affect and decrease unpleasant affect will help clients to appreciate the two principle personal benefits each of the Strengths bring.
From the outline above, it can be seen that, aside from self-esteem benefits, "enhancement of interaction with others" is the benefit the largest number of Strengths influence. The next most important benefit categories are the hedonic ones, and the least influential is accomplishment. Please note that this analysis is based on the number of Strengths most directly influencing the four above named categories, and does not necessarily reflect the Strengths relative importance to the achievement of happiness, however it is useful to see how each of the Strengths provides its benefit.
By categorizing the strengths in the above manner a clear picture may emerge regarding how the specific strengths work individually, and together, to help both individual clients, and society, maximize happiness.
George
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