Critical Review of Articles on Character Strengths and Virtues

This report presents a critical review of four journal articles focused on character strengths and virtues, a topic chosen for self-improvement. The articles, including works by Peterson, Seligman, and others, explore the distinction between virtues and character strengths, the development of character strengths, and the application of these concepts in organizational and global leadership contexts. The review highlights the importance of character strengths in ethical decision-making, leadership development, and creating positive organizational performance. The report also references a three-week self-development program, aligning with the assignment brief, though details of the program are not fully provided in the source material. The articles emphasize the significance of character strengths for global leaders and the positive impact they can have on organizations and individuals.

Running Head: ARTICLE ANALYSIS 0
Management

ARTICLE ANALYSIS 1
Article 1
Peterson, C. and Seligman, M. (2004). Character strengths and virtues. Washington, DC:
American Psychological Association.
In this article, author has explained the distinguish between virtues, character strengths and
the situational themes. It has stated that virtues are those core features that are valued by the
religious thinkers and philosophers: courage, wisdom, humanity, temperance, justice, and
transparency. However, the main criticism besides this is that these are universal. It is true
that in order to become the person with good character, these qualities are essential. As
compare to this, character strengths are in the ingredients of psychology. The character of the
person defines the virtues. For instance- the virtue of wisdom can be achieved from curiosity,
creativity, open mindness, and having the big picture in life. However, it is not always
possible that the person is of good character is that person displays his or her some of the
strengths in a group. It is because people express its feeling as per the situation. Similarly, in
the workplace, several situational themes are required. In addition to this, it is also true that
work theme differs from the family theme. In the negative aspect of the themes, it might be
possible that the person is competitive at home and work but might be manifest as differently.
In several ways, themes differ from the character strengths. It has also explained that the
initial brainstorming took place at the time of character strengths. These are similar to the
table and chairs, cats and dogs category that is sued by the people in order to make sense.
The character strength of hope is rendered as the optimism, hope, future orientation, an future
mindedness. In addition to this, it is also required by the person to be faithful. It has also
stated the several criteria’s for the strength of character. The first criteria that it has discussed
is that how a person cope up with the adversity. It is true that the strength allow the person to
achieve more without any disorder and distress. The second criteria is that the strength can
produce the desirable outcomes. In addition to this, happiness of the person also matters to a
large extent because if a person will not be happy about its strength to do something, it will
not be able to produce the desired outcomes. In this way, there is direct relationship with the
strength and outcomes. It is also criticised by stating that a person is not only recognised
when it produce any outcome rather than it a good character is also required for the human. In
the second criteria, author has also given emphasis on the difference between talent and
character strengths. By including both the elements, it said that talent is given the more value
due to its tangible consequence such as wealth and acclaim. It is rightly stated in the article

ARTICLE ANALYSIS 2
that we have been provided the space to explore our experiences and insights on the topic.
Similarly, I have experienced in the lectures that the teachers provides us the time to prepare
for the topic. It also helps in increasing our strength to explore for the key result areas. This
also assist us in deciding something better for ourself and spending some extra time on the
particular step. By keeping the notes prepared, individual can find the previous exercises with
the relaxing mind. It is true that it is not possible for anyone to read everything in a single
day. Therefore, every person requires some time. However, it is criticized on the ground that
there are some people who in spite of having notes do not make time for reading the previous
exercise.
In the third criteria, it has stated that the displaying of one’s strength does not diminish the
other people in the vicinity. In this regard, one person has stated that admiration is far better
than jealousy. It is because a person can learn from the other person many things if it will
admire the person. However, individual can also be the skeptical of such criteria. It is right
that is one-person do the praiseworthy act, it creates the shame by those who are less kind or
less brave. Besides this, person also follow the same what they have observed. The fourth
criteria are that the strength should be present in the feelings, thoughts and actions of an
individual. In this criterion, it is being said that strength differs in terms of being phasic and
tonic. However, tonic characteristics can be known by general question. It might also be
possible that the person is saying wrong because not all the persons tell the truth when a
question is asked any question. As compare to this, it has highlighted that the phasic
characteristic comes and goes. Most of the philosophers refer the virtues as the corrective
which means that some difficulty really persist that is required to be motivated by some of the
measure. In addition to this, it has also made the discussion regarding the framework
suggested by the Peterson and Seliman, 2014.
Article 2
Park, N., Peterson, C. and Seligman, M.E., 2004. Strengths of character and well-
being. Journal of social and Clinical Psychology, 23(5), pp.603-619.
In this article, author has discussed regarding the strength builder. As compare to the previous
article, it has effectively explained the ways through which character strength can be nourish.
It has stated that the character strength is the best approach to develop as well as appreciate
the character strength. According to this, it also helps in creating the positive experience and

ARTICLE ANALYSIS 3
opportunities by reducing the difficulty. According to the author, strength builder is one of
the forms of self care. It also helps in providing the support to an individual. It plays an
essential role in the well-being of person. However, it is not completely right because person
at one time requires the support of other person too in order to build trust. Besides this,
practice is also important to build strength. It also helps in bringing the perfection out of a
person. It has also support the statement with example such as when a person want to learn
piano, it is essential to practice it daily. It has also effectively stated the steps. In the first step,
it has included the appreciating and recognizing the strength in other person. further, it has
included the exploring and using the signature strength. Afterwards, it highlighted that it is
significant to apply the strength to the challenges of life. At the end, it is also essential to
make the strength a habit.
Article 3
Rego, A., Clegg, S. and Cunha, M.P., 2012. The positive power of character strengths and
virtues for global leaders. The Oxford handbook of positive organizational scholarship.
Apart from the above two article, in the third article, author has explained the positive power
of the character strengths. It has stated that in the globalized world, companies are making the
power relations with the other organizations. Those companies are responsible for the
livelihood of the millions of people. It has explained this concept with the help of leaders. It
is divided into two parts on is the virtues and other human strengths. In the knowledge and
wisdom, it includes the curiosity, creativity, open mindness and wisdom. It also believes that
emotional intelligence involve the exercise of will that helps in achieving the objective. In the
recent time, global leaders are becoming complex. It is because there is no uniformity in the
competitive situation, employee relations, economic conditions, and government regulations.
It has also stated the elements of courage. Basically, it has divided the courage into four
major human strengths: persistence, bravery, integrity, and vitality. All these palsy an
essential role for every global leader. As compare to the previous articles, it has given less
emphasis on the character strength. The virtue of temperance manifests in four main
character strengths: forgiveness and mercy, humility and modesty, prudence, and self-
regulation. Global leaders with strong forgiveness also help their team members in
performing many activities in positive outlook. Similar, members also see everything in
positive manner and bring the positive outlook. However, it is not always possible because
there are times when person has to give their best also. Therefore, it believes in displaying the

ARTICLE ANALYSIS 4
strength of justice. It involves three main things- leadership, fairness and citizenship. It stated
that a global leader is required to possess several leadership qualities. It is because
organisations are becoming too much complex that requires the significant of leader to be
supportive and open minded. Next, it has also assisted in exploring how character strengths
and virtues can help the global leaders to perform activities and their strategic role in a more
effective and positive way. Similarly, it has also helped me in performing several kind of
activities many time.
Article 4
Crossan, M., Mazutis, D. and Seijts, G., 2013. In search of virtue: The role of virtues, values
and character strengths in ethical decision making. Journal of Business Ethics, 113(4),
pp.567-581.
In this article, author has given the emphasis on the models that integrate the virtues,
strengths, ethical decision making and character strengths. It has underlined the reason
besides including the ethical decision making. According to it, role of character strengths as
well as role of values is essential to understand. It believes that the character strengths are the
psychological strengths. It includes the virtues that present themselves as the analytical
variables and objectives. It has also highlighted the ten different motivational values that
includes security, self direction, stimulation, benevolence, universalism, achievement, power,
hedonism. It is true that all these values plays an essential role. The main criticism of this
theory is that several other factors are equally important for the motivation. In addition to
this, values also play an essential role. It is true that values are the guiding principles in the
lives that are essential. The same could be said for Humanity, courage, temperance, tolerance
and transcendence in that these virtues may also apparent inversely for individuals driven by
altered motivational values. However, there is no single system on which the values of people
tends to depend. It is different as different people have different judgement, awareness, and
behaviour. In this way, values differ from person to person.