By Denise Quinlan - July 8, 2009
Strengths for Different Realities
Before attending the 1st World Congress of Positive Psychology, I argued that the 25th strength should be local rather than global. After the Congress, which highlighted the importance of context and culture in understanding well-being, I wondered if we should increase that to five local strengths. Perhaps the 25th strength for each country should be the local or culturally-bound strength which has facilitated the culture’s success. Local strengths are not irrelevant just because they are not universal. They acknowledge and arise out of the unique circumstances of a particular culture and create solutions that work there, but might not apply anywhere else. One size doesn’t fit all – even with the VIA.
Local strengths may need to evolve and change with the culture. While the VIA’s character strengths have enduring value, a local strength may outlive its purpose or become ‘over-developed’. Korean ‘filial piety’ is sometimes at odds with ‘modern’ values of justice and honesty. US individualism untrammelled may undermine collective strengths of citizenship and belonging.
It may be easier to identify a local strength when one is a foreigner. Outsiders may notice a ‘national strength’ that has disappeared.
Kiwi Ingenuity
New Zealand’s pioneering history and geographical isolation gave rise to the strengths of ‘she’ll be right’ (every pioneer had to be prepared to turn their hand to any task), and ‘number 8 wire technology’ (almost any repair can be carried out using No.8 fencing wire). Both strengths reflect a rugged self-reliance and ingenuity born of necessity. While ‘Kiwi ingenuity’ is still apparent in some areas of technology, a younger generation brought up on cheap, readily available imported consumer goods is losing the ‘can do’ create or repair strengths of their forefathers.
Friends in Dublin
The strength of ‘showing up’ was highly valued in Ireland until recent years. Showing up was a strength of belonging: of respecting the group one belonged to and being there for the people who mattered in your life when it mattered to them. As a colonized country, respect for legal authority was scarce in Ireland and most institutions were regarded as illegitimate. Showing up suited the Irish context in that it blended loyalty and citizenship with the freedom to exercise one’s own social intelligence; it allowed for expressions of citizenship and belonging outside institutions (citizenship for the anarchy-inclined). As Ireland has modernized and become wealthier and more individualistic, this strength has broken down and matters less important to socially and geographically mobile younger generations.
The VIA demonstrates that there are universal strengths valued over time by all people. There are also local strengths which, for good or ill, have shaped our cultures. Perhaps we should take stock of our local strengths as well as our global or universal strengths and consider how they may help or hinder us in facing the future.
References
Peterson, C., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues. New York: Oxford University Press.
Images
Positive influence courtesy of Art Makes Me Smile. The three images are Miep Gies, who helped hide Anne Frank’s family, Nelson Mandela, and Mother Teresa.
Kiwi Ingenuity courtesy of Sandy Austin
Wirelings in Dublin courtesy of Matt McGee
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Denise Quinlan, MAPP, is an experienced facilitator and presenter with over twenty years experience. She has worked with management in the health, banking, scientific, engineering, power, forestry and state sectors in New Zealand and Europe. Denise’s doctoral research will develop an implementation framework for schools to help them plan to use and develop this learning to best effect in their environment.
Denise writes on the 8th of each month, and her past articles are here.
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