Measurement at the Intersection of Positive Psychology and the Psychology of Religion/Spirituality

Abstract

AbstractA catalogue and exploration of measures at the intersection of virtues and character strengths (VCS) and the psychology of religion/spirituality (R/S) can inform theoretically interesting and practically valuable questions involving the VCS–R/S relationship. We review a select group of measures in the psychology of R/S through the lens of positive psychology’s six core virtues (wisdom/knowledge, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence) and 24 character strengths, as articulated by Peterson and Seligman (Character strengths and virtues: a handbook and classification. Oxford University Press, 2004). To accomplish this goal, we examined 200 measures in the psychology of R/S and determined whether or not each of the 24 character strengths is also assessed by the scale. For example, a scale measuring daily spiritual experiences also measures love (a character strength associated with the virtue of humanity), appreciation of beauty and excellence, and gratitude (character strengths of the virtue of transcendence). Additionally, we explore how religious/spiritual context may shape conceptualization and measurement of VCS constructs, thus affording a clearer understanding of both the virtue and the religious/spiritual context. We caution that drawing conclusions without a consideration of the religious/spiritual worldview context of the populations being studied may risk a distorted understanding of VCS. Online access to characterological ratings of 200 religious/spiritual scales is provided.