Assignment 1(HUL267) -> Average to A+

Shubham Yadav
<2012me20801>
1) Best 5 Character Strengths:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Bravery
Social Intelligence
Humour
Perspective
Open mindedness

2) Yes, I agree with VIA scale's rating to some extent that they do show correlation
with my character strengths as perceived by me in the class and with class overall
rating also.
Bravery, Social Intelligence, Perspective and Humor do form a major part of my
strong strengths, this can be simply expressed in mathematical form as 0.8
correlation.
While that with whole of class, Hope, Humour, Social Intelligence, Open
mindedness showed up frequently and again it shows 0.8 of correlation with
class's overall rating.
3) Some more character strengths observed by me
1.
2.
3.
4.

Rational thinking
Able to work in team as well as individually
Fairness
Love of learning

4)Activities where these strengths can be used:

1. Rational thinking making unbiased decisions, choosing best available
path, justifying
decisions contrary to popular thinking
2. Ability to work in team or individually As situation demands, team or
individual work can
be done. For example some tasks demands high efficiency
but no creativity like a core course's
minor exam which can be done
individually with high efficiency while some tasks like project
about designing
improved knee support requires brainstorming and many different perspectives
which are best done with team.

3. Fairness - fairness which by standard definition is treating all people the same
according to notions of fairness and justice, can be very helpful; in fostering good relations with all
people.
Showing hostility or favour can be dangerous for person as well as organization respect.
Other activities where it can be found to be useful umpiring in cricket match, ensuring equity in
team and group, Selection for hostel team.
4. Love of learning Not many activities can be listed where this strength can be directly used
but it does develop good character and makes one informed, which can come handy anytime.
High knowledge in diverse subjects do come in handy in public discussions. Also as shown in
popular culture knowledge doesn't get wasted, it will prove to be useful at some point in time.
5) Using them in better way:
Most of strengths in solitude may not prove to be useful that much. Other
strengths are required that boost collective strength so that individual can reach
its potential. Thus major task is identifying which strengths support and enhance
which characteristic strengths, in other words we need to identify which strengths
are supplementary and which are complimentary and importance need be given
to enhance supplementary ones.
For example Rational thinking should be used with fairness, so that all benefit equally and one
does not deliberately cause harm to someone.
Perspective and open-mindedness comes with love of learning, and all are
mutually reinforcing.
Bravery combined with humour is deadpool which is awesome
Creativity combined with perseverance will result in best and most innovative
discoveries
Also, most of these character strengths are highly suitable for specialized tasks
( which is becoming more and more common with Adam smith's invisible hand
causing division and specialization of labour). Thus one must choose tasks and
roles which are facilitated and augmented by his best strengths.
For example one with fairness, open mindedness, perspective should be judge or law-maker.
As for my strengths, for using them in better way 1. Should develop supplementary strengths to those
2. Identify and engage in activities which develop them even more
3. Try and achieve and balance the composition by developing other strengths
also
4. Identify negative strengths and replace them with positive. As for every

characteristic strength of VIA scale, there exists 2 extremes positive and

negative, task is to identify the ones with negative and try to balance it. Example
in this case for me would be spirituality, so to achieve balance end in this
strength I will start reading works of Swami Vivekananda and try and follow
practice of meditation.