Character Traits: How to Foster the Good & Manage the Bad

As a psychologist and educator with over a decade of experience integrating character development into clinical treatment, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of cultivating key character traits.

Traits like gratitude, resilience, and empathy don’t just make us feel good; they play a vital role in how we think, feel, and thrive.

As helping professionals, we get to witness the profound impact of character strengths in the lives of our clients. But how do these traits develop, and how can we nurture them?

In this article, we explore the science behind character development and offer practical strategies for fostering strengths, reframing challenges, and helping individuals flourish in life.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Strengths Exercises for free. These detailed, science-based exercises will help your clients realize their unique potential and create a life that feels energizing and authentic.

What Are Character Traits?

Character traits are the enduring qualities that define how individuals think, feel, and behave. They reflect a person’s values, attitudes, and moral compass, influencing their decisions and interactions. Psychologically, character houses our morals and ethics, serving as the foundation for our actions and choices (Power & Khmelkov, 1998).

Are character traits simply values and virtues? While values are indeed a core part of character, it’s essential to understand that character is not just about holding virtues; it’s about acting on them.

As Aristotle (2000) suggested, happiness arises not merely from possessing virtues but from living them out. This concept of values in action (Niemiec, 2014) highlights that character traits are what we give to others through our actions, influencing both ourselves and the world around us.

Character trait examples

Character traits are the building blocks of who we are, shaping our daily lives. For example, traits like honesty and empathy shine when someone admits a mistake or offers support to a friend in need.

Resilience becomes evident when a person perseveres through difficult setbacks, while gratitude is expressed when someone takes the time to appreciate life’s small joys.

Forgiveness emerges when we let go of anger and resentment, and courage surfaces when we step out of our comfort zones or take risks to pursue meaningful goals. Traits like self-regulation, kindness, curiosity, and a love of learning are evident in calm responses to stress, acts of generosity, and a pursuit of personal growth.

Cultivating these traits helps individuals navigate challenges, build trust, and thrive.

Extensive character trait list

This comprehensive list is organized to highlight character strengths that promote flourishing, as well as traits that may require careful exploration and development to support a balanced, meaningful life (Peterson & Seligman, 2004).

Personality vs. Character Traits: What’s the Difference?

While both character and personality help define who we are, they serve distinct roles in shaping individual identity. Personality refers to characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving (American Psychological Association, 2017) and is often used to describe the outward traits we notice first, such as extroversion, humor, and optimism.

In contrast, character is revealed more gradually, often through how we handle challenges, ethical dilemmas, or moments that test our integrity. Traits like honesty, courage, and kindness tend to emerge in situations that require resilience or moral decision-making. As Lickerman (2011, para. 2) notes, “Personality is easy to read, and we’re all experts at it. […] Character takes far longer to puzzle out.”

Character and personality are intricately connected, each influencing the other. While personality traits are typically viewed by psychologists as relatively stable, influenced by genetics and temperament, character is more dynamic, evolving through life experiences, choices, and beliefs. Both impact an individual’s thoughts, behaviors, and actions.

For instance, someone naturally shy, like myself, may develop confidence when faced with public speaking. Ultimately, personality defines how we present ourselves to the world, while character determines the depth of our responses to life’s challenges. By developing our character, we can align more closely with our true values and purpose, building mental strength and psychological capacity.

How Does Character Develop? 4 Psychological Perspectives

Character development is a lifelong process influenced by psychological factors, beliefs, and experiences. Four key perspectives offer insights into how character forms.

Psychodynamic perspective

Sigmund Freud’s (1923) psychoanalytical theory emphasized early childhood experiences and the superego, which internalizes moral standards from caregivers. Unconscious conflicts and emotions like guilt or shame influence our behavior and moral decision-making throughout life.

In this perspective, a person’s moral compass, developed through interactions with caregivers and their environment, serves as a foundation for how they will respond to life’s challenges.

Humanistic perspective

Maslow’s (1943) hierarchy of needs highlights self-actualization as central to developing strengths like integrity and kindness.

Rogers’s (1959) actualizing tendency added that self-acceptance and unconditional positive regard foster resilience and authentic character.

In this perspective, meeting basic psychological needs and striving for personal growth are essential for fostering strong character and reaching one’s potential.

Social-cognitive perspective

Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory underscores the role of observing and imitating role models to develop virtues like kindness and perseverance.

Kohlberg’s (1981) theory of moral development explains how reasoning evolves from self-interest to principled ethical decision-making, shaping traits like fairness and integrity.

Positive psychology perspective

Positive psychology focuses on cultivating strengths and virtues to promote flourishing.

Peterson and Seligman’s (2004) 24 universal character strengths can be assessed and developed through practices like gratitude and resilience building, enhancing wellbeing and purpose.

This strengths-based approach empowers people to navigate challenges and thrive in their personal and professional lives (Seligman, 2011).

Character development is an ongoing and complex process. Together, these perspectives provide a holistic understanding of how character forms and evolves over time.

5 Important Character Traits for Wellbeing & How to Foster Them

Decades of research highlight five character traits — spirituality, gratitude, zest, hope, and love — as among the most powerful predictors of wellbeing, life satisfaction, and mental health (Azañedo et al., 2021; Peterson & Seligman, 2004).

Having spent much of my career helping individuals cultivate wellbeing, I can attest that these theological strengths, as they are sometimes called, provide clients with meaning, optimism, and emotional fulfillment.
Below is a closer look at each trait with actionable strategies to help clients cultivate them.

1. Spirituality

Spirituality involves connecting to a deeper sense of purpose or meaning, often through faith, mindfulness, or reflection. Research shows that spiritually inclined individuals report higher life satisfaction and emotional resilience (Peterson & Seligman, 2004).

How to foster it

Encourage mindfulness practices, journaling about life purpose, or engaging in community spiritual activities. Prompts like “What gives my life meaning?” can help clients begin their exploration.

2. Gratitude

Gratitude is one of the most significant predictors of a meaningful life. Regular practice leads to increased happiness, positive emotions, stronger relationships, and improved mental health (Kumar et al., 2020).

How to foster it

Introduce daily gratitude exercises like journaling three good things each day, writing thank-you notes, or reflecting on moments of joy. Gratitude apps and reminders can help clients make gratitude a habit.

3. Zest

Zest refers to approaching life with energy and enthusiasm. Those high in zest report feeling more alive and engaged, making it one of the traits most strongly connected to wellbeing (Kumar et al., 2020).

How to foster it

Help clients identify activities that energize them, whether it’s exercise, creative hobbies, or social interactions. Encourage small changes to break monotony and foster excitement.

4. Hope

Studies indicate that hope is one of the strongest predictors of life satisfaction, helping people remain resilient during setbacks while maintaining a forward-looking mindset (Kumar et al., 2020).

How to foster it

Encouraging clients to use goal setting, visualization of success, affirmations, and future-self journaling can help them maintain an optimistic outlook and recognize progress.

5. Love

Love strengthens connections through empathy, compassion, and forgiveness. Positive, loving relationships are key to life satisfaction (Peterson & Seligman, 2004).

How to foster it

Encourage clients to focus on building and nurturing meaningful relationships with family, friends, and romantic partners. Therapy could also involve addressing any challenges in their current relationships to promote emotional health.

Across cultures, these five traits consistently foster resilience, meaning, and fulfillment (Shimai et al., 2006). By cultivating them, clients can lead more purposeful and fulfilling lives.

The Impact of Positive Character Traits on Life Satisfaction

Park et al. (2004) identified hope, zest, gratitude, curiosity, and love as the character strengths most strongly linked to high life satisfaction, in particular, playing a crucial role in shaping emotional wellbeing and overall fulfillment.

Conversely, the following strengths were found to be less strongly related to life satisfaction, relative to the other 24 universal character strengths (Park et al., 2004; Peterson & Seligman, 2004):

• Modesty/humility
• Creativity
• Appreciation of beauty and excellence
• Non-judgment/open-mindedness
• Love of learning

Further, Peterson et al. (2005) highlighted that the pursuit of meaning and engagement — through purposeful activities, personal growth, and meaningful connections — has a stronger link to life satisfaction than pleasure seeking alone.

As you’ve likely encountered in your work with clients, this research emphasizes the value of nurturing positive character traits while also addressing negative patterns that may hinder their progress.

How to Help Clients Deal With Negative Character Traits

Understanding how to manage and balance negative traits is essential for promoting positive outcomes. While the following traits are valuable, they may need to be balanced to avoid negative outcomes like indecisiveness or frustration (Park et al., 2004).

• Modesty/humility
  Excessive humility can limit self-expression and hinder growth. Help clients foster self-acceptance and assertiveness, encouraging them to confidently advocate for themselves when appropriate.
• Creativity
  Creativity fuels abstract thinking and problem-solving, but without direction, it can lead to frustration. Encourage clients to focus their creativity on practical goals aligned with their values.
• Open-mindedness
  While open-mindedness is essential, excessive flexibility can cause confusion. Strengthen clients’ critical thinking and decision-making skills to balance an open mind with discernment.
• Love of learning
  Clients who are overly focused on learning but struggle to implement knowledge may benefit from strategies to transform intellectual curiosity into action, such as setting actionable learning goals.

Other character traits, more clearly negative in nature, may include the following:

• Impatience
  Impatience can cause unnecessary frustration. Encourage mindfulness and promote realistic expectations to help clients develop patience.
• Stubbornness
  Stubbornness can limit adaptability and prevent clients from embracing new perspectives. Help clients practice open-mindedness and critical thinking, viewing flexibility as a strength.
• Jealousy
  Envy of others’ achievements or possessions can erode self-esteem. Guide clients to focus on gratitude and reframe comparisons as opportunities for self-reflection.
• Procrastination
  Procrastination often involves delaying important tasks due to fear or lack of motivation. Help clients break tasks into smaller steps and create action plans to reduce avoidance. Promoting self-compassion and addressing underlying fears can reduce avoidance behaviors.
• Pessimism
  Expecting negative outcomes can limit potential and create unnecessary anxiety. Use cognitive restructuring and positive reframing to help clients develop realistic optimism.

By helping clients manage these negative traits, they can cultivate a more balanced and fulfilling life. Next, we’ll explore how to prevent these traits from developing during childhood.

Character Traits for Kids

Research underscores how traits such as self-regulation, hope, curiosity, gratitude, zest, and love are linked to greater life satisfaction in children (Park & Peterson, 2006).

In practice, throughout my career helping parents and teachers nurture character traits in children, I’ve directly witnessed the impact these strengths can have on a child’s emotional and psychological growth.

Let’s assess how parents and teachers can cultivate these traits in children.

Supporting character development in children

• Self-regulation
  Research by Park and Peterson (2006) shows that self-regulation in parents is strongly associated with their children’s life satisfaction. Parents can model self-regulation by practicing emotional control, patience, and healthy coping mechanisms. Giving children opportunities to practice self-control also strengthens this vital trait.
• Hope and curiosity
  Young children with strong hope and curiosity tend to explore the world around them with confidence and enthusiasm (Shimai et al., 2006). Parents can foster these traits by supporting their child’s interests, providing opportunities for exploration, creativity, and goal setting, and helping children process grief in healthy ways, which restores hope.
• Gratitude
  Teaching children to practice thankfulness early on has lasting benefits for their emotional health. Research links gratitude to wellbeing in children as well as adults (Shimai et al., 2006). Parents can guide their children in gratitude exercises such as saying “thank you” regularly or keeping a gratitude journal. Children learn a lot by observing their parents, so expressing gratitude regularly helps cultivate this trait.
• Zest and love
  Helping children approach life with zest and a sense of love involves creating an environment where they feel loved and encouraged to participate in activities that excite them, both of which contribute to their overall happiness (Park et al., 2004).

Character trait anchor chart

Teaching character traits to younger audiences can be challenging, but using simple language, engaging visuals, and interactive activities makes the process both accessible and fun.

An effective way to explain traits is through an Inside/Outside Anchor Chart, where children can learn to categorize their physical (external) and personal (inner) traits. This method can also help children identify the differences between emotions and traits.

Using interactive strategies such as role-play, story mapping, and character maps reinforces learning. By blending visuals, movement, and relatable examples, children grasp the concept of character and build empathy and appreciation for others’ inner qualities.

Recommended Videos to Deepen Your Understanding

For those eager to explore character traits further, these curated videos offer valuable insights and practical examples:

Wake Forest University’s Character Project features videos and resources exploring character through research, real-life applications, and inspiring stories.

PositivePsychology.com’s Related Resources

Throughout this article, we’ve linked to several related articles on our blog that you may find helpful. There are even more helpful articles useful for building character.

Here are a few highly relevant ones:

• Empathy Activities & Worksheets for Students & Adults
• What is Openness to Experience & How Do We Measure It?
• The 5 Character Strengths of Wisdom in Positive Psychology

If you’re looking for more practical resources, we encourage you to explore these free worksheets for your clients:

• Exploring Character Strengths can be used to help clients recognize their character strengths, with the goal of identifying when and where they’ve put their strengths into action.
• Strengths in Challenging Times helps you think through a challenging circumstance and brainstorm ways your personal strengths can help you get through it.
• 10 Children’s Strengths Cards allow you to create cards with visuals representing 10 strengths to help children identify their own strengths.
• My Personal Beliefs worksheet helps children reflect and identify aspects of themselves that they can feel good about.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others develop their strengths, this collection contains 17 strength-finding tools for practitioners. Use them to help others better understand and harness their strengths in life-enhancing ways.

A Take-Home Message

Over my many years working with individuals, young and old, I’ve witnessed how developing character strengths can transform lives, helping individuals build mental strength, meaningful connections, and a deeper sense of purpose.

Whether you’re a therapist, teacher, or coach, you know that this work is both a privilege and a responsibility. By guiding our clients to cultivate character traits like resilience, gratitude, and hope, we equip them with tools to navigate challenges and thrive in all areas of life.

Character development is not just theoretical; it’s practical, powerful, and profoundly human. I encourage you to dive into this work, explore the strategies shared here, and embrace the opportunity to empower others in their character development.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Strengths Exercises for free.
ED: Updated March 2025