Abstract
We hypothesized that the amount of positive experiences at work (job satisfaction, pleasure, engagement, meaning) is a function
of the extent to which the situational circumstances at the workplace allow for the application of an individual’s signature
character strengths. For the description of the individual a reliable and valid instrument already exists, but not for the
environment. Hence, the newly developed Applicability of Character Strengths Rating Scales (ACS-RS) with information on its
reliability and validity were also presented. A sample of 1,111 adults filled in the ACS-RS and measures for possession of
character strengths and positive experiences at work. The ACS-RS was reliable by means of internal consistency and inter-rater
reliability. It proved to be valid in several ways being sensitive to: (a) the differences in the applicability of trait-relevant
behavior in formal versus informal situations by showing higher applicability of the character strengths in the latter; (b)
the differences between traits regarding their applicability across situations; (c) people’s disposition to choose situations
fitting their dispositions by showing positive relationships between the degree of possession and applicability. Moreover,
correlations between applicability of strengths and positive experiences increased with the individual centrality of the strengths.
The more signature strengths were applied at the workplace, the higher the positive experiences at work. This study showed
that character strengths matter in vocational environments irrespective of their content. Strengths-congruent activities at
the workplace are important for positive experiences at work like job satisfaction and experiencing pleasure, engagement,
and meaning fostered by one’s job.
of the extent to which the situational circumstances at the workplace allow for the application of an individual’s signature
character strengths. For the description of the individual a reliable and valid instrument already exists, but not for the
environment. Hence, the newly developed Applicability of Character Strengths Rating Scales (ACS-RS) with information on its
reliability and validity were also presented. A sample of 1,111 adults filled in the ACS-RS and measures for possession of
character strengths and positive experiences at work. The ACS-RS was reliable by means of internal consistency and inter-rater
reliability. It proved to be valid in several ways being sensitive to: (a) the differences in the applicability of trait-relevant
behavior in formal versus informal situations by showing higher applicability of the character strengths in the latter; (b)
the differences between traits regarding their applicability across situations; (c) people’s disposition to choose situations
fitting their dispositions by showing positive relationships between the degree of possession and applicability. Moreover,
correlations between applicability of strengths and positive experiences increased with the individual centrality of the strengths.
The more signature strengths were applied at the workplace, the higher the positive experiences at work. This study showed
that character strengths matter in vocational environments irrespective of their content. Strengths-congruent activities at
the workplace are important for positive experiences at work like job satisfaction and experiencing pleasure, engagement,
and meaning fostered by one’s job.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Research Paper
- Pages 1-19
- DOI 10.1007/s10902-012-9364-0
- Authors
- Claudia Harzer, Section on Personality and Assessment, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14/Box 7, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland
- Willibald Ruch, Section on Personality and Assessment, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14/Box 7, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland
- Journal Journal of Happiness Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-7780
- Print ISSN 1389-4978