Personality and Character: A Comparative Qualitative Analysis of Trait Descriptions in NEO-PI-3 and Character Strengths and Virtues

Abstract

The theoretical relationship between personality and character, as two approaches to conceptualizing individual differences, remains poorly defined. Attempts to clarify the relationship by analyzing leading personality and character frameworks—NEO-PI-3 and Peterson and Seligman’s Character Strengths and Virtues (CSV)—have yielded divergent, unclear results. In this paper, we use a qualitative thematic analysis method to systematically compare NEO-PI-3 and CSV trait descriptions. Our analysis found 35 overlapping facet-strength trait pairs, including 22 morally-toned facet-strength relationships. For the CSV, the overlap was spread out among the strengths, while the overlap for NEO-PI-3 was mostly located in the factors of Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. We also found traits that were uniquely evaluated or emphasized by each framework. NEO-PI-3 tended to emphasize traits related to emotions, tasks, and socializing; the CSV tended to emphasize self-management, prosocial, and worldview traits. Our analysis indicates that the two frameworks share substantial description of traits—including moral traits—but are not redundant. Our conceptual results were largely supported by empirical studies. Future research should continue to synthesize conceptual and empirical scholarship to advance understanding of the relationship between these two frameworks for evaluating individual differences.

Appendices

Appendix A: Excerpt page numbers

Primary text	Construct	Page number
Source for NEO-PI-3 trait descriptions Weiner, I. B., & Greene, R. L. (2007). Handbook of Personality Assessment. Wiley	Neuroticism
	Anxiety	327
	Angry Hostility	327
	Depression	327
	Self-Consciousness	328
	Impulsiveness	328
	Vulnerability	328
	Extraversion
	Warmth	329
	Gregariousness	329
	Assertiveness	329
	Activity	329
	Excitement-Seeking	329
	Positive Emotions	330
	Openness
	Fantasy	330
	Aesthetics	330
	Feelings	331
	Actions	331
	Ideas	331
	Values	331
	Agreeableness
	Trust	332
	Straightforwardness	332
	Altruism	332
	Compliance	332
	Modesty	332
	Tender-Mindedness	333
	Conscientiousness
	Competence	333
	Order	333
	Dutifulness	334
	Achievement Striving	334
	Self-Discipline	334
	Deliberation	334
Source for character strengths and virtues trait descriptions Peterson, C., & P., S. M. E. (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification. American Psychological Association	Courage (p. 36)
	Bravery	214
	Persistence	229–230
	Integrity	249–250
	Vitality	273–275
	Humanity (p. 37–38)
	Love	304–305
	Kindness	326
	Social Intelligence	338–339
	Justice	36–37
	Citizenship	370–371
	Fairness	392–393
	Leadership	414–415
	Temperance (p. 38)
	Forgiveness and Mercy	446
	Humility and Modesty	462
	Prudence	479
	Self-Regulation	500
	Transcendence (p. 38–39)
	Appreciation of Beauty	539
	Gratitude	554
	Hope	570
	Humor	586
	Spirituality	603
	Wisdom (p. 39–40)
	Creativity	110
	Curiosity	125–127
	Open-mindedness	144–145
	Love of learning	163–164
	Perspective	182–183

Appendix B: Codebook

Category	Sub-category (when applicable)	Code name
Aesthetic appreciation		Aesthetic
		Aesthetic appreciation
		Appreciates beauty
		Appreciates goodness
		Appreciates others' accomplishments
		Appreciates skill
		Appreciates virtue
		Does not enjoy emotive art
		Enjoys emotive art
		Has low aesthetic appreciation
Decision-making		Abstract reasoning for interpersonal relationships
		Acts recklessly
		Calculating
		Considers the consequences of their actions/decisions
		Does not consider the consequences
		Does not rely on intuition
		Incorporates emotions into reasoning
		Is deliberative about life choices
		Is guided by evidence
		Is indecisive
		Keeps their thoughts grounded in reality
		Likes to keep their options open
		Makes intelligent decisions
		Tends to be spontaneous
		Uses intuition and reason when making decisions
Emotional disposition towards others	Cooperation/competition	Fosters cooperation
		Is easily combative
		Prefers cooperation with others
	Emotional bonds with others	Affectionate
		Does not have strong emotional attachments to others
		Finds joy in others
		Forms strong emotional attachments with friends
		Fosters community
		Has personal relationships
		Is emotionally cold
		Is emotionally warm
		Is passionate about another
	Emotional intelligence	Has emotional awareness
		Has emotional intelligence
		Has emotional savvy
		Intelligence towards motives, feelings, and well-being
		Is emotionally unaware
		Is wise in relationships
		Recognizes emotional cues
		Social intelligence
		Understands social dynamics
	Emotional response to those in misfortune	Does not feel sympathy
		Easily empathizes with others
		Feels sympathy for the less fortunate
		Is prone to be compassionate towards others
	Leadership	Does not assert themselves
		Inspires others
		Is a natural leader
		Is dominant
		Is not a natural leader
		Is proud of managerial ability
		Makes decisions for the group
		Manages others well
		Motivates others
		Tends to be assertive
	Orientation towards the good of others	Altruism
		Benefits self and others
		Is beneficent towards others
		Is charitable
		Is generous towards others
		Is not generous towards others
		Is oriented towards others
		Is perceived to be self-centred by others
		Pursues goodness
		Pursues the common good
		Tries to be considerate
	Other	Has low social shame
		Easily experiences social shame
		Is paternalistic about exposing others to Diverse opinions
		Needs to be with others
		Prefers to be alone
	Perception of others	Can trust others
		Dislikes inauthenticity
		Does not tend to view others negatively
		Interested in others
		Is cynical towards others
		Is not interested in others
		Is often disgusted with others
		Is prone to resentment
		Likes others
		Tends to be thankful
	Response to wrongdoing	Forgives easily
		Has affective kindness
		Is kind to others
Is lenient towards others
Is not vengeful
Seeks to repair relationships
Tends to have positive feelings towards transgressor
Tries to forgive
Social graces	Has a good sense of humor
	Is comfortable around others
	Is friendly
	Is fun to be with
	Is liked by others
	Is not talkative
	Is playful
	Is talkative
	Laughs easily
Socializing	Does not enjoy socializing
	Does not enjoy socializing in groups
	Does not like crowds
	Enjoys social environments
	Enjoys socializing
	Enjoys socializing in groups
Emotional disposition towards various life rate and rhythms	Desire for intense-emotional experiences	Craves excitement
		Does not crave excitement
		Is thrill-seeking
		Seeks stimulating experiences
	Rate of life	Has enthusiasm for activities
		Lives at a slow pace
		Lives leisurely
		Lives vigorously
		Often seems rushed
		Tends to be active
	Routines and rhythms	Adaptive
		Desires new experiences
		Establishes habits
		Has a flexible approach to life
		Is open to new experiences
		Likes consistency in activities
		Prefers familiarity
		Seeks change
		Seeks societal change
		Tries new experiences
Emotional dispositions	Expression of emotion	Authenticity and sincerity
		Expresses negative emotions candidly
		Is genuine
		Is not emotionally expressive
	Negative emotions	Anxiety
		Is easily discouraged
		Is easily frustrated
		Is easily hopeless
		Is lighthearted
		Is not easily discouraged
		Is not prone to anger
		Is not prone to frustration
		Is not prone to low mood
		Is not prone to worry
		Is prone to anger
		Is prone to anxiety
		Is prone to fear
		Is prone to low mood
		Is prone to worry
		Is rarely fearful
		Tends to feel overwhelmed
	Other	Is able to feel ecstatic
		Is cheerful/tries to cheer others
		Is easily awed
		Is optimistic
		Is reluctant to express anger
		Is romantic
		Is solemn
		Is stubborn
Follows sense of right and wrong		Acts in line with their standards
		Does the right thing
		Does the right thing despite sacrifice
		Dutifulness
		Engages in civic duty
		Has a sense of duty to group
		Is honest/values honesty
		Is not deceitful
		Is strong-willed
		Is willing to deceive to get what they need
		Lives by principles
		Maintains integrity despite potential loss
		Overcoming complacency
		Shirks civic duty
		Tends to be asthenic
Form code		Multi-track disposition
Form of emotions		Active positive emotion
		Does not experience strong emotions
		Experiences a wide range of emotions
		Experiences strong emotions
		Experiences strong positive feelings
		Is emotionally stable
		Is emotionally unstable
		Their emotions are stable
		Their emotions change quickly
Intellectual dispositions	Disposition towards existential thought	Does not enjoy abstract thought
		Engages with existential questions
		Enjoys abstract thought
		Has low existential interest
	Disposition towards learning	Enjoys learning
		Experiences positive feelings from learning
		Has optimism for capacity to learn
		Is intellectually curious
		Is open to new ideas
		likes to learn
		Pursues knowledge
	Other	Cognitively engaged
		Corrects against bias
		Does not let their mind wander
		Easily engages cognitively with interests/new information/present task
		Enjoys problem-solving
		Excels at problem-solving
		Has capacity to give advice
		HAS diverse interests
		Has good judgment in life
		Has original ideas and behaviors
		Has practical intelligence
		Is competent
		Is imaginative
		Is knowledgeable in an area
		Is prudent
		Is reflective
		Is unimaginative
		Is willing to challenge one's beliefs
		Personal intelligence
		Sees big picture
		Stays informed
		Supports censorship
Intra-text comparisons		Factor vs strength
		Strength vs strength
Management of self	Managing emotions	Capacity to overcome different types of fear
		Has poor emotional control
		Overcoming fear
		Overcoming fear of social loss
		Overcoming psychological fear
		Tends to overcome fear of physical injury
	Other	Does not overindulge
		Has emotional control
		Has low temperance
		Has self-control
		Has self-discipline
		Has temperance
		Is able to control excess
		Is able to control their impulses
		IS impulsive
		Overcoming self
		Overcoming temptation
		Takes responsibility for feelings and behaviors
		Tends to overindulge
Orientation towards (how one approaches, perceives) the future		Does not plan
		Has long-term perspective
		Is future-oriented
		Is goal-oriented
		Is not goal oriented
		Is often unprepared
		Is willing to face risk
		Tends to plan
Other		Actions
		Acts in appreciation
		Avoids shocking or scary movies
		Is physically healthy
Perception of self		Acknowledges limitations of self
		Aspires to dominant roles
		Brags about oneself
		Credits others
		Does not focus on oneself
		Does not view self as superior
		Feels fortunate in good circumstances
		Feels inferior to others
		Has a moderate view of one's achievements
		Has an accurate perception of self
		Has good perspective of self
		Has good self-attitude
		Has good vital sense
		Has low self-attitude
		Is confident about competition
		Is self-aware
		Tries to be humble
		Views self as charitable
		Views self as superior
		Views self as tolerant
Relationship to material environment (e.g. objects, things)		Is attracted to flashy styles
		Is cleanly with their belongings
		Is disorganized
		Is organized
Relationship with tasks	Fastidiousness	Does things the right way
		Is meticulous
	Other	Does not complete things
		Is productive
		Is unreliable
		Is unsuccessful
		Lacks persistence
		Paces themselves to meet deadlines
		Performs assigned tasks
		Procrastinates
		Tends to complete jobs/commitments
		Works hard
Responses to challenging circumstances		Acceptance of life events
		chooses the hard path
		Has inner bravery
		Does not handle stress well
		Feels helpless when facing problems
		Handles stress well
		Is resilient
		Persists through hardship
Unity of self		Harmonizes their goals and interests
		Hates being thought of as a hypocrate
Worldview	Moral beliefs	Believes all deserve respect
		Believes complete honesty is bad
		Believes in equal opportunity
		Believes in human value
		Believes in maximal charity
		Believes in pluralism
		Believes in responsibility
		Believes others are inclined towards good
		Believes that people are ends in themselves
		Believes values should remain stable
		Believes we should adapt
		Does not support discrimination
		Fairness
		Prefers justice over mercy
	Teleology	Believes in a deity
		Believes in a purpose larger than ourselves
		Believes in afterlife, bigger purpose
		Believes in higher moral code
		Believes in non-physical dimension
		Believes in sacred force

Appendix C: Complete findings of inquiry 1

Thematic overlap between VIA-FFM	Categories and sub-categories	Codes	NEO-PI3 excerpt	VIA excerpt
Long-term orientation	Decision-making	“Is deliberative about life choices”	“Individuals think things through and always consider the consequences before making a decision or taking action. They plan ahead carefully when they go on a trip.” Deliberation (C6, Conscientiousness)	“They show a style of thinking about everyday life choices that is reflective, deliberate, and practical.” Prudence [Temperance]
		“Considers the consequences of their actions/decisions”	“Individuals think things through and always consider the consequences before making a decision or taking action” Deliberation (C6, Conscientiousness)	“Prudent individuals show a farsighted and deliberative concern for the consequences of their actions and decisions, successfully resist impulses and other choices that satisfy shorter term goals at the expense of longer term ones, have a flexible and moderate approach to life, and strive for balance among their goals and ends.” Prudence [Temperance] “making life decisions by considering distant as well as immediate benefits and costs, and by paying heed to their probable consistency or conflict with one’s other plans” Prudence [Temperance]
	Orientation towards the future	“Is goal oriented”	“Have a clear set of goals, and work hard to accomplish them in an orderly fashion” Achievement Striving (C4, Conscientiousness)	“They take a foresighted stance toward their personal future, thinking and caring about it, planning for it, and holding long-term goals and aspirations.” Prudence [Temperance] I have a clear picture in my mind about what I want to happen in the future.” Hope [Transcendence] “voluntary continuation of a goal-directed action in spite of obstacles, difficulties, or discouragement.” Persistence [Courage] “person exerts control over his or her own responses so as to pursue goals and live up to standards.” Self-regulation [Temperance]
Rates and rhythms of life	Emotional disposition towards various life rate and rhythms category: desire for intense-emotional experiences	Craves excitement does not crave excitement is thrill-seeking seeks stimulating experiences	“Individuals often crave excitement and like to be where the action is” Excitement-Seeking (E5, Extraversion) “Individuals seldom crave excitement and they do not like to be where the action is. They tend to avoid movies that are shocking or scary” Excitement-Seeking, Low (E5, Extraversion) “They have sometimes done things just for the thrill of it.” Excitement-Seeking (E5, Extraversion)	“Novelty-seeking reflects an individual’s propensity for seeking novel and exciting experiences to Elevate stimulation to an optimal level” Curiosity [Wisdom]
	Emotional disposition towards various life rate and rhythms category: rate of life	Has enthusiasm for activities lives at a slow pace lives leisurely lives vigorously tends to be active often seems rushed	“Individuals are not as quick and lively as other people, and their work is likely to be slow and steady.” Activity, Low (E4, Extraversion) “They have a leisurely style in work and play.” Activity, Low (E4, Extraversion) “When they do things, they do them vigorously.” Activity (E4, Extraversion) “They often feel as if they are bursting with energy” Activity (E4, Extraversion) “Individuals are active and have a fast-paced life” Activity (E4, Extraversion) “usually seem to be in a hurry.” Activity (E4, Extraversion)	“Those with vitality also exhibit enthusiasm, which they direct toward whatever activities they choose to engage.” Vitality [Courage] “Dynamic aspect of well-being marked by the subjective experience of energy and aliveness” Vitality [Courage] “I feel alive and vital I have energy and spirit I nearly always feel awake and alert I feel energized.” Vitality [Courage] “Vigor is a word with similar meanings, being derived from the idea of liveliness. The New Merriam Webster Dictionary (1989) defines vigor as “active strength or energy of body or mind,” reflecting that it, like vitality, refers to both somatic and psychological wellness. That which invigorates also vitalizes, and thus we treat these terms as equivalent constructs” Vitality [Courage] “A person who is vital is energetic and fully functioning” Vitality [Courage]
Leadership qualities	Emotional disposition towards others: Leadership	“Makes decisions for the group (consider overlap with decisions)” “Is a natural leader”	“Often have been leaders of groups to which they belong.” Assertiveness (E3, Extraversion) “Other people look to them to make decisions” Assertiveness (E3, Extraversion)	“I am often able to plan a course of action for my group.” Leadership [Justice]
Dispositions towards learning	Intellectual dispositions: Disposition towards learning	Enjoys learning experiences positive feelings from learning (consider also emotional dispositions) has optimism for capacity to learn is intellectually curious is open to new ideas likes to learn pursues knowledge	“Have a wide range of intellectual interests and a lot of intellectual curiosity.” Ideas (O5, Openness) “think that it is interesting to learn and develop new hobbies” Actions (O4, Openness)	“Learning is a positive experience.” Love of Learning [Wisdom] “I like to learn new things.” Love of Learning [Wisdom] “experience positive feelings in the process of acquiring skills, satisfying curiosity, building on existing knowledge, and/or learning something completely new” Love of Learning [Wisdom]
		“Enjoys abstract thought”	“Individuals enjoy playing with theories or abstract ideas” Ideas (O5, Openness)	“the individual to address important and difficult questions about the conduct and meaning of life” Perspective [Wisdom]
		“Enjoys problem-solving”	“Individuals enjoy… solving problems or puzzles” Ideas (O5, Openness)	“In contrast, specific curiosity should have stronger links to openness to new values and ideas, a future orientation, and the frequency and enjoyment of problem solving.” Curiosity [Wisdom]
Emotional dispositions towards others:	Emotional bonds towards others	“Has personal relationships”	“They have strong emotional attachments to their friends.” Warmth (E1, Extraversion)	“there is someone in whose company I feel deep contentment.” Love (Humanity)
		“Is emotionally warm”	“Individuals are known as warm, friendly persons” Warmth (E1, Extraversion)	“Having a warm and generous affect seems to bring reassurance and joy to others.” Kindness (Humanity)
		“Is cheerful/tries to cheer others”	“Cheerful, high-spirited persons who laugh easily.” Positive Emotions (E6, Extraversion)	“(b) a composed and cheerful view on adversity that allows one to see its light side and thereby sustain a good mood” Humor [Transcendence] “Whenever my friends are in a gloomy mood, I try to tease them out of it I welcome the opportunity to brighten someone else’s day with laughter.” Humor [Transcendence]
Good judgment	Intellectual dispositions: has good judgment in life	“Has good judgment in life”	“They pride themselves on their sound judgment” Competence (C1, Conscientiousness)	“Involves exceptional breadth and depth of knowledge about the conditions of life and human affairs and reflective judgment about the application of this knowledge” Wisdom “good judgment and advice about important but uncertain matters of life” Wisdom “is distinct from intelligence ▪ represents a superior level of knowledge, judgment, and capacity to give advice” Perspective [Wisdom]
Emotional control	Management of self: has emotional control	“Has emotional control”	“They are able to keep their feelings under control.” Impulsiveness, Low (N5, Neuroticism)	“Person exerts control over his or her own responses so as to pursue goals and live up to standards.” Self-regulation [Temperance] “They may direct their thought processes in directions other than where their minds naturally wander, they may attempt to change their emotional responses away from how they initially feel, and they may restrain themselves from carrying out impulses and desires. They may try to perform better than they would normally do, such as by making themselves persist on a difficult task. Most acts of self-regulation involve stop- ping the self from having a response, such as when a dieter refrains from eating a tempting but fattening food. There are, however, some instances of self-regulation that entail initiating a response, such as when a sleepy man drags himself out of bed on a cold morning.” Self-regulation [Temperance]

1. “Appendix C”. This table presents the complete findings of Theme 1: Areas of Overlap in Described Traits. All excerpts from the NEO-PI3 and the Character Strengths and Virtues are included under associated sub-themes (listed in the left-most column), along with the associated code names and their location in the codebook. Location in the codebook is denoted by category first. If there is a more specific sub-category, it will listed after a colon.

Appendix D: Complete findings of inquiry 2

Thematic overlap in moral codes between the VIA-FFM	Categories and sub-categories	Codes	NEO-PI3 excerpt	VIA excerpt
Moral dispositions towards treating others: The importance of caring for others Taking others needs into consideration Looking out for others’ good Actually helps those in needs	Worldview: moral beliefs Emotional disposition towards others: orientation towards the good of others Follows sense of right and wrong	“Believes in maximal charity” “tries to be considerate” “is charitable” “is generous towards others” “Is oriented towards others” “has a sense of duty to group”	“They believe that human needs always should take priority over economic considerations.” Tendermindness (A6, Agreeableness) “Individuals try to be courteous, thoughtful, and considerate.” Altruism (A3, Agreeableness) “They go out of their way to help others.” Altruism (A3, Agreeableness) “we can never do too much for the poor and elderly.” Tendermindness (A6, Agreeableness)	“People in need require care It is important to help everyone, not just family and friends.” Kindness [Humanity] “I have a wider perspective I have a strong need to contribute to others and society I take into consideration the needs of others.” Perspective [Wisdom] “treatment of others with care, as evident by helping those in need; sensitivity to the needs of others” Integrity [Courage] “generosity even when an equitable exchange would suffice,” Humanity “It is important to me personally that I work to correct social and eco- nomic inequalities It is important to me personally that I help others who are in difficulty It is important to me personally to be involved in programs to clean up the environment.” Citizenship [Justice] “social responsibility, loyalty, and teamwork represent a feeling of identification with and sense of obligation to a common good that includes the self but that stretches beyond one’s own self-interest.” Citizenship [Justice] “The common thread for people exhibiting these values is that they endorse public interest over self-interest goals as values by which to live. They identify with the common good and want to make the world a better place for future generations.” Citizenship [Justice] “Giving is more important than receiving Doing good for others with love and kindness is the best way to live. I care for the ungrateful as well the grateful.” Kindness [Humanity] “the fact remains that we are quite capable of and often willing to engage in acts of generosity, kindness, or benevolence that are consensually recognized and valued and that elevate those who witness them” Humanity “I try to be kind to everyone” Fairness [Justice] “Kindness, generosity, nurturance, care, compassion, and altruistic love are a net- work of closely related terms indicating a common orientation of the self to- ward the other.” Kindness [Humanity]
Interpersonal relations: Honesty Trust Manipulative/deceitful Forgiveness/forgetting Prefers justice	Follows sense of right and wrong Emotional dispositions: Perception of others	“Is honest/values honesty” “is not deceitful” “is perceived to be self-centered by others”	“Individuals are not crafty or sly, and could not deceive anyone even if they wanted to.” Straightforwardness (A2, Agreeableness) “Individuals are willing to manipulate people to get what they need and sometimes trick people into doing what they want.” Straightforwardness, Low (A2, Agreeableness)	“When people keep telling the truth, things work out I would never lie just to get something I wanted from someone.” Integrity [Courage] “It is important to me to be open and honest about my feelings.” Integrity [Courage] “I wouldn’t want to cheat anyone, any more than I would want to be cheated.” Fairness [Justice]
	Emotional disposition towards others: responds to wrongdoing Worldview—moral beliefs	“Is lenient towards others” “is not vengeful” “Forgives easily” “seeks to repair relationships” prefers justice over mercy	“When they have been insulted, they just try to forgive and forget” Compliance (A4, Agreeableness) “They would rather be known as ‘just’ than ‘merciful.’” Tender-mindness, Low (A6, Agreeableness)	“I think it is important to do what I can to mend my relationships with people who have hurt or betrayed me in the past.” Forgiveness and mercy [Temperance] “When someone hurts my feelings, I manage to get over it fairly quickly I don’t hold a grudge for very long When people make me angry, I am usually able to get over my bad feelings toward them.” Forgiveness and mercy [Temperance] “Seeking revenge doesn’t help people to solve their problems I am not the type of person to harm someone simply because he or she harmed me I am not the type of person who spends hours thinking of how to get even with people who have done bad things to me.” Forgiveness and mercy [Temperance] “The core virtue justice, as already stated, refers generally to that which makes life fair” Justice “the shared notion is that some standard should be in practice to protect intuitive notions of what is fair” Justice “pragmatic rendition of justice, that of the laws that give fairness a fair shot” Justice
Moral actions: Acting in accordance with principles Acting in accordance with right and wrong despite sacrifice or societal non-conformity	Follows sense of right and wrong	“Lives by principles” “does the right thing” “acts in line with their standards”	“They adhere strictly to their ethical principles.” Dutifulness (C3, Conscientiousness)	“Those virtues are believed to mani-fest in the pursuit of a principled life and a life of goodness.” Spirituality [Transcendence] “My life is guided and given meaning by my code of values.” Integrity [Courage] “Self-regulation refers to how a person exerts control over his or her own re- sponses so as to pursue goals and live up to standards.” Self-regulation [Temperance] “I behave in a manner consistent with my own personal standards.” Perspective [Wisdom] “a focus on behaviors, attitudes, and experiences that are consistent with these values” Spirituality [Transcendence] “▪ My life is guided and given meaning by my code of values a regular pattern of behavior that is consistent with espoused values— practicing what one preaches” Integrity [Courage] “Having strength of character means having the capacity to do what is right and avoid what is wrong.” [Temperance]
	Follows sense of right and wrong Worldview: teleology	“Does the right thing” “despite sacrifice” “believes in higher moral code”	None	“Moral courage entails maintaining ethical integrity or authenticity at the risk of losing friends, employment, privacy, or prestige.” Courage “We mean courage to include physical valor, yes, but also integrity and perseverance—any act of willfully overcoming into what it is so easy to slip: security, comfort, complacency. We mean doing what is right, even when one has much to lose.” Courage “Bravery is usually considered doing what is right, including confronting the status quo or opposing an unhealthy idea, and as such, it takes on a moral tone.” Bravery [Courage] “I always follow through on my commitments, even when it costs me.” Integrity [Courage] “does not follow that the good citizen is blindly obedient. Rather he or she exercises informed judgment in the inter- ests of the whole. At times this can even involve a challenge to unjust laws” Spirituality [Transcendence] “Even if society says it’s all right to do something, if it doesn’t match my personal sense of what’s right, I wouldn’t do it.” Fairness [Justice]
Moral belief: inherent human worth	Worldview—moral beliefs	“Believes all deserve respect” “believes in human value” “believes that people are ends in themselves”	“Individuals believe that all human beings are worthy of respect” Tender-mindedness (A6, Agreeableness)	“Everyone deserves respect.” Fairness [Justice] “It’s wrong to use people Everyone deserves respect We’re all in this together People are ends in themselves.” Fairness [Justice] “Kindness and altruistic love require the assertion of a common humanity in which others are worthy of attention and affirmation for no utilitarian reasons but for their own sake” Kindness [Humanity] “Others are just as important as me All human beings are of equal worth.” Kindness [Humanity]

1. “Appendix D”. This table presents the complete findings of Theme 2: Moral Content. All excerpts from the NEO-PI3 and the Character Strengths and Virtues are included under associated sub-themes (listed in the left-most column), along with the associated code names and their location in the codebook. Location in the codebook is denoted by category first. If there is a more specific sub-category, it will listed after a colon.

Appendix E: Findings of inquiry 3

In our third inquiry, we identified categories and sub-categories that demonstrated comparative emphasis in the NEO-PI-3 or the CSV as judged by:

• (1) Qualitative detail

• (2) Extent of description

• (3) Range of coded traits

The Tables included here represent some of the qualitative data that we reviewed to support our claims about comparatively emphasized traits in our findings (Tables 7, 8).

Table 7 This Table demonstrates both the number of coded text segments, which we used as a proxy for (2) “Extent of description” and the number of facets or strengths/virtues that relate to a given theme to represent (3) the “Range of coded traits”

Table 8 This Table demonstrates (1) “Qualitative detail” as adjudged by the qualitative breadth of codes names included in each thematic category

Appendix F

1. This appendix shows relationships between NEO-PI-3 facets (arranged in columns) and the CSV strengths (arranged in rows). The numbers in each cell represent the number of papers we found in our literature review that showed a relationship between that particular facet and strength. The reviewed papers include McGrath (2015), Noftle et al. (2011) and Ruch et al. (2021). Correlations for Ruch et al. were only counted if the correlation was found in both the German and UK population samples. We identified the 15 facet-strength relationships that were found by all three papers and highlighted them with diagonal green shading. The facet-strength conceptual relationships identified in analysis are highlighted in blue.