Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2017

Publication Source

Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

Volume Number

9

Issue Number

3

First Page

299

Last Page

302

Publisher

American Psychological Association

ISSN

1943-1562

Comments

©American Psychological Association, 2017. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. Please do not copy or cite without author's permission. The final article is available, upon publication, at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/rel0000127.

Abstract

The virtues are a central focus of research at the intersection of positive psychology and the psychology of religion and spirituality. Humility, patience, and gratitude are addressed in the target articles of this special issue. Beyond examining each individual virtue, we argue here that the connections among virtues also warrant empirical attention. Specifically, we explain the unity of the virtues thesis, which suggests that individual virtues may be a part of a larger overarching construct, which we propose may be practical wisdom, or simply general virtuousness. Similarly, we propose that a common mechanism, such as automatic self-regulation, may facilitate these virtuous expressions. Thus, despite differences in content and expression, most virtues may have a common overarching construct and undergirding mechanism.

Keywords

virtue, self-regulation, practical wisdom

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