Love
"I experience close, loving relationships that are characterized by giving and receiving love, warmth, and caring."
Become Aware Of Your Strength
What is Love?
After millions of songs and greeting cards, love needs no introduction. That said, we want to be clear about how the term is used in the VIA Classification. Love as a character strength, rather than as an emotion, refers to the degree to which you value close relationships with people, and contribute to that closeness in a warm and genuine way. Where kindness can be a behavioral pattern applied in any relationship, love as a character strength really refers to the way you approach your closest and warmest relationships. Love is reciprocal, referring to both loving others and the willingness to accept love from others. There are four types of love, each with a biological and evolutionary base:
Attachment love: parent for child; child for parent
Compassionate/altruistic love: kindness
Companionate love: friendship
Romantic love: spouse/partner/boyfriend/girlfriend
Love is a strength within the virtue category of humanity, one of six virtues that subcategorize the 24 strengths. Humanity describes strengths that manifest in caring relationships with others. These strengths are interpersonal and are mostly relevant in one-on-one relationships. The other strengths in Humanity are kindness, love, and social intelligence.
Explore and Apply Your Strength
Where does love appear in your character strengths profile?
Love tends to facilitate tolerance, empathy, and forgiveness in relationships, which contribute to the health and longevity of those relationships. It is one of five strengths most associated with enhanced life satisfaction. Learn how to activate this strength and all of your other strengths with your personalized Total 24 Report.
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Love Character Strengths
- What does “love” mean as a character strength?
In the VIA Classification, love is more than a feeling or emotion. It refers to the strength of forming and valuing close, reciprocal relationships. This includes both giving and receiving warmth, care, and genuine affection in your closest connections.
- How is love different from kindness?
While both are part of the Humanity virtue, the kindness character strength can be extended broadly, even to strangers. Love, on the other hand, focuses on close, mutual relationships where emotional connection and trust are central.
- Can I build or strengthen my love character strength?
Yes. Like all character strengths, love can be nurtured through intentional actions. You can strengthen it by deepening your close relationships, expressing appreciation, and practicing emotional openness and vulnerability.
- What are the types of love in the VIA Classification?
The four types of love identified in this strength are:
- Attachment love (e.g., between parent and child)
- Compassionate/altruistic love (driven by kindness)
- Companionate love (friendship-based)
- Romantic love (between partners)
- Which virtue is love associated with?
Love, along with kindness and social intelligence, is a virtue of humanity. These strengths highlight our capacity for caring, connecting, and relating to others.
- Why is love important to well-being?
Research shows that love is one of the five strengths most associated with greater life satisfaction. It promotes empathy, forgiveness, and emotional closeness, all of which contribute to healthier and more fulfilling relationships.
- How can I see where love ranks in my Character Strengths Profile?
You can view your top character strength by taking the free VIA Character Strengths Survey. For deeper insights and actionable tips, explore your personalized Total 24 Report.