Strength Spotter: An Interactive Game to Find Your Strengths | PsychKit.org

The Strength Spotter

An Interactive Game to Apply Your Strengths

Train Your Brain to See Strengths

This game helps you practice spotting the character strengths needed to navigate life’s challenges. By learning to see situations through a strengths-based lens, you can build confidence and resilience.

Spot the Strengths

Read the scenario below. Then, select the top 3 strengths that would be most helpful in this situation.

Scenario:

Expert Suggestion:

What is a Strength Spotter?

A Strength Spotter is a person who has learned to see the best in themselves and others. It’s a mindset focused on capabilities rather than deficits. This interactive game is your personal training ground to become a Strength Spotter in your own life.

Based on the science of Positive Psychology, this tool presents you with common life challenges and asks you to identify the character strengths that would be most useful in navigating them. By practicing this skill, you train your brain to automatically think in terms of solutions and resources when faced with adversity.

When Should I Use This Game?

This tool is a fun and engaging way to build a core psychological resource: a strengths-based perspective. Play this game when you want to:

Develop a more positive and optimistic mindset.
Increase your resilience to stress and setbacks.
Build self-confidence by learning to recognize your own capabilities.
Improve your problem-solving skills by approaching challenges from a place of strength.
Learn the 24 universal character strengths from the VIA classification in a fun, interactive way.

The Science Behind It: A Strengths-Based Approach

This game is more than just a quiz; it’s a practical application of a major shift in modern psychology.

Moving Beyond the Deficit Model: For much of its history, psychology focused on what was wrong with people. Positive Psychology, in contrast, focuses on what is right. A strengths-based approach assumes that every individual has inherent strengths and that nurturing these strengths is a primary path to well-being.
Strengths as a Buffer: A large body of research shows that knowing and using your signature character strengths acts as a powerful buffer against the negative effects of stress and adversity. When you face a challenge, being able to consciously call upon your strengths (like perseverance, creativity, or bravery) makes you more resilient.
Cognitive Priming: This game works through a process called cognitive priming. By repeatedly exposing your brain to the language of strengths in the context of problem-solving, you are making those concepts more accessible in your mind. Over time, when you face a real-life challenge, your brain will be “primed” to automatically think, “What strengths can I use here?” instead of “I can’t handle this.”

Important Safety Disclaimer & When to Seek Help

This tool is for educational and self-exploration purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or therapy.

This is a safe and positive exercise for everyone. There are often many “correct” strengths for any given situation. The goal is not to get a perfect score, but to practice the skill of thinking in a strengths-based way.

If you are struggling with severe low self-esteem, depression, or feel that you lack the resources to cope with life’s challenges, this tool can be an empowering first step. However, it is most effective when used alongside support from a qualified mental health professional. If you are in crisis, please call your local emergency number.