Intergroup Peace and Character Strengths

In the current era, characterized by intense political division, confrontations with issues of systemic racism and inequity, and the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a collective call for world peace seemingly has been overshadowed by a progressive focus on social justice at the local, national, and global levels. This chapter explores the complex interplay between social justice and positive peace within the framework of positive psychology, namely, character strengths. Organizational leaders and practitioners are increasingly reflecting on their roles and influence on marginalized groups and the necessity to address systemic inequities that oppress various minority groups. This chapter argues that pursuing social justice is about activism, disruption, and cultivating peace. Peace psychology provides new ways of understanding and exploring different forms of peace. Positive psychology’s definition of peace extends previous conceptualizations of peace to include inner fulfillment and harmonious personal and societal connections. This chapter focuses on how social justice serves as a foundation for positive peace, examining the practical characteristics of social justice practitioners in community psychology and applied evaluation contexts. It highlights the importance of identity and relational practices rooted in Social Justice Oriented Character Strengths, specifically emphasizing the VIA Classification virtues of Courage, Humanity, Temperance, and Justice, which are instrumental to fostering understanding, shared values, and psychological safety in social justice and peace efforts. We assert in this chapter that accessing and developing one’s signature strengths in social justice work can significantly increase its effectiveness. Moreover, this approach can also improve practitioner and stakeholder relationships, ultimately creating a solid basis for long-lasting peace and equality. This transformative strategy leverages individual strengths to drive positive social change and promote intergroup harmony.