On what personality theory is the Clifton StrengthsFinder based?
Research leading to the development of the Clifton StrengthsFinder included more than 30 years of studying talents and strengths and how they relate to performance outcomes. The instrument is based on a general model of Positive Psychology. Positive Psychology is a framework, or a paradigm, that encompasses an approach to psychology from the perspective of healthy, successful life functioning. Topics include optimism, positive emotions, spirituality, happiness, satisfaction, personal development, and well-being. The perspective taken by Positive Psychology, Gallup’s strengths concept, and the Clifton StrengthsFinder differs from that of other theories and instruments developed to measure various psychological constructs. For that reason, we have not sought to develop a table that would compare and contrast the Clifton StrengthsFinder approach to that of psychological assessments that theoretically measure other constructs by means of other theoretical starting points.
