The Conversation

Fri Jan 23

Is being virtuous good for you – or just people around you? A study suggests traits like compassion may support your own well-being

Written by Michael Prinzing, Research and Assessment Scholar, Wake Forest University

Opportunities to show compassion often feel difficult, but exercising virtue seems to help people cope.FG Trade/E+ via Getty Images

Virtues such as compassion, patience and self-control may be beneficial not only for others but also for oneself, according to new research my team and I published in the Journal of Personality in December 2025.

Philosop...

Is being virtuous good for you – or just people around you? A study suggests traits like compassion may support your own well-being

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