The psychology of character and the theology of virtue

The subject of character is a major concern in psychology, a central concern in ethics, and an important focus in theology. This paper is pertinent to all three fields. I shall sketch a conception of character, locate virtue within that conception, and identify a major theological aspect of virtue ethics. I write as a philosopher, but I am concerned with how the ethical notions I am working with apply to psychological research and therapy. I will thus briefly argue for the explanatory power and, with qualifications, the predictive power of the notion of a character trait as crucial for understanding the human person