Virtue in measurement: An interdisciplinary study of conscientiousness through Aristotelian theory

Abstract

Virtues are traits that promote happiness, well-being, and the good of others. Understanding which traits constitute virtues has direct implications for education, character development, and well-being interventions. Aristotelian virtue theory remains highly influential, yet it overlooks conscientiousness, which is a trait that psychological research shows as one of the strongest predictors of life success, health, and longevity. This disconnect is not only theoretical: it means our approaches to character education and personal development may be missing a vital component. The overarching aim of this thesis was to investigate conscientiousness as a virtue from an Aristotelian perspective, bridging philosophical and psychological insights to better guide how we cultivate beneficial character traits.

To address this aim, this thesis investigated conscientiousness as a virtue from an Aristotelian perspective by (1) developing a theoretical framework aligning conscientiousness with core features of Aristotelian virtue theory, (2) addressing limitations of current approaches to virtue assessment, (3) validating the Aristotelian Virtue of Conscientiousness Scale (AVCS) through Rasch analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and network modelling, and (4) examining how virtuous conscientiousness and its facets relate to one another and to well-being outcomes such as life satisfaction, positive affect, mindfulness, and virtuous gratitude.

Across three independent samples from New Zealand and the United States (total N = 1,478), the AVCS showed strong psychometric properties, conformed to fundamental measurement principles, and was best represented by a multifaceted eight-factor model. Network analyses indicated that excellent behaviours were especially central to the virtue, and that mindfulness may buffer against excessive forms of conscientiousness. Virtuous conscientiousness was positively associated with life satisfaction, positive affect, gratitude, and Big Five conscientiousness, while excessive tendencies were linked to stress, anxiety, and depression.

These findings advance both the theory and science of virtue by showing that Aristotelian constructs can be operationalised and empirically validated. The results provide a foundation for future research on character development and suggest practical applications for education, organisational contexts, and well-being interventions aimed at fostering virtuous forms of conscientiousness while mitigating maladaptive excess.