Positive Psychology : intro L1

These flashcards provide key vocabulary and definitions from the PSYO 349 Positive Psychology lecture notes, covering the origins, core concepts, theories of happiness and well-being, and foundational research findings.

Positive Psychology

The field that pursues empirical answers to philosophical questions about happiness, well-being, and positive states.

Summum Bonum

Aristotle's term for the 'supreme good,' often associated with happiness.

Martin E. P. Seligman

One of the founders of Positive Psychology, associated with the University of Pennsylvania.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

One of the founders of Positive Psychology, associated with Claremont Graduate University.

Pre-WWII Psychology Focus

Primarily focused on curing mental illness, making life more productive and fulfilling, and identifying/nurturing high talent.

Post-WWII Psychology Focus Shift

Shifted significantly to address the mental illness experienced by returning soldiers, leading to government-established agencies and funding.

Hedonic Well-being

Defined by thinking positively about life, feeling good, and experiencing little negative emotion.

Subjective Well-being (SWB)

Diener's model comprising the presence of life satisfaction (cognitive well-being), presence of positive affect, and absence of negative affect.

Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS)

A cognitive measure used to assess how satisfied individuals are with their life.

Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE)

An affective measure used to assess positive and negative emotions (affect).

Eudaimonic Well-being

Defined by doing good, flourishing, living a life of virtue, and experiencing meaning, which may or may not also feel good.

Self-Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000)

Proposes that increasing well-being requires meeting basic needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Autonomy (Self-Determination Theory)

The capacity and opportunity to make one's own choices and exert volition.

Competence (Self-Determination Theory)

The experience of being effective in one's goals and pursuits.

Relatedness (Self-Determination Theory)

The feeling of social connection to others.

Psychological Well-being (Ryff & Singer, 1996)

Emphasizes virtuous living based on Aristotle's writings, with six key components: self-acceptance, personal growth, purpose in life, environmental mastery, autonomy, and positive relations with others.

Traditional Psychology's Focus

Emphasis on alleviation of negative states, with a goal of returning individuals to a non-disordered state.

Positive Psychology's Complementary Focus

Emphasis on the cultivation of positive states, human strengths, and moving individuals above a neutral state.

Habituation (Positive Psychology Finding)

The phenomenon where individuals adapt to big life events, often returning to a baseline 'set-point' for positive feelings.

Happiness Set-Point

A theoretical baseline level of positive feelings to which individuals tend to return after boosts in well-being or significant life events.

ENHANCE Program

An evidence-based program developed at UBC (Okanagan) and the University of Virginia, designed to improve subjective well-being through weekly topics based on positive psychological science.

Determinants of happiness

Genetics can play a role (heritability), choices you make in your daily life can influence positive traits, strengths, and well being;