Positive Psychology: Introduction

Positive Psychology

  • the science of happiness and human strengths
  • aims to study, reflect, and discuss on the various empirical studies on happiness, well-being, and other positive concepts related in the development of one’s psychological wellness

Martin Seligman

  • professor, University of Pennsylvania
  • Proponent of Learned Helplessness Theory
  • President of the American Psychological Association (1998)

Mikhaly Csikszentmihalyi

  • Hungarian-American Psychologist
  • Recognition for flow, a highly focused mental state conducive to productivity
  • professor of Psychology & Management at Claremont Graduate University
  • Former department chair of Psychology at the University of Chicago

3 Goals of Psychology during World War II

  1. cure mental illness
  2. enhance the lives of the normal population
  3. study geniuses

Victimology

  • Psychologists viewed humans as passive individuals subjected to external forces instead of proactive, creative, and self-determined beings

Learned Helplessness

 

  • The passive resignation produced by repeated exposure to negative events that are perceived to be unavoidable
  • responses to failure (not to success)
  • a control problem, not a competence problem

Business of Positive Psychology

  • There is a set of human strengths that are most likely buffers against mental illness: courage, optimism, interpersonal skill, work ethic, hope, honesty, and perseverance
  • Much of the task prevention will be to create a science of human strength whose mission will be to foster these virtues in young people

The aim of positive psychology is to catalyze a change in psychology from a preoccupation only with repairing the worst things in life to also building the best qualities in life.

-Martin Seligman

History

Western Perspectives

Greeks
  • Aristotle and Plato emphasized in their teachings the importance of virtues
      * Moral: courage, generosity, munificence
      * Intellectual: wisdom, strength of character
  • Polis: the maintenance of these virtues
  • Aristotle and Plato: when people live a virtuous life, that is the good life
  • Epicurus: abundance of positive feelings and pleasures
  • Utilitarianism: The good life is considering the rights of other people; for the common good
Judeo-Christian Perspective
  • The Christian scriptures, addresses human flourishing and virtue at a foundational level
  • Christian positive psychology prioritizes the loving God and loving thy neighbor virtues (10 Commandments)
  • Belief in an assured hope for a new era called God’s Kingdom (Heaven)
Humanistic Psychology
  • Focusing on the human strengths of the individual
  • Subjective experiences
  • The capacity of each individual to be the best that they can be
  • self-actualization
Virtue
  • behavior showing high moral standards
  • quality considered morally good/desirable in a person
What is a Good Life?

HEDONIC + EUDAIMONIC = THE GOOD LIFE!

  • Hedonic
      * describes levels of positive affect
      * subjective satisfaction; pleasures
  • Eudaimonic
      * creation of meaning and purpose in life
Emotions
  • William James saw the importance of incorporating emotions in understanding human behavior

ACTION > EMOTION

EMOTION > ACTION

Eastern Perspectives

Confucianism
  • Morality is seen as a potential cure for all evils
  • Importance of looking out for others
  • Attainment of virtue is core of Confucian teachings:
      * Sen: humanity; benevolence
      * Yi: duty to treat others well; righteousness
      * Li: etiquette and sensitivity for other’s feelings; propriety
      * Zhi: wisdom
      * Xin: truthfulness; fidelity; sincerity
Taoism
  • Tao/Dao: “the way” or the energy that surrounds everyone and is a power that envelopes, surrounds and flows through all things
  • Flow: to truly in life, the good and bad experiences are part of the process
  • Virtues of humanity, justice, temperance, and propriety must be practiced
Buddhism
  • wander for the gain of many, for the happiness of many, out of compassion for the world
  • Suffering: a part of being brought by desire
  • Nirvana: to be free from desire for anything
  • Brahma Viharas: virtues that are above all others in importance such as love, joy, compassion, and equanimity
Hinduism
  • emphasis on the interconnectedness of things
  • harmonious union among all individuals
  • live life fully to reap the fruits of reincarnation
  • a man turns into something good by good action, and something bad by bad action
When East meets West

 

Orientation to Time

 

Thought Process

 

21st Century

  • Pioneers
      * Dr. Martin Seligman
      * Dr. Mikhaly Csikzentmihalyi
      * Dr. Christopher Peterson
      * Dr. Sonis Lyubomisky