Positive PsychologyPositive PsychologyThe Science of Human StrengthsThe Science of Human Strengths

A starting placeA starting place► Martin SeligmanMartin Seligman► APA President 1996APA President 1996► Psychology split into two Psychology split into two

camps:camps:► Academics more Academics more

interested in science.interested in science.► Clinicians interested in Clinicians interested in

practice of practice of psychotherapy.psychotherapy.

► Hoped to bring science Hoped to bring science and practice together.and practice together.

Nikki and the weedsNikki and the weeds► Seligman’s inspiration.Seligman’s inspiration.► Weeding garden.Weeding garden.► 5-year old daughter throwing weeds.5-year old daughter throwing weeds.► Seligman irritated, yelled at Nikki.Seligman irritated, yelled at Nikki.► ““Daddy. From when I was 3 until I was 5, I Daddy. From when I was 3 until I was 5, I

was a whiner. I whined every day. On my was a whiner. I whined every day. On my 55 thth birthday, I decided I wasn’t going to birthday, I decided I wasn’t going to whine anymore. That was the hardest whine anymore. That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. If I can stop whining, thing I’ve ever done. If I can stop whining, you can stop being such a grouch.”you can stop being such a grouch.”

An epiphanyAn epiphany

►Seligman resolved to change.Seligman resolved to change.►His purpose in life was not to correct his His purpose in life was not to correct his

daughter’s shortcomings.daughter’s shortcomings.► Instead, raising her to nurture the strength Instead, raising her to nurture the strength

she displayed (social intelligence).she displayed (social intelligence).►Can psychological science be about Can psychological science be about

identifying and nurturing strengths?identifying and nurturing strengths?►His mission as APA president.His mission as APA president.

Seligman Experiment: part 1Seligman Experiment: part 1► Escapable Escapable

shock.shock.► Had coping Had coping

mechanism.mechanism.► Press nose Press nose

button to button to terminate terminate shock.shock.

► ““Active”Active”

► Inescapable shock.Inescapable shock.► Got shock.Got shock.► No coping No coping

mechanism.mechanism.► No way to terminate No way to terminate

shock.shock.► ““PassivePassive

Seligman Experiment: part 2Seligman Experiment: part 2

► All groups received the All groups received the same condition: same condition: escapable shock.escapable shock.

► Put in shuttle box.Put in shuttle box.► Light dimmed.Light dimmed.► 10 second later got 10 second later got

shock unless they shock unless they jumped to safe side.jumped to safe side.

Shuttle box behaviorShuttle box behavior

► Dogs in the Dogs in the escapableescapable shock quickly shock quickly learned to jump to safe side.learned to jump to safe side.

► Dogs in Dogs in inescapableinescapable shock did not shock did not jump to safe side. Agitated at first but jump to safe side. Agitated at first but later laid down and took the shock.later laid down and took the shock.

►Dogs in Dogs in inescapableinescapable shock group shock group learned helplessnesslearned helplessness

Parallels with Reactive Parallels with Reactive DepressionDepression

► Triggered by traumatic life event Triggered by traumatic life event (ex. death of loved one).(ex. death of loved one).

► PassivityPassivity► Difficulty in learning responses that Difficulty in learning responses that

bring relief.bring relief.► Physical symptoms.Physical symptoms.► Stress related disorders.Stress related disorders.

Directive TherapyDirective Therapy

► Dogs that had been Dogs that had been exposed to exposed to inescapable shock.inescapable shock.

► Remove barrier and Remove barrier and push them to safe side.push them to safe side.

► Reinstall barrier and Reinstall barrier and force them over it.force them over it.

► Eventually learn to Eventually learn to jump. jump.

Parallels to Treating PeopleParallels to Treating People►Encourage depressed people to get back Encourage depressed people to get back

into life. Ex: not willing to leave home.into life. Ex: not willing to leave home.►Small steps. (Go out to movie, then mall.)Small steps. (Go out to movie, then mall.)► Increase difficulty.Increase difficulty.►Show them they do have control over Show them they do have control over

their lives.their lives.►Motivational, learning and emotional Motivational, learning and emotional

gains.gains.

Prevention of HelplessnessPrevention of Helplessness

►Seligman suggests the best Seligman suggests the best prevention for helplessness is early prevention for helplessness is early experience with mastery.experience with mastery.

►Based on life histories of people who Based on life histories of people who were resilient in situations likely to were resilient in situations likely to cause helplessness.cause helplessness.

►Self-efficacy, competence already in Self-efficacy, competence already in existence. Served as a buffer.existence. Served as a buffer.

Human strengths Human strengths

►Despite all the difficulties of life, majority Despite all the difficulties of life, majority of people manage to live with dignity and of people manage to live with dignity and purpose.purpose.

►Positive psychology adopts a more Positive psychology adopts a more optimistic perspective on human optimistic perspective on human potential, motives, and capacities.potential, motives, and capacities.

►Humanistic psychology with scientific Humanistic psychology with scientific methods.methods.

Positive subjective statesPositive subjective states

► Positive emotions.Positive emotions.► Happiness.Happiness.► Satisfaction with life.Satisfaction with life.► Optimism and hope.Optimism and hope.► Sources of energy Sources of energy

and confidence.and confidence.

Positive individual traitsPositive individual traits

► Character strengths and Character strengths and virtues: Wisdom, Courage, virtues: Wisdom, Courage, Humanity, Justice, Humanity, Justice, Temperance and Temperance and Transcendence.Transcendence.

► Creativity and excellence.Creativity and excellence.► FLOW FLOW by Mihalyiby Mihalyi

CsikszentmihalyiCsikszentmihalyi

Positive institutionsPositive institutions► Develop and sustain Develop and sustain

institutions that enrich institutions that enrich human potential.human potential.

► Healthy familiesHealthy families► Work environments.Work environments.► Schools.Schools.► Whole communities.Whole communities.► Reduce high risk Reduce high risk

behavior by punishing or behavior by punishing or supporting alternatives.supporting alternatives.

A brief history lessonA brief history lesson

► Pre WWII, psychology had Pre WWII, psychology had better balance.better balance.

► Treating mental illness.Treating mental illness.► Nurturing genius and talent.Nurturing genius and talent.► Studies of normal life and Studies of normal life and

happiness.happiness.► Important of relationships Important of relationships

and group membership.and group membership.► Leadership styles.Leadership styles.

After the warAfter the war►Focus on treatments for mental illness.Focus on treatments for mental illness.►GI’s coming home with “combat fatigue”.GI’s coming home with “combat fatigue”.► In treatment at VA hospitals.In treatment at VA hospitals.►Now called PTSD.Now called PTSD.►Money went towards developing new Money went towards developing new

treatments.treatments.►1955, introduction of drugs for the 1955, introduction of drugs for the

treatment of depression and psychosis.treatment of depression and psychosis.

Education programs Education programs

► After war, seemed more After war, seemed more appropriate to focus on appropriate to focus on helping children with helping children with developmental disabilities.developmental disabilities.

► Gifted programs Gifted programs encouraged but not funded.encouraged but not funded.

► Exceptional children are on Exceptional children are on both ends of the spectrum.both ends of the spectrum.

► Nurture genius and talents Nurture genius and talents as well.as well.

Expand focusExpand focus

►Positive psychology supports efforts to Positive psychology supports efforts to eliminate social problems such as drug eliminate social problems such as drug abuse, criminal behavior and mental abuse, criminal behavior and mental illness.illness.

►Study the protective factors as well as Study the protective factors as well as the risk factors.the risk factors.

►Positive emotions and traits that could be Positive emotions and traits that could be used to combat problems.used to combat problems.

Risk and protective Risk and protective factorsfactors

► Drug abuse risk factors: Family history, peer Drug abuse risk factors: Family history, peer influence, unemployment.influence, unemployment.

► Protective factors: Strong family values, Protective factors: Strong family values, positive peer influence, employment positive peer influence, employment counseling.counseling.

► Most people do not abuse alcohol.Most people do not abuse alcohol.► Most gamblers can control themselves.Most gamblers can control themselves.► Positive gambling ads.Positive gambling ads.► Message of hope rather than fear.Message of hope rather than fear.

Shares ideas with Humanistic Shares ideas with Humanistic PsychologyPsychology

► Abraham MaslowAbraham Maslow► Positive instincts to fulfill Positive instincts to fulfill

human potential.human potential.► Strong motivating force Strong motivating force

to do good.to do good.► Be the best that they Be the best that they

could be.could be.► Self-actualization.Self-actualization.► Client-centered therapy Client-centered therapy

of Carl Rogersof Carl Rogers

Maslow rejected Freud’s ideasMaslow rejected Freud’s ideas

► Psychoanalysis based on Psychoanalysis based on what went wrong.what went wrong.

► Theories based on Theories based on clinically ill patients.clinically ill patients.

► Repressing strong sexual Repressing strong sexual urges.urges.

► Animal passions.Animal passions.► ““Why pick the wolf?”Why pick the wolf?”

Why live in social groups?Why live in social groups?

► Freud: social groups control Freud: social groups control innate aggression.innate aggression.

► Maslow: need for Maslow: need for belongingness.belongingness.

► Current view: social behavior Current view: social behavior highly adaptive.highly adaptive.

► Evolutionary advantage.Evolutionary advantage.► Improve survival rate.Improve survival rate.► Social behavior in our genes.Social behavior in our genes.

Humanistic PsychologyHumanistic Psychology

► Positive sidePositive side► Optimistic view of Optimistic view of

humankind.humankind.► Human abilities.Human abilities.► Growth potential.Growth potential.► Healthy personality.Healthy personality.► Pyramid of needsPyramid of needs

► Negative sideNegative side► Non-scientific.Non-scientific.► Philosophy rather than Philosophy rather than

psychology.psychology.► Need evidence to Need evidence to

support beliefs.support beliefs.► Self-actualizers rare.Self-actualizers rare.► Practical applications.Practical applications.

Positive Psychology emphasis on Positive Psychology emphasis on research.research.

►Most people adapt and adjust to life in Most people adapt and adjust to life in creative ways.creative ways.

►Resilience: Bounce back after loss.Resilience: Bounce back after loss.►Go beyond recovery.Go beyond recovery.►Life takes on new meaning and focus.Life takes on new meaning and focus.►Study this strength and resilience using Study this strength and resilience using

scientific method.scientific method.►What makes life worth living.What makes life worth living.

The Greeks had a word for it.The Greeks had a word for it.

► Plato and Aristotle described the Plato and Aristotle described the deeper and more balanced for the deeper and more balanced for the good life.good life.

► Eudaimonia: literally, “having a Eudaimonia: literally, “having a good guardian spirit.”good guardian spirit.”

► ““Possessed of true well-being.”Possessed of true well-being.”► A person is truly happy when he A person is truly happy when he

has what is worth desiring.has what is worth desiring.► Living according to virtues and Living according to virtues and

values.values.► Fulfilling one’s potentialFulfilling one’s potential

Plato (or is it da Vinci) by

Raphael

More than MaslowMore than Maslow

►Fulfilling one’s potential sounds a lot Fulfilling one’s potential sounds a lot like self-actualization.like self-actualization.

►Maslow believed only a few people Maslow believed only a few people could reach self-actualization. Elitist.could reach self-actualization. Elitist.

►Positive psychology has wider view.Positive psychology has wider view.► ““Average” individuals hold potential.Average” individuals hold potential.►Study regular people with large Study regular people with large

samples.samples.

Prevention over treatmentPrevention over treatment

►Positive psychology seeks to shift Positive psychology seeks to shift some of the focus from treatment to some of the focus from treatment to prevention.prevention.

►Help more people if we can prevent Help more people if we can prevent problems before they exist (primary).problems before they exist (primary).

►Or intervene before they get worse Or intervene before they get worse (secondary).(secondary).

►Treatment (tertiary).Treatment (tertiary).

Saving the drowningSaving the drowning

► Women driving down a road near a river with a Women driving down a road near a river with a strong current.strong current.

► Sees teenager in danger of drowning. Stops car.Sees teenager in danger of drowning. Stops car.► She pulls teen to shore when another appears in the She pulls teen to shore when another appears in the

torrent. Then another and another.torrent. Then another and another.► She keeps pulling people out for two hours.She keeps pulling people out for two hours.► Other people stop cars to help her save teens.Other people stop cars to help her save teens.► Finally the woman starts walking up stream.Finally the woman starts walking up stream.► ““Where are you going?” the people ask. “Don’t you Where are you going?” the people ask. “Don’t you

see there are more to be saved?”see there are more to be saved?”► Her reply?Her reply?