Positive Psychology: A Definition
Transcript of Positive Psychology: A Definition
Psy249MA Seminar in Psychology: Introduction to
Positive Psychology
Prepared by Niel Steve M. Kintanar
The Scope of The Scope of The Scope of The Scope of Positive PsychologyPositive PsychologyPositive PsychologyPositive Psychology
Prepare by Niel Steve M. Kintanar, MA
2nd Semester 2012-2013
Department of Psychology
(3rd Floor, PE Building),
University of San Carlos
(Talamban Campus)
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Positive Psychology: Positive Psychology: Positive Psychology: Positive Psychology: A DefinitionA DefinitionA DefinitionA Definition
Positive psychology is the scientific study
of optimal human functioning, the goals of
which are to better understand and apply
those factors that help individuals and
communities to thrive and flourish.
Psy249MA Seminar in Psychology: Introduction to
Positive Psychology
Prepared by Niel Steve M. Kintanar
Towards a Positive PsychologyTowards a Positive PsychologyTowards a Positive PsychologyTowards a Positive Psychology
Ψ This new framework for doing a science of positive
psychology aims to catalyze a change in the focus of
psychology from preoccupation only with repairing the worst
things in life to also building positive qualities.
(Martin Seligman & Mihaly Czikszentmihaly).
During the 1998 APA Convention..During the 1998 APA Convention..During the 1998 APA Convention..During the 1998 APA Convention..
• His mission as APA president.
• Can psychological science be about
identifying and nurturing strengths?
• The theme was about human strengths.
• Human strengths act as buffers against
mental illness.
Before WWII, PsychologyBefore WWII, PsychologyBefore WWII, PsychologyBefore WWII, Psychology’’’’s s s s 3333Distinct Missions:Distinct Missions:Distinct Missions:Distinct Missions:
1. Curing mental illness
2. Making the lives of all people
more productive and fulfilling
3. Identifying and nurturing high
talent.
A Paradigm shiftA Paradigm shiftA Paradigm shiftA Paradigm shift
Treatment
of illness
Prevention of
illness
Enhancement
of Health
Psy249MA Seminar in Psychology: Introduction to
Positive Psychology
Prepared by Niel Steve M. Kintanar
Core of Positive Psychology Core of Positive Psychology Core of Positive Psychology Core of Positive Psychology Theories and ConceptsTheories and ConceptsTheories and ConceptsTheories and Concepts
1. Happiness � Mental health (vs. mental
illnesses) � Flourishing.
2. Strength Theory (vs. weaknesses)
3. Broaden and Build Theory of Positive
Emotions (vs. negative emotions)
1. The Authentic Happiness Theory 1. The Authentic Happiness Theory 1. The Authentic Happiness Theory 1. The Authentic Happiness Theory
1. The pleasant life (positive emotion)
2. The good life (engagement)
3. The meaningful life (meaning)
1. The Pleasant Life1. The Pleasant Life1. The Pleasant Life1. The Pleasant Life
• The first route to greater happiness is hedonic, increasing positive emotion.
• Within limits, we can increase our positive emotion about the past (e.g. by cultivating gratitude and forgiveness), our positive emotion about the present (e.g. by savouring and mindfulness) and our positive emotion about the future (e.g. by building hope and optimism).
• But, it is heritable, it fluctuates, and it has a limit point.
2. The Engaged Life2. The Engaged Life2. The Engaged Life2. The Engaged Life• A second route to happiness involves the pursuit of ‘gratification’.
• The key characteristic of a gratification is that it engages us fully. It absorbs us. Individuals may find gratification in participating in a great conversation, fixing a bike, reading a good book, teaching a child, playing the guitar or accomplishing a difficult task at work. (Gratification is when we use our strengths!)
• Pursuing gratification might not necessarily be accompanied by positive emotions but the overall experience in the end is intensely gratifying!
• Engagement in life overlaps with the concept of flow or optimal experience, as elucidated by Csikszentmihalyi(1990). Flow is defined as a psychological experience in which one is fully immersed in what he or she is doing.
Psy249MA Seminar in Psychology: Introduction to
Positive Psychology
Prepared by Niel Steve M. Kintanar
3. The Meaningful Life3. The Meaningful Life3. The Meaningful Life3. The Meaningful Life
• The third route to happiness comes from using these strengths to belong to and in the service of something larger than ourselves; something such as knowledge, goodness, family, community, politics, justice or a higher spiritual power.
• The third route gives life meaning. It satisfies a longing for purpose in life and is the antidote to a ‘fidgeting until we die’ syndrome.
• “People who successfully pursue activities that connect them to such larger goals achieve what we call the meaningful life” (Rashid, 2008, p. 198).
The Full LifeThe Full LifeThe Full LifeThe Full Life• Full Life = pleasant life + good life + meaningful life.
• A person who uses all three routes to happiness leads the ‘full life’, and recent empirical evidence suggests that those who lead the full life have much the greater life satisfaction (Peterson et al. 2005).
• The empty life, which occurs when one or more of these elements of the full life are lacking, is hypothesized to be a partial cause of psychological problems (Rashid, 2008).
The GOAL of Positive Psychology: The GOAL of Positive Psychology: The GOAL of Positive Psychology: The GOAL of Positive Psychology: Happiness is NOT enoughHappiness is NOT enoughHappiness is NOT enoughHappiness is NOT enough!
Happiness
(measured by life satisfaction)
3 routes (Pleasant, Good, Meaningful)
Well-being
(measured by flourishing)
P.E.R.M.A.
The 5 Pillars of FLOURISHINGThe 5 Pillars of FLOURISHINGThe 5 Pillars of FLOURISHINGThe 5 Pillars of FLOURISHING!
Psy249MA Seminar in Psychology: Introduction to
Positive Psychology
Prepared by Niel Steve M. Kintanar
Additional ComponentsAdditional ComponentsAdditional ComponentsAdditional Components4. The Achieving Life4. The Achieving Life4. The Achieving Life4. The Achieving Life
Fulfilling the need to achieve.
From drive reduction theory of motivation � to a
self-competence theory of motivation.
“Accomplishment for the sake of accomplishment.”
Making goals and achieving them. =)
2 Additional Components2 Additional Components2 Additional Components2 Additional Components5. The Connected Life5. The Connected Life5. The Connected Life5. The Connected Life
“What is positive psychology all about?”
“Other people.” – Christopher Peterson, one
of the founders of positive psychology.
Authentic
Happiness TheoryWell-Being Theory
Topic: Happiness Topic: Well-Being
Measure: Life satisfaction
Measures: Positive emotion,
engagement, positive
relationships, meaning, and
accomplishment
Goal: Increase life satisfaction
Goal: Increase flourishing by
increasing positive emotion,
engagement, positive
relationships, meaning, and
accomplishment
Flourishers…
• A flourishing person is someone who experiences
positive emotions, excels in daily life, and is a
contributing and productive member of society.
• In other words, they consistently feel good and do
good
Psy249MA Seminar in Psychology: Introduction to
Positive Psychology
Prepared by Niel Steve M. Kintanar
From Happiness: The Science behind your smile by Danielle Nettle
2. Strength Theory2. Strength Theory2. Strength Theory2. Strength Theory
• Those who study and practice positive
psychology subscribe to strengths theory
or the idea that it is vital to understand and
build from one’s strengths while managing
(rather than focusing on or repairing)
weaknesses (Clifton and Nelson, 1996).
The Virtues and Character StrengthsThe Virtues and Character StrengthsThe Virtues and Character StrengthsThe Virtues and Character Strengths
“A Manual of Sanities” as opposed to DSM-IV.
Identified six core virtuesconsidered good by the vast majority of cultures and
throughout history and that these traits lead to increased happiness when practiced:
�wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and
transcendence.
The 24 Character StrengthsThe 24 Character StrengthsThe 24 Character StrengthsThe 24 Character StrengthsWisdom and Knowledge (strengths that
involve the acquisition and use of
knowledge)
Creativity, curiosity, open-
mindedness, love of learning,
perspective and wisdom
Courage (strengths that allow one to
accomplish goals in the face of
opposition)
Bravery, persistence, integrity,
vitality
Humanity (strengths of tending and
befriending others)
Love, kindness, and social
intelligence
Justice (strengths that build healthy
community)
Citizenship, fairness,
leadership
Temperance (strengths that protect
against excess)
Forgiveness & mercy, humilty,
prudence, self control
Transcendence (strengths that forge
connections to the larger universe and
provide meaning)
Appreciation of beauty,
gratitude, hope, humor &
playfulness, spirituality.
Psy249MA Seminar in Psychology: Introduction to
Positive Psychology
Prepared by Niel Steve M. Kintanar
3. Broaden and Build Theory 3. Broaden and Build Theory 3. Broaden and Build Theory 3. Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotionsof Positive Emotionsof Positive Emotionsof Positive Emotions
• This theory provides an explanation of the utility
and importance of positive emotions in people’s
lives.
– The broaden hypothesis
– The build hypothesis
– The undoing hypothesis
– The resilience hypothesis
– The flourishing hypothesis