The new Science of

Positive Psychology

5 July 2012 - Manuela Glasbrenner Erinvale Golf Estate, Somerset West

What is Positive Psychology?

Dr. Martin Seligman (2004)

Psychology should be...

1. ... bothered with human strengths as much as it is with weaknesses.

2. ... about building the best things in life just as we repair the worst.

3. ...as concerned about making normal people´s lives happier as with healing pathology.

A little bit of history...

Emil Kraepelin

We don´t learn about health if we only know disease

Sigmund Freud

People can make choices that lead them to become happy and healthy.

What is Positive Psychology?

Interventions

1. Primary Prevention„Stop the bad before it happens“

3. Primary Enhancement„Make life good“

2. Secondary Prevention„Fix the problem“

4. Secondary Enhancement„Make life the best it can be“

Happiness – why bother?

Cecilia O'Payne

“God started my life off well by bestowing upon me grace ofinestimable value. The past year which I spent as a candidatestudying at Notre Dame has been a very happy one. Now I lookforward with eager joy to receiving the Holy Habit of our Ladyand to life a life of union with Love Divine.”

90% alive at age 8554% alive at age 94

- Longevity

and to life a life of union with Love Divine.”

34% alive at age 8511% alive at age 94Marguerite Donnelly“I was born on September 26, 1909, the eldest of seven children, fivegirls and two boys. My candidate year was spent in themotherhouse, teaching chemistry and second year Latin at NotreDame Institute. With god's grace, I intend to do my best for ourorder, for the spread of religion and for my personal sanctification.”

Studying Positive Emotions

Positive emotions (e.g. joy)

The Broaden and Build Theory (2000)

Negative emotions (e.g. fear)

Barbara Fredrickson

(e.g. joy)=> creative thinking => action

(e.g. fear)=> protection => no action

Studying Positive Emotions

broadening

New thoughts & activities

Building resources through an upward spiral

Opening up tocues & possibilities

Positive emotions

more

broadening

Increased health & fulfilment

Building resources (social support, skills, knowledge etc.)

Studying positive emotions

Positive emotions lead to improvements in...

Social life

� Interactions with people� Relationships� Generosity

Thinking abilities

� Perception� Problem solving� Creativity� Goal setting

Health

� Pain resistance� Immune functioning� Resistance to viral infections�Later lung cancer onset

Job performance

� Persistence� Productivity� Income� Overall success

� Goal setting

Obstacles on the path to happiness?

Why „bad news“ is stronger than „good news“

Amygdala

TOWARDS...AWAY!

What makes you happy?

What makes you happy?

Pleasures Gratifications

Consuming Activities

Use of strengths

Consuming

Sensations

Activities

Inner drive

Come easy Require effort

Immediate reward Reward afterwardsOne can not fail Risk of failureTemporary Last longer

The strengths based approach

The strengths based approach

Talent: Our strongest neural connections:„Natural patterns of thoughts, feeling or behavior“

+ knowledge

Strength= consistent, near perfect performance in

+ skillsStrength

weakness

perfect performance in an activity

strength

How to detect your talents?

Spontaneous reactions

How do you approach situations when you are under stress?

Try different activities

Write down two activities you would like to try out

Rapid learnings

What have you learnt in the past that came very easily to you?

Satisfaction

Which (work) activity are you looking forward to?

Listen to your yearnings

What did you enjoy most when you were a child?

Where now from here? Summary

Positive Psychology

Positive Emotions

Bad news?

We are at the beginning of a new understanding of the choices that lead to happiness.

Positive emotions help us to be better in all areas of life. Feel positive and create an upward spiral!

Remember your brain detects a lion behind every bush. Are your fears really a lion or actually a door to Bad news?

Pleasures in life

Strengths

bush. Are your fears really a lion or actually a door to walk towards to open?

Take a look at what makes you feel happy: What are lasting sources of happiness?

Your strengths are absolutely unique. Find them and then sail off to make the difference nobody else can make.

Where now from here?

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� Positive Psychology Coaching� Meetup on Positive Psychology & Happiness, 19 July, CT