Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the focus of positive psychology?
What is the focus of positive psychology?
What is the purpose of gratitude exercises in positive psychology?
What is the purpose of gratitude exercises in positive psychology?
What is a benefit of having a sense of purpose in life?
What is a benefit of having a sense of purpose in life?
What is a character strength that is explored in positive psychology?
What is a character strength that is explored in positive psychology?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a outcome of positive psychology practices such as gratitude interventions?
What is a outcome of positive psychology practices such as gratitude interventions?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary focus of positive psychology?
What is the primary focus of positive psychology?
Signup and view all the answers
Who is often regarded as the father of positive psychology?
Who is often regarded as the father of positive psychology?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term used to describe a state of deep engagement and absorption?
What is the term used to describe a state of deep engagement and absorption?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main goal of identifying character strengths in positive psychology?
What is the main goal of identifying character strengths in positive psychology?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the title of the book that categorizes character strengths and virtues?
What is the title of the book that categorizes character strengths and virtues?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Positive Psychology
- Emphasizes meaning and deep satisfaction over fleeting happiness
- Encompasses multiple visions of happy living, including the Pleasant Life, Good Life, and Meaningful Life
Visions of Happy Living
- Pleasant Life: Hollywood's view of happiness
- Good Life: focused on personal strengths and engagement
- Meaningful Life: focused on sense of meaning or purpose
Positive Experiences and Behaviors
- Positive emotions: specific emotions involved in positive living
- "Flow" states: experiences of optimal engagement and happiness
- Sense of meaning or purpose: importance of identifying one's purpose in life
Character Strengths and Virtues
- Categories proposed by Character Strengths and Virtues (2004):
- Wisdom and Knowledge
- Courage
- Humanity
- Justice
- Temperance
- Transcendence (including strengths such as gratitude, hope, and humor)
Differences from Other Psychology Fields
- Primary interest in identifying and building mental assets, rather than addressing weaknesses and problems
Founders and Contributors
- Martin Seligman: promoted positive psychology as president of the American Psychological Association in 1998
- Christopher Peterson
- Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
- Abraham Maslow: used the term "positive psychology" in the 1950s
Elements of a Good Life
- Identifying one's character strengths (e.g., courage, humanity, or justice)
- Positive psychology practices, such as gratitude exercises, to promote well-being
Applying Positive Psychology
- Gratitude exercises: increase happiness over time by writing down three things to be grateful for each day
- Making room for negative emotions in life, rather than avoiding them
Benefits of Positive Psychology
- Practices can boost social and emotional well-being
- Developing character strengths, positive emotions, and sense of meaning and purpose can contribute to positive life outcomes
Meaning and Purpose
- Measures of meaning in life relate to other positive life outcomes, such as physical and mental health
- Sense of purpose in life has potential well-being benefits
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Learn about the basics of positive psychology, including the different visions of happiness and the experiences involved in living a fulfilling life.
