Questions and Answers
What is the focus of 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 character strength that is explored in positive psychology?
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What is a outcome of positive psychology practices such as gratitude interventions?
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What is the primary focus of positive psychology?
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Who is often regarded as the father of positive psychology?
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What is the term used to describe a state of deep engagement and absorption?
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What is the main goal of identifying character strengths in positive psychology?
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What is the title of the book that categorizes character strengths and virtues?
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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
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Description
Learn about the basics of positive psychology, including the different visions of happiness and the experiences involved in living a fulfilling life.
