Positive Psychology Overview

Positive Psychology: A New Perspective

• Positive Psychology aims to prevent problems before the need for treatment arises
• Positive Psychology is the science of human strengths and virtues
• It challenges psychologists to consider how to facilitate human fulfillment, not just repair weakness
• Positive Psychology focuses on the scientific study of positive human functioning and flourishing including biological, personal, relational, institutional, cultural, and global levels
• Positive Psychology encompasses subjective well-being, contentment, satisfaction, hope, optimism, flow, and happiness
• Positive Psychology encompasses individual traits like love, vocation, courage, skills, aesthetic sensibility, perseverance, forgiveness, originality, future-mindedness, spirituality, talent, and wisdom
• Positive Psychology encompasses group traits like civic virtues, citizenship, responsibility, nurturing, altruism, civility, moderation, tolerance, and work ethic
• Martin Seligman, the father of modern positive psychology, promoted it during his term as president of the American Psychological Association
• The term "positive psychology" originated with Abraham Maslow in 1954
• Seligman argued that for 50 years clinical psychology focused on mental illness, neglecting the nurturing of talent and improving normal life
• Modern psychology, especially psychiatry, heavily emphasizes the medical model and drug treatment due to its ease, convenience, and profitability
• Positive Psychology takes the opposite approach, focusing on building strengths, searching for positive aspects, and avoiding labels unless necessary
• The first positive psychology summit occurred in 1999
• The first International Conference on Positive Psychology was held in 2002
• Positive Psychology seeks to balance the focus on pathology and treatment with the study of optimal functioning and prevention
• Since World War II, psychology's focus has been on alleviating suffering, repairing damage, and treating illness
• Positive Psychology argues that psychology should study what makes life worth living, good things, and a good life

Roots of Positive Psychology

• The roots of positive psychology can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophy, especially Aristotle
• Moral philosophy, which originated in the Enlightenment, contributed to the foundation of positive psychology
• Humanistic psychology, particularly the work of Rogers and Maslow, influenced positive psychology
• Positive Psychology emerged as a response to the post-World War II focus on pathology and treatment in psychology
• Positive psychology aims to bridge the gap between the past and present of psychology by acknowledging the importance of strengths and virtues in addition to weakness and damage.
• It champions a perspective that goes beyond just fixing what is broken to nurturing what is best within us
• Prevention and wellness play a crucial role in the development of positive psychology

Perspectives on Psychology

• Modern psychology was founded by Wilhelm Wundt in 1879 in Leipzig, Germany
• Wundt emphasized physical sensations and psychophysics, anticipating modern cognitive psychology
• William James, considered the founder of psychology in the United States, focused on the subjective experience of the individual
• James studied phenomena like religious experience, relationships, and how people perceived the world, exploring the fundamental aspects of being human

Positive Psychology & the Meaning of Life

• A positive life fulfills basic needs: biological, psychological, relational, and social, while also seeking fulfillment and a meaningful life
• Basic needs:
  • Biological needs: Food, water, warmth, safety
  • Psychological needs: Stimulation, activity, esteem
  • Relational needs: Family, friendships, connection, intimacy
  • Social needs: Stability, security, structure
• Self-determination theory (SDT) emphasizes three fundamental human needs:
  • Autonomy: Feeling control over one's choices and actions
  • Competence: Feeling capable of achieving desired outcomes
  • Relatedness: Feeling secure and connected to others while respecting autonomy and competence

Positive Emotions & The Pleasant Life

• Positive emotions: Contributes to a pleasant life, both past and present.
  • Past: Satisfaction, contentment, pride, serenity
  • Future: Optimism, hope, confidence, trust, faith
• Maximizers strive for the absolute best deal, considering every possible option
  • Problems: Increased regret, perfectionism, depression, social comparisons, less happiness, satisfaction, self-esteem.
• Satisficers seek "good enough" options, focusing on meeting their needs.

The Problems of Maximization

• Four Cost of Maximization:
  • Regret: The feeling of missing out on the "best" deal
  • Opportunity costs: The cost of the choices not taken in pursuit of the ideal
  • Escalation of expectations: Increasing demands for perfection and new experiences with more options
  • Self-blame: The belief that failing to achieve the ideal is a personal fault

Finding Balance & Meaning

• Values and Balance:
  • Values: The impact of our actions on ourselves and others
  • Balance: How the pursuit of one meaningful objective influences other goals
• Meaning Systems: Stem from our own interpretations and values
  • We seek what is personally meaningful, and dedicate our lives to those pursuits.
• Permanent Adversities: (Kekes) – Recognizing the inherent conflicts between different values
• Logotherapy (Frankl): Therapy focused on finding meaning in life
  • Finding meaning in situations helps us cope even with hardships
• Freedom of Attitude: (Frankl)
  • The ability to choose our attitude towards our circumstances
  • Implication to freedom, responsibility, choice, and decision making
• Tyrant of Freedom (Schwartz) – Having too many choices can be overwhelming
  • Information problems: Accessing and processing information about all possible options
  • Choice overload: Can lead to dissatisfaction and regret

Key Takeaways

• Balancing fulfilling needs, pursuing a meaningful life, and understanding the implications of choice are important aspects of a positive life
• Maximizers vs. Satisficers, and the costs of maximization illustrate the complexity of finding balance and happiness
• Frankl's logotherapy highlights the significance of finding meaning in life and the power of choosing our attitude towards adversity