Defining Positive Psychology PDF

Bird of the Day [Note the ‘bird of the week’ is just for fun; each set of slides begins with one.] Pileated woodpecker All bi...

Bird of the Day [Note the ‘bird of the week’ is just for fun; each set of slides begins with one.] Pileated woodpecker All birds of the day spotted on Carleton’s campus. Watch for them! Describing Positive Psychology  Today we will: Further consider ‘what is positive psychology?’ Get familiar with some PP definitions Consider what is ‘positive’ about PP Consider what makes something ‘positive’ Situate PP in broader context – Other areas & approaches NOTE: Assignment #1 now available (due Sept. 18)  Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000 "The field of positive psychology at the subjective level is about valued subjective experiences: well-being, contentment, and satisfaction (in the past); hope and optimism (for the future); and flow and happiness (in the present). At the individual level, it is about positive individual traits: the capacity for love and vocation, courage, interpersonal skill, aesthetic sensibility, perseverance, forgiveness, originality, future-mindedness, spirituality, high talent, and wisdom. At the group level, it is about the civic virtues and the institutions that move individuals toward better citizenship: moderation, tolerance, and work ethic."  Gable & Haidt, 2005 ”…is the study of the conditions and processes that contribute to the flourishing or optimal functioning of people, groups, and institutions."  Sheldon & King, 2001 ”…nothing more than the scientific study of ordinary human strengths and virtues. Positive psychology revisits the "average person” with an interest in finding out what works, what is right, and what is improving.  Linley, Joseph, Harrington, & Wood , 2006 "the study of human strengths and virtues." "the study of health, fulfilment, and well-being."  Peterson, 2006 ”The scientific study of what goes right in life, from birth to death and at all stops in between. It is a newly christened approach within psychology that takes seriously the examination of that which makes life most worth living."  Zelenski, 2015-ish… OMG, this is soooo hard!!! Errrr, “…the parts of psychology that deal with (positive) experiences, dispositions, contexts, and processes, in individuals and groups, that facilitate well-being, achievement, and harmony.”  What might positive refer to? Good Intentions Ideology: people are good Appreciation: people are kinda neat Topics  What might positive refer to? Good intentions: we’re here to help Fine, but hardly unique to PP  What might positive refer to? Ideology: people are good Seems odd position for science to take We should test this; need to know how it works  What might positive refer to? Appreciation: people are kinda neat Less extreme, but similar to ideology Slippery slope? Says more about researcher than content Maybe still useful in guiding work  What might positive refer to? Positive topics (note 3 criteria) ----------------------- 0 ++++++++++++++++ But what about resilience, grit, delay of gratification, negative consequences of happiness, etc. ?  Family Resemblance Probably impossible to define necessary and sufficient conditions for positive psychology ‘Positive topics’ may work best, yet relies on complex/competing definitions of ‘positive’ (Considering what makes something positive probably a good PP topic itself.)  How do we know that something is positive? This deep, central question has received less attention than you might think. Many refer to Diener & Suh (1997) who addressed it RE ‘quality of life’ indicators. – And they adapted the ideas from philosophers who were not thinking of PP  3 Criteria for Positivity Choice Values Subjective experience These do not always agree  Choice Is one option consistently selected? –Indicates a preference, what is positive –Compare to ‘revealed preference’ in economics  Values Can be based on… Religion Law Logic, etc. Psychologists’ list(s) Not the purview of science to decide But PP can study what is valued  Subjective Experience If it feels good, it is positive – Pleasure, emotions, evaluation Positivity is in mind of ‘experiencer’ May or may not be ‘meaningful’  (How) Are these positive? [Choice, Experience, Values] Optimism Giving to charity Ice cream Prayer Intelligence Schizophrenia Bird watching  Positive Psychology in Context Obvious overlap with other areas – Consider course pre-reqs, others too Especially humanistic psychology – Positive human nature, well-being; – Yet, different foci (individual vs. statistical trends) Especially health psychology – Prevention, beyond absence of illness  Positive Psychology as a SCIENCE Helps distinguish PP from humanistic Quantitative vs. qualitative (individual) Science and practice often has some tension Helps distinguish from other advice and self-help Scientific method as our way of knowing Skepticism is good; cynicism goes too far  Mini Review: Defining PP What are 3 criteria to decide that something is positive? What are 4 ways to use ‘positive’ in PP? – (and what’s good or bad about each?) What makes positive psychology a science? How is PP different than humanistic psychology?