Positive Psychology Lecture Notes PDF

LECTURE 1 What is Positive Psychology? Traditional Psychology Sigmund Freud→ Determinism/ passive agent John B. Watson/ B. F. Skinner → Passive agent ● Three problems of traditional psychology ○ Views on human nature → passive agent ○ Neglected normal and talented people Humanistic psychology Carl R...

LECTURE 1 What is Positive Psychology? Traditional Psychology Sigmund Freud→ Determinism/ passive agent John B. Watson/ B. F. Skinner → Passive agent ● Three problems of traditional psychology ○ Views on human nature → passive agent ○ Neglected normal and talented people Humanistic psychology Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow(Needs Hierarchy) → Free will/ Active agent Positive Psychology (Maslow) To examine the value of positive emotions To establish criteria and a language define the presence of mental health To unfold the psychological and subjective factors that affect happiness Martin Seligman → Positive Psychology ● Noted the imbalance in psychology ● Not much attention to strengths and promoting health ● Studying and promoting the best in human behavior. ● The “forgotten mission” of traditional psychology. ● The understanding and enhancement of well-being. What does Positive Psychology study? Life Above Zero. Positive psychology study the life above zero. Traditional psychology investigated life at and below Zero zero, i.e. pathology and absence - Scientific understanding - Research supported interventions Three Pillars of Positive Psychology Positive subjective experience L5 Positive emotions/ Flow/ Mindfulness Positive individual characteristics L6 - L9 Personal strengths and virtues Positive institutions L10 - L12 Organizations, School, Communities How to Get a Good Life? What is a good life? 1. Four mental health states A. Flourishing 心理興盛 a. Complete mental health i. Exhibiting emotional vitality (e.g., high happiness and satisfaction) ii. Functioning well, and will be free of recent (i.e., 12-month) mental illness. B. Languishing 幽谷 a. Incomplete mental health i. Stress and despair, or empty life, yet not severe enough to meet mental illness criteria C. Struggling 掙扎 a. Incomplete mental illness b. Mental illness yet filled c. Moderate or high levels of emotional, psychological, and social well-being D. Floundering 錯亂 a. Complete mental illness b. Not only have a mental illness c. Have very low levels of emotional, psychological, and social well-being. 2. Authentic happiness - Seligman (2003) The PERMA Model (Seligman, 2011) Five measurable elements that constitutes well-being ● PositiveEmotions ● Engagement ● Relationships ● Meaning ● Accomplishment