Positive Psychology
Positive psychology is a science-based approach focusing on identifying, understanding, and cultivating positive emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and relationships. By utilizing this evidence-based practice, many people may improve their overall well-being, quality of life, and relationships.
Key concepts of positive psychology
Positive psychology aims to nurture an individual’s positive traits and healthy habits to help them improve mental well-being and physical health while fostering a meaningful, fulfilling life.
Positive psychology is a more modern form of psychology theory, but it has significantly impacted how many therapists, individuals, and scientists understand and approach mental health and overall wellness. Positive psychology focuses on the positive aspects of life, such as happiness, gratitude, and joy, rather than negative or challenging aspects.
Happiness & positive psychology
One of the fundamental concepts of positive psychology is happiness. Positive psychologists believe that happiness is not a fleeting emotion but a long-term state of being that can be cultivated over time. Promoting these feelings includes developing positive emotions, such as joy and gratitude, and focusing on meaningful relationships and activities. Fostering constructive, affirming emotional states may help alleviate mental health challenges. Research suggests that feelings of happiness are inversely correlated with symptoms of mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.
Other concepts involved in positive psychology include character, strengths, and virtues. Positive psychologists have identified 24 universal character strengths valued across cultures, including creativity, honesty, and kindness. Focusing on these strengths may contribute to personal development by nurturing a sense of purpose and meaning, helping individuals feel more fulfilled and resilient.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges and adversity, while a growth mindset is a belief that one can improve and grow, even in the face of setbacks. Research suggests that there is a link between resilience and subjective well-being. Through developing these traits, one may better navigate life's challenges and setbacks. Resilience can also help limit the negative effects of mental illness. In one study, researchers found that athletes with high levels of resilience experienced reduced anxiety.
Broaden-and-build theory
The broaden-and-build theory is a cornerstone of positive psychology, which suggests that positive emotions help individuals expand their thinking and build long-lasting skills and resources. This theory states that feeling positive emotions helps people think more widely, consider novel ideas, and explore new paths. As a result, they might learn new skills, build valuable resources, and experience long-term growth.
These concepts work together to foster a sense of well-being and life satisfaction. Individuals may gain greater insight into their lives and goals by learning to recognize and develop these traits.
Significant contributors to positive psychology
Positive psychology has made groundbreaking progress in many individuals' understandings of human behavior and thought. Among the development of the positive psychology movement, the contributions of specific individuals stand out through their scientific research and theories, including the following.
In the late 1990s, Martin Seligman proposed that psychology could be more than treating disorders, allowing people to focus on what makes life worth living. He became the president of the American Psychological Association (APA) in 1996, and works as a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center. He developed the PERMA model of well-being, which stands for "Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishments."
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Another influential positive psychology figure is Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, who proposed the concept of "flow." Flow is a state where an individual is fully engaged, completely absorbed, and enjoying a task or activity. His work has influenced studies on creativity, performance, mindfulness, and motivation.
Carol Dweck
Carol Dweck looks at psychology from a mindset perspective. Her research has shown that developing a growth mindset and believing in their abilities can help individuals achieve success and fulfillment. This concept has been applied to education, sports, and the workplace. For example, when students are taught to view failure as an opportunity for learning, their performance and motivation may increase.
Barbara Fredrickson
Barbara Fredrickson's contributions to positive psychology are centered around the role of positive emotions in well-being. She developed the "broaden-and-build" theory to help explain how positive emotions can open minds to explore new opportunities and build long-lasting resources.
Sonja Lyubomirsky
Sonja Lyubomirsky has made significant contributions to research on the science of happiness. Her work focuses on the factors that determine happiness and the impact of intentional behavior. In addition, she has identified various strategies individuals can use to increase their happiness levels, including expressing gratitude, engaging in acts of kindness, and savoring positive moments.
Christopher Peterson
Christopher Peterson came up with the 24 character strengths theory. He argued that these strengths, such as creativity, bravery, and wisdom, play a vital role in developing one's personality and mental wellness.
How can you benefit from positive psychology?
Positive psychology techniques can be applied in various settings, including your personal life, the workplace, education, healthcare, and the wider community. According to positive psychologists, several factors contribute to human beings’ ability to promote well-being, face challenges, and thrive. Below are a few ways you might benefit from using positive psychology.
Fostering positive emotions in everyday life
Practicing gratitude exercises or engaging in daily acts of kindness may boost your overall mood and outlook, helping you nurture positive feelings like contentment, enjoyment, and gratitude. Mindfulness activities, such as meditation or yoga, can also be beneficial to cultivating a positive attitude and focus on the present moment.
Professional life satisfaction
Establishing positive relationships with colleagues and engaging in meaningful conversations may create a pleasant working environment more conducive to productivity. Setting goals for yourself and celebrating your accomplishments can give you a sense of satisfaction and purpose in life. If you’re in charge of managing others, positive leadership can motivate employees, reduce stress in the workplace, and increase productivity.
Nurturing an educational environment
Engaging students in activities that foster their character strengths, such as creativity or courage, may cultivate a positive learning environment. Encouraging growth mindset thinking can also help foster resilience and motivation among students.
This educational approach can apply beyond formal schooling. In an article published in the Journal of Adult Development, the author highlights the crucial role growth plays in human flourishing throughout life. Adults who continue to learn can find new opportunities to build positive skills and habits.
Improved physical & mental health
Positive psychology research suggests that positive emotions benefit physical health, potentially reducing stress and improving overall well-being. High subjective well-being has also been connected to increased longevity. Additionally, developing an ability to cope with and manage difficult emotions may improve mental health outcomes. Positive psychologists believe that treating mental illness starts by focusing on the enriching aspects of the human experience. In one scientific study, researchers found that promoting mental health through positive psychology helped with reducing depressive symptoms in participants.
Community & society
Creating meaningful connections with people in your community may foster a sense of belonging and social support, positively impacting overall well-being. Additionally, engaging in acts of kindness or volunteering for a cause you are passionate about could provide productivity, spread positivity, and cultivate physical and emotional well-being.
Positive psychology can help individuals lead lives in alignment with their values and beliefs. This term brings awareness to an empirically supported approach to well-being that has the potential to positively impact your life and the lives of those around you.
Benefitting from positive psychology interventions (PPI's)
Many therapists use positive psychology within their therapeutic modalities. If you're looking for a positive, mindfulness-based approach, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) may be beneficial. You can also try common approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Consult a therapist to find out which modalities are available to you.
Technological advancements may also provide new platforms that allow individuals to participate in psychological interventions from home. For those who live in remote or culturally diverse areas, this availability could provide a unique quality of care and the option to choose how you want to receive support. Online therapy can help you apply the tools and principles of positive psychology to your own life.
By offering convenient resources, online therapy can help you reach goals and tap into the power of positivity. A study from 2021 found that individuals who engaged in positive psychology through online therapy experienced a significant increase in their psychological well-being. The study suggests that online therapy can effectively promote overall well-being and cultivate a more positive outlook on life. Specifically, self-compassion was highlighted as a critical factor in achieving greater psychological well-being. By incorporating the principles of positive psychology, online therapy can help you create healthier habits grounded in personal growth and resilience.
Takeaway
Positive psychology can help individuals feel happier, healthier, and more meaningful in their place in the world. Whether you use this method through cultivating relationships with others or engaging in activities that bolster self-confidence, applying positive psychology can have significant benefits.
This field of study is growing, creating new opportunities to foster positive change in our lives. If you want to learn more about this study, a therapist may help you understand the tools and resources to get started. Consider reaching out for further self-reflection and guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Positive psychology is a field that focuses on the creation of purpose and meaning within life. This is accomplished by building an individual’s knowledge of their existing strengths and identifying objectives that will lead to improved satisfaction and a positive sense of well-being. Those engaging in positive psychology may also learn ways to address challenges and maladaptive behavioral traits, though this tends to be focused less than in other branches of psychology. Positive psychology sessions can include gratitude exercises, positive thinking techniques, and skill cultivation activities.
What are the 3 pillars?
According to the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, the three pillars of positive psychology are positive experiences, positive individual traits, and positive institutions.
- Positive Experiences: This pillar is concerned with experiences that have a positive effect on our outlook and well-being, like those that involve feelings of love and happiness.
- Positive Individual Traits: Positive individual traits are those that help us to better interact with our environment and the people in our lives, as well as those that help us be more thankful for what we have. Examples include compassion, gratitude, sincerity, and reliability.
- Positive Institutions: The third pillar concerns institutions that can improve our well being and lead to a better life. These can range from healthy romantic partnerships, friendships, and families to religions and educational organizations.
One of the main goals of positive psychology is the cultivation of a healthier and more meaningful life. In addition, positive psychology seeks to enhance the areas of a good life and find what we are grateful for. These areas can vary, but may include social connections, fulfilling work, and the recreational activities we are passionate about. This branch of psychology is also designed to help individuals find their character strengths and learn methods to nurture and grow those traits. Overall, positive psychology is meant to help someone switch to a more optimistic outlook in order to improve an individual’s feelings of life satisfaction and happiness.
What is an example of this psychology?
While the methods that are used in psychology today may vary depending on who is facilitating your positive psychology sessions, techniques may include the following.
- Gratitude Exercises: Finding what parts of life we are grateful for and expressing why we are thankful can be an effective way to increase happiness or positivity. One common gratitude exercise is writing in a journal, which we can use on a daily or weekly basis to list the people and things that have a positive influence on our lives.
- Optimistic Interventions: Optimistic interventions often involve setting reasonable goals and expectations that can help us to create positive future outcomes. For example, one could imagine the best possible version of where they hope they will be in five years. Once they have, they can write down a description of what that happy life looks like, which may encourage a more optimistic outlook moving forward.
- Strength Building: The identification and building of our strong character qualities is a central component of positive psychology. By doing so, we can find what we value most in life and understand where our energy may best be placed in the future.
While positive psychology may be an effective way to improve well-being and foster positive character traits, it can also have certain limitations. One criticism of positive psychology is that it can be difficult to measure the efficacy of the interventions used within its methodology. This may make it more difficult to research the subject, which may stop positive psychology from being seriously considered by parts of the psychological community. In addition, the validity of the theories behind positive psychology have been questioned, as well as its methods, interventions, and overall philosophy.
While the term “positive psychology” was likely first used by Abraham Maslow in his 1954 book Motivation and Personality, the father of positive psychology is widely considered to be Martin Seligman. Seligman spoke publicly about the subject as the president of the American Psychological Association and wrote about his initial discoveries in his 2002 book Authentic Happiness.
In his book, Seligman states that he initially set out to study helplessness in dogs. During his studies, Seligman discovered that some dogs did not seem to quit regardless of the parameters of his research. This led Seligman to wonder what connection this may have with learned helplessness and depression in humans, which shaped the focus of his work and led him to create concepts like the PERMA model.
Positive psychology could be considered a theory, therapeutic approach, or field of psychology, depending on what way the term is used. The positive psychology theory was originally developed by Martin Seligman as a way to divert the focus of psychology from pathology to the identification of personal strengths and goals that could add meaning to our existence. Seligman’s theory also focuses on positive emotions, and the experiences and institutions that can improve lead to a more pleasant life.
While more research needs to be conducted before positive psychology can be conclusively determined as a depression treatment, studies indicate it may be beneficial. One study involving 38 participants with depression utilized a 4-week group positive psychology intervention (PPI) program, recording emotional states before and after sessions. Researchers found a significant improvement in positive emotional state and a decrease in negative emotional state, as well as an increase in positive affectivity from week to week.
What does it treat?
Positive psychology may be used to treat stress disorders, as well as conditions like anxiety and depression. One of the main techniques used during these sessions is positive psychology interventions or PPIs. These positive psychology practices can vary in design but often take the form of activities that focus on fostering positive emotions, character strengthening, and overall well-being. Some examples of PPIs include breath control exercises, guided meditation, gratitude journaling, and savoring interventions.
One major criticism of positive psychology is its avoidance of negative emotions. Because the practice primarily focuses on positive character traits, institutions, and experiences, it may minimize the effect or significance that mental health symptoms may create. Positive psychology may take an overly individualistic view, which could lead to a bias that places importance on one’s own needs over everyone else’s. This may create interpersonal challenges or allow someone to justify certain actions in order to sustain their own sense of happiness.
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