From a field focused on identifying, classifying and solving problems, positive psychology has emerged as a science devoted not to studying the bad, but encouraging the good.
What is the definition of positive psychology?
Positive psychology was founded by Marty Seligman in 1998. According to the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center, positive psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive:
Positive psychology has three central concerns: positive emotions, positive individual traits, and positive institutions. Understanding positive emotions entails the study of contentment with the past, happiness in the present, and hope for the future. Understanding positive individual traits consists of the study of the strengths and virtues, such as the capacity for love and work, courage, compassion, resilience, creativity, curiosity, integrity, self-knowledge, moderation, self-control, and wisdom. Understanding positive institutions entails the study of the strengths that foster better communities, such as justice, responsibility, civility, parenting, nurturance, work ethic, leadership, teamwork, purpose, and tolerance (Seligman, 2002).
Who is researching this?
In addition to the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center, a number of research centers and universities are focusing on positive psychology, including:
PMA… I am a believer, love the post!
creativity, originality, etc, with a stonrg humor as #2. That’s about right. I like that they don’t list all 24 characteristics, so you can’t go and mope about what were your Lowest Strengths.I think it’s a JCAHO requirement that we have to address strengths in a patient. Especially with a chronic problem, that’s important. If you have an infection, you don’t really need strengths so much as you need an antibiotic. But if you have a chronic physical illness, your strengths are going to be of enormous importance.The studies on resiliency in traumatised or neglected children are shoing much the same pattern. Protective factors — like having someone who cares about you, or a stable living arrangement — may be more important predictors than extent of trauma. My two Romanians would certainly be good examples of that.
This is such a great look into Positive Psychology and completely makes me want to get back into studying it! I especially love this line, “Human goodness and excellence is just as authentic as distress and disorder, life entails more than the undoing of problems.” So true!
I’ve only studied it briefly, but would def love to learn more too! Maybe we can work together on something in the future :)