Traditional Psychology, in general, perceived to be in focus of the negative aspects of human psychology like the diagnosis and treatment of mental & psychological disorders, viz. depression, stress , anxiety and many others . Positive psychology , a very recent phenomena , the term itself is coined only in 1998 by Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman and Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi ( both American psychology professors), on the other hand, focusses on studying and promoting the positive emotions, positive individual traits (strengths), and positive institutions leading to well being and human flourishing.
An earnest attempt is being made through this blog, to introduce to our readers , the recent phenomena called ' Positive Psychology'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=vUG5rPHPGBE - Flourish - Book Summary - Tamil
1. Evolution of Positive Psychology
Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living (Peterson, 2008). To push this brief description a bit further, positive psychology is a scientific approach to studying human thoughts, feelings, and behavior, with a focus on strengths instead of weaknesses, building the good in life, instead of repairing the bad, and taking the lives of average people up to great, instead of focusing solely on moving those who are struggling up to normal
Positive Psychology emerged in the late 20th Century is often credited to Martin Seligman, (1942 - ), an US Psychology professor.
However , earlier psychologists like Abraham Maslow ( 1908 -1970, born in New York, ' theory of hierarchy of needs') and Carl Rogers (1902 - 1987, born in Illinois, humanistic psychology ) laid the foundation by studying human potential, humanistic psychology and well - being.
Abraham Maslow ( 1908 -1970 )
Carl Rogers ( 1902 -1987)
Martin Seligman, used his presidency of the American Psychological Association ( APA) in 1998 to promote the idea of studying human strengths and well being. He along with his colleagues developed PERMA model and identified five essential elements of well being, Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishments.
Positive psychology researchers have explored topics such as happiness, optimism , resilience, gratitude and character strengths which has found applications in the fields of education , health care , business and counselling.
Over the period of time, Positive psychology gained popularity and now. numerous universities are offering various courses and programs. Positive psychology is not without criticism and the critiques often pointing out the overemphasis of positivity neglecting the real life challenges and issues.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mihaly-Csikszentmihalyi/publication/11946304_Positive_Psychology_An_Introduction/links/561be36c08aea8036724324e/Positive-Psychology-An-Introduction.pdf
https://youtu.be/j78AjMIIHLo - Positive psychology explained by professors, practitioners and trainers
2. Major Contributors :
Martin Seligman, instrumental in defining and advancing the field is often called the 'father of positive psychology', worked on the development of PERMA model and the establishment of the Positive Psychology center at the University of Pennsylvania.
Christopher Peterson (1950- 2012), was the psychology professor at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, collaborated with Martin Seligman on various projects and contributed to the identification and understanding of positive character traits.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1934 - 2021) was the psychology professor at the Claremont Graduate University , California , known for his work on the concept of 'flow', the state of optimal experience where individuals are fully engaged and immersed in an activity.
Barbara Fredrickson is the psychology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, developed Broaden - and - Build Theory which emphasizes the role of positive emotions in broadening individuals' thought-action repertories.
Ed Diener ( 1946 - 2021) was the psychology professor at the University of Utah and the University of Virginia worked on happiness and life satisfaction. His contribution includes the development of 'Satisfaction with life scale ( SWLS) , a short 5 item instrument designed to measure global cognitive judgements of satisfaction with one's life.
Sonja Lyubomirsky ,is a psychology professor at the University of California , Riverside, is known for her research on the science of happiness. Her research includes the factors that contribute to long term well-being including the impact of intentional activities on happiness.
3. PERMA Model :
The PERMA model developed during 2004 -2011 by Martin Seligman identifies five elements that contributes to human well being and happiness. Initially, Seligman and his colleagues proposes three components, Positive emotions, engagement and relationships. Later, it was expanded to include two additional components , meaning and accomplishments and coined the acronym 'PERMA' .
Positive emotions: This element emphasizes the importance of experiencing positive emotions like joy, gratitude, love and hope.
Engagement : Also known as ' flow' refers to the state of being fully absorbed and deeply involved in an activity or a task. If fully involved , people , often loose track of time and experience a sense of fulfillment.
Relationships: Positive and supportive social connections are crucial for well being. Building and maintaining healthy relationships with family, friends and colleagues is a key component
Meaning: Having a sense of purpose and meaning in life is essential for overall well being. This element involves understanding one's values, beliefs and the significance of one's action.
Accomplishment/ Achievement : Achieving goals and experiencing a sense of accomplishment contributes to well- being. Setting and reaching meaningful objectives provides a sense of mastery and satisfaction.
4. Practical applications :
Positive psychology has found applications in diverse fields including education, business, healthcare and counselling. It has been used to improve workplace satisfaction, boost economic achievement and enhance overall quality of life.
Positive psychology has made significant impact on the field of education, emphasizing the importance of fostering well-being, character strengths, and positive emotions in students. The famous 'The Geelong Grammar school in Australia' implemented a comprehensive positive education program with focus on building students' character strengths, promoting positive relationships and enhancing overall well-being.
The application of positive psychology in business contributes to a positive organizational culture, improved employee well-being and improved overall productivity and satisfaction. Example : Strength based leadership by recognizing and assigning tasks based on one's individual strengths. Establishing a work based gratitude program where employees appreciate each other's works. Providing mindfulness workshops, fitness classes and resources for stress management to enhance overall well-being. During performance reviews, discussing how employees can utilize their strengths to achieve professional growth and success.
Positive psychology has been applied in health care settings to enhance patient well - being, improve healthcare professionals' experiences and contribute to more holistic approach to health. Patient -centered approach by engaging patients in shared decision making, acknowledging their strengths and in involving them in the development of personalized care plans. Encouraging doctors to express empathy, actively listen to patients' concerns and provide positive reinforcement for health behaviors. Offering mindfulness based stress reduction ( MBSR ) program for patients dealing with chronic pain , anxiety or other stress related conditions.
Providing training in resilience-building skills, mindfulness and stress management for healthcare staff.
Positive psychology in counseling emphasizes empowering individuals, promoting resilience, and fostering a positive mindset, ultimately contributing to clients' overall psychological well-being. Strength based counseling - A counsel uses a strength assessment to help clients recognize their unique qualities and develop strategies to overcome challenges. Teaching clients mindfulness meditation as a tool to manage stress, increase self awareness and cultivate a more positive outlook. Incorporating activities like behavioral activation, where clients engage in positive and rewarding activities to counteract depressive symptoms.
5. Critiques :
Positive psychology, a recent branch of psychology has made significant contributions to the field of human well-being, but its critiques have highlighted several concerns and limitations associated with positive psychology's focus and emphasis on well-being and positive aspects of human experience.
A more balanced approach including both positive and negative emotions, for a comprehensive understanding is required rather than neglecting negative emotions and experiences all together.
Positive psychology tends to focus on individual factors, potentially overlooking the impact of broader social, economic and environmental factors on well - being.
Positive psychology's emphasis on individual strengths might inadvertently contribute to a culture of blaming individuals for not being positive enough.
Positive psychology is still evolving and its theoretical framework may not be as comprehensive as established theories in traditional psychology.
Notwithstanding these critiques , many leading reputed educational institutions in the world are offering Graduate study courses in Positive psychology.
University of Pennsylvania, USA : Master of applied positive psychology
Claremont Graduate University, USA : PhD in Positive Developmental Psychology
University of Melbourne, Australia : Master of applied positive psychology
University of Lisbon, Portugal : Master in Positive psychology
University of Zurich, Switzerland : Masters in applied positive psychology
6. Positive psychology through Indian sweets :
In a lighter note, Indian sweets epitomize the positive psychology's principles:
Rosogolla : Be resilient even when squeezed .
Boondi Laddu : Continue doing little things, success will follow
Soan Pappdi : Pursue your goals , irrespective of validation
Gulab Jamun : Softness is quality much appreciated , be proud of it
Kadalai Mavu (கடலை மாவு) Laddu : No matter what goes wrong, we can always fix it
Made a good reading. A reader always try to relate to his personal experience. In my view positive and negative psychology are like cold and hot water. In summer we prefer cold water and in winter, hot water. The choice is ours.