Positive Psychology

Positive psychology is a branch of psychology focused on the character strengths and behaviors that allow individuals to build a life of meaning and purpose—to move beyond surviving to flourishing. Theorists and researchers in the field have sought to identify the elements of a good life. They have also proposed and tested practices for improving life satisfaction and well-being.

The Basics of Positive Psychology

Positive psychology emphasizes meaning and deep satisfaction, not just on fleeting happiness. Martin Seligman, often regarded as the father of positive psychology, has described multiple visions of what it means to live happily, including the Pleasant Life (Hollywood’s view of happiness), the Good Life (focused on personal strengths and engagement), and the Meaningful Life. Positive psychologists have explored a range of experiences and behaviors involved in different versions of positive living, including specific positive emotions, "flow" states, and sense of meaning or purpose.

Proponents of positive psychology have also sought to catalog character strengths and virtues. The 2004 bookCharacter Strengths and Virtuesproposed the categories ofWisdom and Knowledge, Courage, Humanity, Justice, Temperance, and Transcendence (including strengths such asgratitude, hope, andhumor).

How is positive psychology different from the rest of psychology?

While there is plenty of overlap, positive psychology has been described as different from other areas of psychology due to its primary interest inidentifying and building mental assets, as opposed to addressing weaknesses and problems.

Who created positive psychology?

Major proponents of positive psychology include psychologists Martin Seligman (who promoted the concept as president of the American Psychological Association in 1998), Christopher Peterson, and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. But many others have developed the subfield, and itechoes earlier work by humanistic psychologists such as Abraham Maslow, who used the term “positive psychology” in the 1950s.

What are the elements of a good life, according to positive psychology?

Though there are many elements of well-being and fulfillment studied by positive psychologists, five are among Martin Seligman’s proposedbuilding blocks of well-being, called the PERMA model: positive emotions, engagement (with a project, for instance), positive relationships, meaning, and accomplishment/achievement. (PERMA isnot the first or only model of well-being.)

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How Is Positive Psychology Applied?

Identifying one’s character strengths (such as courage, humanity, or justice) is considered an important step on the road to the good and meaningful life envisioned by positive psychologists. There are also positive psychology practices one can try at home to promote well-being. For example, gratitude exercises have been studied by psychologists as a way to increase happiness over time. Just what the name sounds like, these involve such simple actions as writing down each day three things for which one is grateful.

Although the focus of positive psychology is on happiness and fulfillment, it is important to understand that this does not mean people are advised to push away their negative emotions altogether. People who are flourishing make room in their lives for such inevitable states of mind.

What are some of the benefits of positive psychology?

Practices associated with positive psychology such as gratitude interventions can boost social and emotional well-being, studies suggest. Positive psychology has also led to explorations of how developing certain character strengths, positive emotions likeawe, and other qualities, such as a sense of meaning and purpose in life, might contribute to positive life outcomes.

Why are meaning and purpose significant?

Measures of meaning in life have been found to relate to other positive life outcomes. For example,research suggests that older adults who consider their lives worthwhile tend to have better physical and mental health. Other studies suggestpotential well-being benefits of having a sense of purpose in life.

What is flow?

“Flow” is the term coined by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi to describe a rewarding state of immersion in an activity, such as when people create art or play a sport they are passionate about. It has been proposed by proponents of positive psychology asone factor that contributes to a happy life.

What are some criticisms of positive psychology?

Among the critiques of positive psychology are that it has focused on positive experiences at the expense ofessential “negative” ones and that certain concepts (such ascharacter strengths) may insufficiently well-defined or re-describe existing scientific concepts.

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