Dr. Peter Mather presented at the NACA Mid-America Regional Conference on November 9, 2013 about strengthening student affairs through positive psychology. He discussed how focusing too much on problems can limit progress, and introduced positive psychology as an alternative framework. Positive psychology emphasizes studying what goes right in life, such as happiness, well-being, and flourishing. Mather argued that defining and pursuing happiness should be a goal for student affairs. He outlined various theories, such as the broaden-and-build theory, and strategies from positive psychology that can be applied to improve student and staff experiences.

1. STRENGTHENING THE
HEART OF STUDENT
AFFAIRS THROUGH
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Dr. Peter Mather, Ohio University
NACA Mid-America Regional Conference
November 9, 2013

2. The Party School Problem

3. Focusing on Problems
“The core belief from which we operate is that an
alternative or better future can be accomplished by more
problem-solving [. . .] This context—that life is a set of
problems to be solved—may actually limit any chance of
the future being different from the past. The interest we
have in problems is so intense that at some point we take
our identity from those problems.” (Block, 2008, p. 33)

4. Focusing on Problems
“The core belief from which we operate is that an
alternative or better future can be accomplished by more
problem-solving [. . .] This context—that life is a set of
problems to be solved—may actually limit any chance of
the future being different from the past. The interest we
have in problems is so intense that at some point we take
our identity from those problems.” (Block, 2008, p. 33)
• The Story of Positive Psychology

5. Happiness
• A Goal for Student Affairs?
• The Ultimate Currency
• Aristotle: “Happiness is the highest good and the end at which all
our activities ultimately aim.”
• Amazon Search
• Happiness: 35,998
• Money: 196,280

6. Happiness as a Goal is Debatable

7. Broaden and
Build Theory
• Positivity/happiness,
corresponds to
problem-solving skills,
creativity, and related
positive outcomes
• Negativity (e.g., fear)
narrows one’s options
and limits creativity
• Happiness and wellbeing promote
altruism, reduce racial
bias, and extend life

8. How about a little gratitude?

9. Happiness Defined: Pleasure

10. Happiness Defined: Engagement

11. Happiness Defined: Meaning

12. Negativity Bias

13. Attention

14. Language is Generative

15. Horror Story

16. Healthy Story

17. Tell a Story. . .
• Describe an especially positive experience from an
interaction with a student
• What made it special?
• Encourage students and staff to tell their healthy stories

19. Setting Sights on What is Working

20. The How of Happiness
• Happiness = Set point + Circumstances + Voluntary
Activities
• S = 50%
• C = 10%
• V = 40%

21. Voluntary Activities
• Expressing gratitude
• Setting goals
• Performing acts of kindness
• Exercising strengths
• Savoring life’s joys
• Exercising body
• Meditating

22. The Greatest Feeling is:

23. The Heart of Student Affairs
• Understand that our emotional and intellectual dimensions
•
•
•
•
are connected
Learn from and use positive experiences for improving
practice
Develop flourishing students through capitalizing on their
strengths and positive experiences
Focus on emotional climate when students are in
personally challenging situations
Finally, understand that the work we do in building
community and social and emotional development
provides a strong foundation for students to be adaptive
and resilient in a complex and ever changing world

24. THANK YOU!!

25. References
• Fredrickson, B. (2013). Love 2.0: How our supreme emotion affects
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everything we feel, think, do and become. New York, NY: Penguin
Group.
Fredrickson, B. (2009). Positivity: Top-notch research reveals the 3 to
1 ratio that will change your life. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press.
Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). The how of happiness: A scientific approach
to getting the life you want.
Mather, P. C. & Hulme, E. Positive psychology and appreciative
inquiry in higher education. New Directions for Student Services, 143.
San Francisco, CA: Wiley Periodicals.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic happiness: Using the new
positive psychology to realize your potential for lasing fulfillment. New
York, NY: The Free Press.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of
happiness and well-being. New York, NY: The Free Press.