Positive psychology is the study of optimal human functioning and flourishing. It aims to understand how people thrive and focus on strengths rather than weaknesses. The pioneers of positive psychology are Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Positive psychology differs from traditional psychology by promoting characteristics like strengths, optimism, and good relationships that act as buffers against mental illness. Some criticisms are that it presents an overly positive view of the world and its emphasis on positivity could imply other approaches are negative. Positive psychology is applied in areas like the military, VA hospitals, and rehabilitation through building resilience, problem-solving skills, and relationships.
2. What is Positive Psychology?
“The study of the conditions and processes that
contribute to the flourishing or optimal
functioning of people, groups, and institutions”
-Gable & Haidt
3. What is Positive Psychology
Attempting to Understand?
How things go right in our lives
The relationship between what makes people
happy and able to be successful and it’s impact
on their mental health
Coping with adversity
Preventing depression
Increasing satisfaction and productivity
5. How Does This Differ From the
Traditional View of
Psychology?
Promotes certain characteristics; Strengths of
Character and good relationships are “buffers”
against mental illness
Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi describe four
positive traits that are the backbone of positive
psychology:
Subjective wellbeing
Optimism
Happiness
Self-determination
-Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi
6. Drawbacks of Positive
Psychology
Some may fail to identify with negative
experiences, causing a “Pollyanna view of the
world” (Gable & Haidt)
Others view the word “positive” in positive
psychology to mean that the opposite must be
negative psychology
There is no “negative psychology”; only
psychology that works to solve different
puzzles of the mind and psyche
7. Positive Psychology Put Into
Practice
Plays a part in recovery during psychiatric rehabilitation
Used by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S.
Army
The U.S. Army offers resiliency training to officers, where
they will then pass down their experience with it to their
soldiers
This training seeks to nurture characteristics such as:
Optimism
Effective Problem Solving
Faith
A Sense of Meaning
Self-efficacy
Flexibility
Impulse Control
Empathy
Close Relationships
Spirituality
-Moran & Nemec
8. Positive Psychology Put Into
Practice
Normal psychiatric rehabilitation focuses on the
shortfalls and limitations of patients, whereas
positive psychology emphasizes the importance
of what is going right in a client’s life
Positive psychology can be used as a
preventative measure and a rehabilitation
measure
As a preventative measure, positive
psychology searches to strengthen innate
characteristics that build a strong foundation
for mental health
9. In Conclusion…
Positive psychology is a movement pioneered by
Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
It seeks to answer the question: How can we
improve on the strength, character, and
attributes already present to make people more
mentally healthy or resilient?
Positive psychology is practiced in organizations
such as the U.S. Army and focuses on what is
going right, as opposed to what is wrong
10. References
Gable, S. L., & Haidt, J. (2005). What (and why) is positive
psychology?. Review Of General Psychology, 9(2), 103-110.
doi:10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.103
Moran, G. S., & Nemec, P. B. (2013). Walking on the sunny side:
what positive psychology can contribute to psychiatric
rehabilitation concepts and practice. Psychiatric
Rehabilitation Journal, 36(3), 202-208. doi:10.1037/
prj0000012
Seligman, M. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive
psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5-
14. doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.5