DOCSLIB.ORG

The Value of Positive Emotions

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Value of Positive Emotions A reprint from American Scientist the magazine of Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society This reprint is provided for personal and noncommercial use. For any other use, please send a request to Permissions, American Scientist, P.O. Box 13975, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, U.S.A., or by electronic mail to [email protected]. ©Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society and other rightsholders The Value of Positive Emotions The emerging science of positive psychology is coming to understand why it’s good to feel good Barbara L. Fredrickson ack in the 1930s some young (APA). Like many psychologists, Selig- positive psychology movement is BCatholic nuns were asked to write man had devoted much of his research changing that. Many psychologists short, personal essays about their lives. career to studying mental illness. He have now begun to explore the largely They described edifying events in their coined the phrase learned helplessness to uncharted terrain of human strengths childhood, the schools they attended, describe how hopelessness and other and the sources of happiness. their religious experiences and the in- negative thoughts can spiral down into The new discoveries generated by fluences that led them to the convent. clinical depression. positive psychology hold the promise of Although the essays may have been ini- At the start of his term as APA pres- improving individual and collective tially used to assess each nun’s career ident, Seligman took stock of the field functioning, psychological well-being path, the documents were eventually of psychology, noting its significant ad- and physical health. But to harness the archived and largely forgotten. More vances in curing ills. In 1947, none of power of positive psychology, we need than 60 years later the nuns’ writings the major mental illnesses were treat- to understand how and why “goodness” surfaced again when three psycholo- able, whereas today 16 are treatable by matters. Although the discovery that gists at the University of Kentucky re- psychotherapy, psychopharmacology people who think positively and feel viewed the essays as part of a larger or both. Although psychology had be- good actually live longer is remarkable, it study on aging and Alzheimer’s dis- come proficient at rescuing people raises more questions than it answers. ease. Deborah Danner, David Snowdon from various mental illnesses, it had Exactly how do positive thinking and and Wallace Friesen read the nun’s bio- virtually no scientifically sound tools pleasant feelings help people live longer? graphical sketches and scored them for for helping people to reach their higher Do pleasant thoughts and feelings help positive emotional content, recording ground, to thrive and flourish. Selig- people live better as well? And why are instances of happiness, interest, love man aimed to correct this imbalance positive emotions a universal part of hu- and hope. What they found was re- when he called for a “positive psychol- man nature? My research traces the pos- markable: The nuns who expressed the ogy.” With the help of psychologist Mi- sible pathways for the life-enhancing ef- most positive emotions lived up to 10 haly Csikszentmihalyi—who originat- fects of positive emotions and attempts years longer than those who expressed ed the concept of “flow” to describe to understand why human beings the fewest. This gain in life expectancy peak motivational experiences—Selig- evolved to experience them. is considerably larger than the gain man culled the field for scientists achieved by those who quit smoking. whose work might be described as in- Why So Negative? The nun study is not an isolated case. vestigating “that which makes life There are probably a number of reasons Several other scientists have found that worth living.” why the positive emotions received little people who feel good live longer. But This is how many research psychol- attention in the past. There is, of course, why would this be so? Some answers ogists, myself included, were drawn to the natural tendency to study something are emerging from the new field of pos- positive psychology. My own back- that afflicts the well-being of humanity— itive psychology. This branch of psy- ground is in the study of emotions. For and the expression and experience of chological science surfaced about five more than a dozen years, I’ve been negative emotions are responsible for years ago, as the brainchild of Martin studying the positive emotions—joy, much of what ails this world. But it may E. P. Seligman, then president of the contentment, gratitude and love—to also be that the positive emotions are a American Psychological Association shed light on their evolved adaptive little harder to study. They are compara- significance. Among scientists who tively few and relatively undifferentiat- study emotions, this is a rare specialty. ed—joy, amusement and serenity are not Barbara L. Fredrickson is the director of the Posi- Far more emotion researchers have de- easily distinguished from one another. tive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of Michigan. In 2000 she won the voted their careers to studying nega- Anger, fear and sadness, on the other Templeton Prize in Positive Psychology. Address: tive emotions, such as anger, anxiety hand, are distinctly different experiences. 3006 East Hall, 525 East University Avenue, and sadness. The study of optimism This lack of differentiation is evident University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI and positive emotions was seen by in how we think about the emotions. 48109–1109. Internet: [email protected] some as a frivolous pursuit. But the Consider that scientific taxonomies of 330 American Scientist, Volume 91 © 2003 Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. Reproduction with permission only. Contact [email protected]. Figure 1. Feeling joy in the pleasures of life, as depict- ed in Marc Chagall’s Fes- tival in the Village, offers rewards beyond those of simply experiencing the moment. There are bene- fits to personal health, de- velopment and longevity, as well as evolutionary reasons why human be- ings experience positive Corbis emotions. basic emotions typically identify one gry, sad or fearful faces. In contrast, fa- enson at Indiana University showed positive emotion for every three or cial expressions for positive emotions that anger, fear and sadness each elicit four negative emotions and that this have no unique signal value: All share distinct responses in the autonomic ner- imbalance is also reflected in the rela- the Duchenne smile—in which the cor- vous system. In contrast, the positive tive numbers of emotion words in the ners of the lips are raised and the mus- emotions appeared to have no distin- English language. cles are contracted around the eyes, guishable autonomic responses. Various physical components of emo- which raises the cheeks. A similar dis- The study of positive emotions has tional expression similarly reveal a lack tinction is evident in the response of the also been hindered because scientists at- of differentiation for the positive emo- autonomic nervous system to the ex- tempted to understand them with mod- tions. The negative emotions have spe- pression of emotions. About 20 years els that worked best for negative emo- cific facial configurations that imbue ago, psychologists Paul Ekman and tions. Central to many theories of them with universally recognized sig- Wallace Friesen at the University of Cal- emotion is that they are, by definition, nal value. We can readily identify an- ifornia, San Francisco, and Robert Lev- associated with urges to act in particular www.americanscientist.org © 2003 Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society. Reproduction 2003 July–August 331 with permission only. Contact [email protected]. Figure 2. Negative emotions—like anger, fear and disgust—can be understood as evolutionary adaptations to threats our ancestors faced. Anger (left) elicits the urge to attack, fear (middle) the urge to escape and disgust (right) the urge to expel. In this view, the negative emotions nar- row our thoughts and actions to those that promoted survival in life-threatening situations. Because the positive emotions—joy, serenity, grat- itude and the like—were not so readily understood from this perspective, psychological science had not come up with with a satisfying expla- nation for their evolutionary significance until recently. ways. Anger creates the urge to attack, The Broaden-and-Build Theory figure. Neither choice is right or fear the urge to escape and disgust the We gain some insight into the adaptive wrong, but one comparison figure re- urge to expectorate (Figure 2). Of course, role of positive emotions if we aban- sembles the standard in global config- no theorist argues that people invari- don the framework used to under- uration, and the other in local, detailed ably act out these urges; rather, people’s stand the negative emotions. Instead of elements. Using this and similar mea- ideas about possible courses of action solving problems of immediate sur- sures, we found that, compared to narrow in on these specific urges. And vival, positive emotions solve prob- those in negative or neutral states, these urges are not simply thoughts ex- lems concerning personal growth and people who experience positive emo- isting in the mind. They embody spe- development. Experiencing a positive tions (as assessed by self-report or cific physiological changes that enable emotion leads to states of mind and to electromyographic signals from the the actions called forth. In the case of modes of behavior that indirectly pre- face) tend to choose the global config- fear, for example, a greater amount of pare an individual for later hard times. uration, suggesting a broadened pat- blood flows to the large muscle groups In my broaden-and-build theory, I pro- tern of thinking. to facilitate running. pose that the positive emotions broad- This tendency to promote a broader The models that emphasize the role en an individual’s momentary mind- thought-action repertoire is linked to a of these specific action tendencies typi- set, and by doing so help to build variety of downstream effects of posi- cally cast the emotions as evolved enduring personal resources.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Positive Psychology and Spirituality
    Journal of Psychology and Clinical Psychiatry Positive Psychology and Spirituality Introduction Review Article historical revelations from theorists who devoted their lives to the Volume 6 Issue 7 - 2016 studySince of humanPsychology behavior became made a healingthe science profession, of mental multitudes illness very of up with valid and reliable ways to measure indistinct concepts such Substance Abuse Treatment, USA aseffective anger, as schizophrenia, well as transferable. and depression, The field of while psychology simultaneously has come earning recognition for the development of both experimental *Corresponding author: Leslie Dawn Culpepper, and longitudinal methods necessary ingaining insight as to the causal pathways that result in undesirable consequences for the Substance Abuse Treatment | PSY497 A01, USA, Email: client/patient. Most importantly, psychology researchers have Received: March 15, 2016 | Published: December 22, 2016 developed both pharmacological and psychological interventions that are known for making fourteen previously untreatable mental disorders highly treatable disorders and even curable disorders in some cases. The timeline of psychology graciously marks these self-worth. Unfortunately, Juanita does not have the tools she theoretical revelations as these theorists devoted their lives to needs to obtain sobriety because her mother failed to reinforce the study of human behavior. Each of these theorists had their her worthiness or instill even a hint of a strong self-image. Instead own beliefs concerning the behavior of our species, including the of being critical of her inadequacies, her mother should have why, when, how, and under what circumstances gives rise to a helped Juanita identify her strengths as a way to build her self- particular behavior.
    [Show full text]
  • A History of Happiness: the Roots of Positive Psychology, Insight, and Clinical Applications from 2005 to 2015 Russell Fulmer
    Article 45 A History of Happiness: The roots of Positive Psychology, Insight, and Clinical Applications from 2005 to 2015 Russell Fulmer Fulmer, Russell, PhD, LPC, is an Assistant Professor at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas. Dr. Fulmer is a Licensed Professional Counselor whose interests include ethics, interdisciplinary approaches to counseling, and the impact of regulation on counseling. Abstract Positive psychology has burgeoned in the past decade. Research in the field has addressed everything from post-traumatic growth to prosocial behavior. Providing insight into human strengths and offering clinical interventions of use with a range of client issues, positive psychology has much to offer counselors. This article examines the past ten years of positive psychology research and condenses an abundance of literature into summaries about six of the most discussed areas and counselor applicable topics. Introduction As counselors continue to look for pragmatic techniques to add to their repertoire, the field of positive psychology offers an array of interventions that are relatively simple to comprehend, with research backing (Snyder, Lopez, & Pedrotti, 2010). Positive psychology is the study of subjective well-being (Compton & Hoffman, 2012). What started as inquiry into happiness has evolved into an analysis of human flourishing (Seligman, 2012). For years, notions and speculations about what contributed to subjective well-being abounded, albeit with little to no basis in empirical study. This was of minor relevance to behavioral scientists, as most of their focus was on mental illness. Even into the late 1990s, the ratio of negative to positive studies in psychology was seventeen to one (Achor, 2010). Positive psychology does not ignore harsh reality as much as encourage an investigation into the entire spectrum of human experience, including those factors that contribute to fulfillment, not just distress.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Positive Psychology, Positive Prevention, and Positive Therapy
    1 Positive Psychology, Positive Prevention, and Positive Therapy Martin E. P. Seligman Positive Psychology mindedness, high talent, and wisdom. At the group level it is about the civic virtues and the Psychology after World War II became a science institutions that move individuals toward better largely devoted to healing. It concentrated on citizenship: responsibility, nurturance, altruism, repairing damage using a disease model of hu- civility, moderation, tolerance, and work ethic man functioning. This almost exclusive atten- (Gillham & Seligman, 1999; Seligman & Csik- tion to pathology neglected the idea of a fulfilled szentmihalyi, 2000). individual and a thriving community, and it ne- The notion of a positive psychology move- glected the possibility that building strength is ment began at a moment in time a few months the most potent weapon in the arsenal of ther- after I had been elected president of the Amer- apy. The aim of positive psychology is to cata- ican Psychological Association. It took place in lyze a change in psychology from a preoccu- my garden while I was weeding with my 5- pation only with repairing the worst things in year-old daughter, Nikki. I have to confess that life to also building the best qualities in life. To even though I write books about children, I’m redress the previous imbalance, we must bring really not all that good with them. I am goal- the building of strength to the forefront in the oriented and time-urgent, and when I am weed- treatment and prevention of mental illness. ing in the garden, I am actually trying to get The field of positive psychology at the sub- the weeding done.
    [Show full text]
  • Positive Computing a New Trend in Business and Information Systems Engineering?
    Bus Inf Syst Eng 57(6):405–408 (2015) DOI 10.1007/s12599-015-0406-0 CATCHWORD Positive Computing A New Trend in Business and Information Systems Engineering? Jan M. Pawlowski • Sabrina C. Eimler • Marc Jansen • Julia Stoffregen • Stefan Geisler • Oliver Koch • Gordon Mu¨ller • Uwe Handmann Received: 2 September 2015 / Accepted: 11 September 2015 / Published online: 13 October 2015 Ó Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden 2015 Keywords Positive computing Á Well-being Á Affective (ICT) usage and diffusion which – in many cases – start computing Á Positive technologies Á Positive psychology with the assumption that certain barriers need to be over- come to successfully adopt technologies. The idea of positive computing might change this negative paradigm 1 The Idea of Positive Computing towards one of positive usage, perception, and adoption of technologies. Can information systems be developed to support the This new paradigm is rooted in positive psychology, a unfolding of human potentials and create positive impacts research trend aiming at emphasizing potentials instead of for all stakeholders in the future? Can we change the deficits of patients and at focusing on exploring conditions development paradigms from overcoming barriers and that promote people’s well-being and flourishing (Seligman improving (weak) acceptance towards a positive perception and Csikszentmihalyi 2000). Similar approaches are posi- and impact for all stakeholders? These are the key ques- tive technologies (Botella et al. 2012) or positive design tions of Positive Computing and related research for the (Faust 2009). The concept of positive computing also Business and Information Systems Engineering (BISE) relates to current societal trends such as the development community in the next years.
    [Show full text]
  • Positive Neuropsychology Evidence-Based Perspectives on Promoting Cognitive Health
    springer.com Psychology : Neuropsychology Randolph, John J. (Ed.) Positive Neuropsychology Evidence-Based Perspectives on Promoting Cognitive Health Provides evidence-based conceptual shift in neuropsychology that appeals to clinical and academic neuropsychologists interested in promoting cognitive health Taps into excitement surrounding positive psychology within the neuropsychology field Synthesizes existing research related to cognitive health in a single resource for clinical and academic neuropsychologists Clarifies how to incorporate Positive Neuropsychology principles into clinical practice or research endeavors Psychology and many of its subfields have seen a significant shift over the past 10-12 years Springer toward a focus on hope, positive attributes, and character strengths through the positive 2013, XIV, 178 p. psychology movement. This book provides a blueprint for a burgeoning subfield in 1st neuropsychology—positive neuropsychology. It proposes an alternative, evidence-based edition perspective on neuropsychology that incorporates positive psychology principles and a focus on promotion of cognitive health. It synthesizes existing research and provides novel perspectives on promotion of cognitive health in clinical, nonclinical, and academic settings. This work is a Printed book resource and reference for neuropsychologists, allied professionals, and students who see the Hardcover critical role neuropsychologists can play in maintaining, promoting, and being mindful of cognitive health. TARGETED MARKET SEGMENTS Neuropsychologists,
    [Show full text]
  • Positive Psychology
    7 WAYS TO APPLY POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY Learn practical, proven strategies to live a happier, more engaged and more meaningful life. We all want to live happier, more engaging and more meaningful lives. The science of positive psychology contributes new Introduction insights and proven strategies to increase wellbeing in individuals, workplaces and communities. After years classifying and repairing the worst of human experience, positive psychology emerged to help us flourish and learn from the best. This rich and varied field now spans many areas, building on philosophies and practices from Aristotle to Maslow. This eBook introduces you to some of the most practical and research-backed ways to apply positive psychology to increase happiness, wellbeing and effectiveness—in your life, at work, at home and with the people you care for, help and lead. You will learn: • How to maximise the power of positivity to create sustainable pathways to happiness and success. • Seven positive psychology practices - “[Positive Psychology is] the from optimism to mindfullness. scientific study of positive • Tips to apply these practices at work, at human functioning and home and when helping people. flourishing on multiple levels.” We look forward to inspiring you and others to live a Martin Seligman &Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi happier, more engaged and fulfilling life! The Langley Group team © 2015 Langley Group. All rights reserved 2 Positive psychology 7 POSITIVE PRACTICES Positive emotion 1 Generating positive emotions helps broaden and build our resources and moves us toward greater wellbeing. Spearheaded by Martin Seligman and Mindset Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in 1998, positive 2 psychology focuses on exploring and Adopting a positive attitude and Growth Mindset enhances learning and opens our expanding what makes life worthwhile, mind to new ways to raise happiness levels.
    [Show full text]
  • Why Study Positive Emotions in the Context of Eating Disorders?
    See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267751058 Why Study Positive Emotions in the Context of Eating Disorders? Article in Current Psychiatry Reports · January 2015 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-014-0537-x CITATIONS READS 11 422 4 authors: Kate Tchanturia Marcela Alejandra Marin Dapelo King's College London King's College London 181 PUBLICATIONS 6,367 CITATIONS 8 PUBLICATIONS 74 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Amy Harrison David Hambrook University College London South London and Maudsley NHS Foundatio… 23 PUBLICATIONS 1,020 CITATIONS 12 PUBLICATIONS 532 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Social Skills in Anorexia Nervosa View project All content following this page was uploaded by Kate Tchanturia on 04 November 2014. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. All in-text references underlined in blue are added to the original document and are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you access and read them immediately. Curr Psychiatry Rep (2015) 16:537 DOI 10.1007/s11920-014-0537-x EATING DISORDERS (C GRILO, SECTION EDITOR) Why Study Positive Emotions in the Context of Eating Disorders? Kate Tchanturia & Marcela A. Marin Dapelo & Amy Harrison & David Hambrook # Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014 Abstract Experimental research, supported by systematic and its translation into new developments in treatment and reviews, establishes that people with eating disorders have prevention. Recent findings using experimental paradigms to emotional difficulties in terms of recognising, regulating and study the expression of emotions along with neuroimaging expressing their emotions.
    [Show full text]
  • Positive Psychology As a Theoretical Framework for Studying and Learning About Religion from the Perspective of Psychology
    Selvam, S.G. (2011). Positive psychology as a theoretical framework for studying and learning about religion from the perspective of psychology . A paper presentation at the BSA Sociology of Religion Study Group -Teaching and Studying Religion Symposium. London. Positive Psychology as a theoretical framework for studying and learning about religion from the perspective of psychology Sahaya G. Selvam1 Abstract Psychology of religion is now a well acknowledged branch of psychology that uses the theoretical framework and methodology of mainstream psychology to examine religious sentiment and behaviour - collective and individual. The paper begins by reflecting on the dilemma that the psychological study of religion faces: between a measurement paradigm and seeking an overarching theoretical framework. The second part of the paper focuses on one contemporary movement within mainstream psychology, namely, positive psychology that engages with existential questions like wellbeing and happiness, with an empirical grounding. Moreover, research and intervention within positive psychology are led by a catalogue of core virtues and character strengths that have strong religious underpinnings. The paper discusses the viable use of the theoretical and methodological framework of positive psychology in the study of religion, and considers the added value that positive psychology brings to teaching and learning about religion in secular contexts. 1. Psychology of Religion Early psychologists were concerned with the impact of religion on human behaviour and wellbeing. However, Freud’s negative conclusions about religion may have had their toll on the relationship between psychology and religion. More importantly, as psychology itself began to be influenced by the behaviourist approach, religion was largely neglected within psychological enquiry in the early half of the 20 th century.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 from Viktor Frankl's Logotherapy to the Four Defining Characteristics of Self-Transcendence (ST) Paul T. P. Wong Introductio
    1 From Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy to the Four Defining Characteristics of Self-Transcendence (ST) Paul T. P. Wong Introduction The present paper continues my earlier presentation on self-transcendence (ST) as a pathway to meaning, virtue, and happiness (Wong, 2016), in which I introduced Viktor Frankl’s (1985) two-factor theory of ST. Here, the same topic of ST is expanded by first providing the basic assumptions of logotherapy, then arguing the need for objective standards for meaning, and finally elaborating the defining characteristics of ST. To begin, here is a common-sense observation—no one can remain at the same spot for life for a variety of reasons, such as developmental and environmental changes, but most importantly because people dream of a better life and want to move to a preferred destination where they can find happiness and fulfillment. As a psychologist, I am interested in finding out (a) which destination people choose and (b) how they plan to get there successfully. In a free society that offers many opportunities for individuals, there are almost endless options regarding both (a) and (b). The reality is that not all purposes in life are equal. Some life goals are misguided, such as wanting to get rich by any means, including unethical and illegal ones, because ultimately, such choices could be self-defeating—these end values might not only fail to fill their hearts with happiness, but might also ruin their relationships and careers. The question, then, is: What kind of choices will have the greatest likelihood of resulting in a good life that not only benefits the individual but also society? My research has led me to hypothesize that the path of ST is most likely to result in such a good life.
    [Show full text]
  • Using Interactive Technologies to Promote Positive Functioning
    CYBERPSYCHOLOGY,BEHAVIOR, AND SOCIAL NETWORKING Volume 15, Number 2, 2012 ORIGINAL ARTICLES ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2011.0139 Positive Technology: Using Interactive Technologies to Promote Positive Functioning Giuseppe Riva, Ph.D.,1,2 Rosa M. Ban˜os, Ph.D.,3,4 Cristina Botella, Ph.D.,4,5 Brenda K. Wiederhold, Ph.D., M.B.A., BCIA,6,7 and Andrea Gaggioli, Ph.D.1,2 Abstract It is generally assumed that technology assists individuals in improving the quality of their lives. However, the impact of new technologies and media on well-being and positive functioning is still somewhat controversial. In this paper, we contend that the quality of experience should become the guiding principle in the design and development of new technologies, as well as a primary metric for the evaluation of their applications. The emerging discipline of Positive Psychology provides a useful framework to address this challenge. Positive Psychology is the scientific study of optimal human functioning and flourishing. Instead of drawing on a ‘‘disease model’’ of human behavior, it focuses on factors that enable individuals and communities to thrive and build the best in life. In this paper, we propose the ‘‘Positive Technology’’ approach—the scientific and applied approach to the use of technology for improving the quality of our personal experience through its structuring, augmentation, and/or replacement—as a way of framing a suitable object of study in the field of cyberpsy- chology and human–computer interaction. Specifically, we suggest that it is possible to use technology to influence three specific features of our experience—affective quality, engagement/actualization, and connect- edness—that serve to promote adaptive behaviors and positive functioning.
    [Show full text]
  • Positive Psychotherapy Seligman, M
    Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character Seligman, M. E. P., & Yellin, A. (1987). What is a dream? strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. Behavior Research and Therapy, 25, 1–24. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association and Oxford University Press. Positive Psychotherapy Seligman, M. E. P. (1970). On the generality of the laws of learning. Psychological Review, 77, 406–418. Martin E. P. Seligman, Tayyab Rashid, and Acacia C. Parks Positive Psychology Center, University of Pennsylvania Seligman, M. E. P. (1971). Phobias and preparedness. Be- havior Therapy, 2, 307–320. Seligman, M. E. P. (1975). Helplessness: On depression, development, and death. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman. Positive psychotherapy (PPT) contrasts with standard interventions for depression by increasing positive emotion, engagement, and meaning rather than directly targeting Seligman, M. E. P. (1991). Learned optimism. New York: depressive symptoms. The authors have tested the effects of Knopf. these interventions in a variety of settings. In informal student and clinical settings, people not uncommonly Seligman, M. E. P. (1993). What you can change and what reported them to be “life-changing.” Delivered on the you can’t: The complete guide to successful self-improve- Web, positive psychology exercises relieved depressive ment. New York: Knopf. symptoms for at least 6 months compared with placebo interventions, the effects of which lasted less than a week. Seligman, M. E. P. (1996). Science as an ally of practice. In severe depression, the effects of these Web exercises American Psychologist, 51, 1072–1079. were particularly striking. This address reports two preliminary studies: In the first, PPT delivered to groups significantly decreased levels of mild-to-moderate Seligman, M.
    [Show full text]
  • Meaning and Positive Psychology
    International Journal of Existential Volume 5, Issue 1 July 2014 Psychology & Psychotherapy Meaning and Positive Psychology Christopher Peterson and Nansook Park University of Michigan Abstract Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life worth living. Meaning is always included by positive psychologists as an element of the good life, but actually figures importantly in all topics of substantive concern to positive psychology. Research is described that links meaning to life satisfaction, character strengths, and physical health. In conclusion, this paper addresses why positive psychology is more often identified as the study of happiness than the study of meaning and how this situation might be remedied. Meaning and Positive Psychology The meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person's life at a given moment. —Viktor E. Frankl (1959, p. 110) Positive psychology is the scientific study of what goes right in life (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). It is a new perspective within psychology that rests on certain assumptions (Peterson & Park, 2003). First, what is good about life is as genuine and relevant as what is bad, thus deserving equal attention from psychologists. Second, life entails more than avoiding or undoing problems. Someone without symptoms or disorders may or may not be living well. Positive psychology urges attention to what is taking place on the other side of the zero point of being problem-free. Third, explanations of the good life must do more than take accounts of problems and stand them on their head.
    [Show full text]