Connecticut College Digital Commons @ Connecticut College 2009-2010 Student Newspapers 11-17-2009 College Voice Vol. 34 No. 9 Connecticut College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/ccnews_2009_2010 Recommended Citation Connecticut College, "College Voice Vol. 34 No. 9" (2009). 2009-2010. 12. https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/ccnews_2009_2010/12 This Newspaper is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Newspapers at Digital Commons @ Connecticut College. It has been accepted for inclusion in 2009-2010 by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Connecticut College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author. -. THE COLLEGE VOICE NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009 VOLUME 34 • ISSUE 9 Positive Psychology NORA SWENSON "But focusing on positives, it's STAFF WRITER determining the aspects like virtues, pride and gratitude. America's Dairy Industry What brings joy and meaning may be pretty keen on to life?" questioning whether you've Furthermore, what is the got your milk, but when it importance of positivity and comes to Connecticut College's its inlluence in psychology? Psychology Department, they To this question, Singer spoke want to know if you've 'got of another psychologist, happy.' Barbara Frederickson, equally Led by clinical psychologist important in the area of and professor of Psychology positive psychology, primarily Jefferson Singer, some of for her work on her "broaden. the various aspects and and-build theory". This theory dimensions of the up-and- stresses the idea that positive coming field of "Positive emotions enable one to expand Psychology" were discussed in on aspects of his or her life, the talk on November 1I. like knowledge or social Singer began with a brief relationships, "making one history of the field of positive more able to build, and taking psychology. "It's very rare to be their work one step further;' able to know the exact point at quoted Singer. which a branch of psychology Applying this theory to started, but with positive the typical college student, psychology, that's the case." perhaps struggling with In the 1980s, Martin making ends meet, completing Seligman, a psychologist, gave all of their work with efficacy Celebrating the Fall of lectures on problems related and still staying upbeat and to learned helplessness, a enjoying life, may seem like technical term for a condition quite a challenge; therefore, in which humans or animals the Berlin Wall Singer chose to focus on are exposed to a particularly exactly how to address this harmful or frustrating concern. German Dept. Faculty Reflect on Tumultuous circumstance. 'What would bring more "Rather than attempt to positivity to our lives?" Singer Moment in History make an effort, they choose asked, peering out among to endure the pain;' resulting DANIEL HARTSOE faculty members, Professors Soviet Union would not try the audience of students. "I often from a perceived absence STAFF WRITER McFarland and Patton, were in to prop up the East German decided to make a'ltst of things of control, Singer explained. Germany during this tumultu- regime. While East Germany that, over the course of a week, The 9th of November twenty But after studying the ous period. At the beginning was opening to the West, no I try to factor in to make sure years ago saw the fall of a detrimental effects associated of 1989, the socialist countries one knew how quickly events that I stay 'a most happy fella," barrier that divided the city of with conditioning and learned of Central and Eastern Europe would unfold. a running joke in Singer's Berlin for twenty-eight years. helplessness, Seligman were already in the process "No one saw the Berlin Wall family. From when it was erected to considered the idea of taking of opening to the West That coming into the equation;' sald Singer then started listing when it was torn down, the on an alternative view of spring, the Hungarian govern- Professor P.James McFarland the top seven qualities he Berlin Wall was a symbol of the studies, and Instead, ment decided to grant exit of the German Studies Depart- tries to incorporate into his the schism not just between , visas to its citizens to leave the researching some of the ment, who was studying in the busy life, even after a days like ' communist East Berlin and optimistic ways in which country, creating a hole in the West German city of Kiel at this past Wednesday when capitalist West Berlin, but also animals or animals can I physical barrier between East the time. The leaders of East between the communist bloc Germany did not know what respond to difficult situations. he gave a three hour lecture, ,1", and West Europe. In the sum- taught a ninety minute class, and the free market west In one of Seligman's lectures, mer, groups of East Germans to do - the Soviet Union was met with students for course The wall was more than a began traveling to Budapest to giving them no guidance as to audience member John dangerous symbol. The death registration and then gave a I apply for exit visas to Austria, how they should respond to Templeton, intrigued by the tOil of those who were killed I', the mass emigration to West idea of taking on a positive talk on the benefits of positive from which they would be able psychology. attempting to cross from East to reach West Germany. After Germany through Hungary. outlook versus simply focusing to West between 1961 and "Number one is I i on the negatives, asked weeks of deliberation, the Hun- But on November 9,1989, Relationships;' Singer spoke. 1989 is estimated at 100 to the East German government whether much work had been I garian government decided over 1,200 people; shot by made its decision. done on this new concept ''Atmy age, my priorities are 'Ii to grant them visas, provid- my Wife,my parents, my family border guards, stabbed by the 'The policy on visas before After Seligman dejectedly ing an avenue of escape from - even my two cats! Those are fence's barbed wire, or dead was that, if you wanted a vlsa responded that he had only East Germany into its prevt- the kinds of relationships in from jumping from the top to travel to another country, just begun his research, ously unreachable sister state. which I don't feel good unless lIoors ofDDR high-rise apart- Over two hundred thousand you had to give the authori- Templeton generously offered I've invested some time into ments with the hope oflanding East Germans emigrated via ties a reason to grant you one," grant money towards the them throughout the week on the other side. Hungary over the summer of said McFarland "The govern- project "much like a blank But what about for you college Thus, November 9 was mon- 1989. Instead of interfering in ment reversed that - they had check donor;' Singer explained. kids?" umental- and, by some re- Hungary's travel liberalization, to have a reason now to deny "Since then, many To this one student raised ports, highly unexpected. "My you a visa" At the daily press anonymous donors have as it would have done in earlier her hand and commented, "I father never believed it would decades, the government of the conference on the evening of all contributed to the like to set aside time to have happen;' said Tapio Sigmund, Soviet Union chose to let the the 9th, the East German gov- many clusters of positive dinner with friends. No matter an exchange student at the col- situation take its course. The ernment's spokesman Gunter psychology programs that are how busy I am, I make sure I lege from Freiburg, Germany. Soviet Premier, Mikhail Gor- Schabowski announced the now operating around the make that one hour or so with While the fall of the Berlin Wall bachev, was himself committed change to the media But the world;' making its way into friends meaningful." and the subsequent collapse to opening the bloc of commu- written announcement he was Introduction to Psychology Singer then raised the of the divisions between those nist countries to the rest of the reading mistakenly stated that textbook paragraphs along the idea of mindfulness, a two worlds may appear to world and improving relations the policy change would take way. concept whereby one stays have been inevitable from the with the Western world. In- effect immediately Instead of "These days, we tend to in the present, capturing the perspective of today, the end 'of deed, in a trip to East Germany the following morning, which like to focus on the wrongs moment. the East German government three months before the Berlin is what had been decided in psychology - aggression, "Now, I'm not too ancient was in fact a surprising and Wall fell, Gorbachev warned, depression passivity - things somewhat bizarre event "life punishes those who come SEE BERLIN WALL, PAGE 2 like that;' Singer mentioned. SEE POSITIVE, PAGE 4 Two Connecticut College too late;' signaling that the NEWS ARTS SPORTS OPINIONS .EDITORIALS "Come on Let s Go" FUSIONI Winter Sports Where have all the kegs How s your Intemet speed? gone? Learn about one of the Formerly Diwali and A first look at Conn's winter SGA parliamentarian reflects Bandwidth update and latest clubs on campus, Yalla IntoxicASIAN, read a review sports of hockey and on freshman year and reflection on what Conn Bina, ("Come On Let s Go") of CCASA's first truly basketball. comments on changes to students can accomplish by and how their enthusiasm is pan-Asian show.