What Is Positive Psychology - 765 Words

What is Positive Psychology? At a casual glance, positive psychology looks like the study of happiness. It is more than that. Positive psychology attempts to explain what happiness is. It is a school of psychology that aims to help achieve a positive life, not just focusing on mental illness. It is concerned with the self and group positive emotion, action and interaction. A main focus is to help people with their strengths. If they can focus on their strengths and not just their weaknesses they can become better-rounded. Many schools of psychology only focus on mental illness and disordered behavior to the unfortunate exclusion of optimism. Positive psychology seeks to repair some of the negative connotation that psychology has received over the years. The Positive Psychology Movement I would consider positive psychology a movement†¦it is clear that it ‘borrows’ from humanistic psychology, behaviorism, religion and philosophy. You can also see the roots of positive psychology in Alfred Adler’s individual psychology as well. It has beginnings in Carl Rogers’ fully functioning person theory. You can clearly see the influence of self-actualization. Jung’s views on the importance of spirituality are evident as well. Spirituality can increase subjective well-being. Some previous schools of psychology attempted to only be ‘scientific’ and have no attachment to spirituality. Positive psychology clearly borrows from Greek philosophy and Christianity. It definitelyShow MoreRelatedWhat ´s Positive Psychology?1099 Words   |  5 PagesAs discussed in Paper #1, positive emotions and thinking, character strengths, and values are integral to positive psychology. Positive psychology asserts t hat by addressing each of these core concepts, people can live a happier, and by extension healthier, life. However, the productivity and well-being which can result from the applications of positive psychology are viable far beyond the personal level; when utilized at the institutional level, the same efficacy can be seen in much broader contextsRead MoreWhat Is Meant By The Term Positive Psychology?1324 Words   |  6 PagesSome would ask, what is meant by the term Positive Psychology? One idea to explain this term is it is the focus or study of people who use their strengths and good virtues to focus their lives on, and not become bogged down by the negative all around them each day. I was talking with a friend the other day and they were asking me what classes I was taking this term, and when I told her she had this puzzled look on her face. She asked me, â€Å"why would you take a class about that, you are a happy personRead MorePsychology : Positive And Negative Psychology1 645 Words   |  7 PagesPositive psychology, is a new field of psychology that draw heavily on humanist influences. This area of psychology places its focus on understanding how to enhance our lives by studying what produces our happiness through the use of scientific methods to understand how this affects us leading healthy, happy and successful lives. Through the belief that society would like to lead meaningful and rewarding lives the goal of positive psychology is to, in addition the other fields of psychology, accompanyRead MoreSimilarities Between Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology1278 Words   |  5 PagesPositive Psychology and Coaching Psychology: Positive psychology and coaching psychology have certain similarities with regards to their development as responses to the status quo of the field. The status quo was deficit-based, pathology-focused, and based on essential assumptions regarding human nature. These fundamental assumptions were largely less than positive, especially when examined from a rational perspective. As responses to the status quo, positive psychology and coaching psychology areRead MoreHistory Of Positive Psychology : Martin Seligman s Speech997 Words   |  4 PagesHistory of Positive Psychology In 1998, Martin Seligman during his presidential speech to the American Psychological Association, â€Å"urged psychology to turn toward understanding and building the human strengths to complement our emphasis on healing damage† (Lambert, 2007, p.3), that speech was what started today’s positive psychology movement (Lambert,2007). â€Å" Positive psychology aims to understand the positive side of human functioning, expanding research on positive behaviors, cognitions, emotionsRead MoreThe Downfall Of Positive Psychology1654 Words   |  7 Pages The Downfall of Positive Psychology In Schrank’s â€Å"Positive psychology: An Approach to Supporting Recovery in Mental Illness† he discusses the definition, history, research, and psychotherapy that is involved with positive psychology. There are multiple definitions that psychologists have developed for positive psychology that stem from six core domains which are â€Å"(i) virtues and character strengths, (ii) happiness, (iii) growth, fulfilment of capacities, development of highest self, (iv) good lifeRead MorePositive Psychology: A Brief History, Critics, Methodology, and Application1427 Words   |  6 PagesRunning Head: APPLICATIONS OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 3 Positive Psychology: A Brief History, Methodology, and Application 1. Introduction 1.1. A Brief History The genealogy of positive psychology established its roots in the development of humanistic psychology in the mid-20th century. The more traditional approaches of modern psychology as developed by Freud and B. F. Skinner, respectively, are psychoanalysis, and behaviorism. One theory may suggest thatRead More88899891530 Words   |  7 PagesAspects of psychology Emotional Intelligence February 07, 2013 Emotional Intelligence By: Jasmine N. Gresham (SSCI206-1205D-01) DiMatteo * Do you think that positive psychology is in more demand now that stress and economic hardship is more prominent in our country? * Are people under more stress now than in the past? * A description of the field of positive psychology Read MoreCarol Rogers Influence in Psychology1264 Words   |  6 PagesInfluence on Modern Psychology Introduction Carl Rogers is considered the founder of client-centered therapy, which asserts that childhood experiences affect an individual’s feelings, thoughts, and behavior (Rathus, 2004). The therapist must see the world from that of the client to be effective in treatment. Rogers has influenced many psychological theories and therapies present today, especially positive psychology. Despite this fact, many who practice positive psychology do not, or are notRead MoreThe New Psychology Field Of Positive Psychology928 Words   |  4 PagesThe new Psychology field of Positive Psychology promotes a â€Å"flourishing† life dedicated to individuals looking to expand the pleasant, engagement and meaning in their life. Many Positive Psychologist use Gratitude Practice as a method of therapy to aid individuals with a wealth of positive constructs. Before looking into Gratitude Practice it is important to begin the research by taking a look at what Positive psychology is. Positive Ps ychology is a newer field in Psychology focused on the study