POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Positive psychology has been described in many ways and with many words, but
the commonly accepted definition of the field is this:

“Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living”
(Peterson, 2008).
To push this brief description a bit further, positive psychology is a scientific
approach to studying human thoughts, feelings, and behavior, with a focus on
strengths instead of weaknesses, building the good in life instead of repairing
the bad, and taking the lives of average people up to “great” instead of
focusing solely on moving those who are struggling up to “normal” (Peterson,
2008).

What Positive Psychology Focuses on?

Positive psychology focuses on the positive events and influences in life,

including:

1. Positive experiences (like happiness, joy, inspiration, and love).

2. Positive states and traits (like gratitude, resilience, and compassion).
3. Positive institutions (applying positive principles within entire organizations
and institutions).

As a field, positive psychology spends much of its time thinking about topics like
character strengths, optimism, life satisfaction, happiness, wellbeing, gratitude,
compassion (as well as self-compassion), self-esteem and self-confidence, hope,
and elevation.

HISTORY –

Positive psychology is a new field of inquiry within modern psychology that

emerged two decades ago, with an exclusive emphasis on understanding the nature
of happiness and well-being and the conditions which promote them across
cultures and societies. The aim was to help people to lead a good life. Hence, we
can say that the field of positive psychology had an applied orientation from the
very inception. Martin E. P. Seligman, Professor of Psychology at the University of
Pennsylvania and a Clinical Psychologist launched this new field of inquiry in the
new millennium. As President of the American Psychological Association in 1998,
he chose Positive Psychology as the presidential theme for his tenure. He had a
strong feeling that psychology has too long focused on studying negative emotions
like anger, anxiety and depression and treated mental illness from a ‘disease
model.’ He recognized that the discipline has not paid much attention to study what
makes people to experience joy, satisfaction and contentment; to be healthy,
resilient and grow; and to lead a meaningful, successful and worthy life. Therefore,
he chose to usher in a new era of research in psychology discipline in the new
Millenium. Though Seligman presented his initial ideas on this new field in his
presidential address at APA in 1998, they got crystalized in two meetings, one in
January 1999 and another in January 2000 at Akumal, Mexico. The meetings were
attended by a select group of psychologists who shared his vision. They drafted the
first manifesto which has come to be known as “Akumal Manifesto”/ “Positive
Psychology Manifesto.” The vision and mission of this new field was formally
made public to the academic community in the special issue of American
Psychologist (January 2000) with the focal theme “Positive Psychology”
(Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000).

Positive psychology emerged within our discipline in the New Millenium to study
scientifically the nature of happiness, well-being and flourishing and what
conditions facilitate and ensure them. Martin Seligman ushered in this new field
inquiry along with likeminded psychologists. The aim is to help people improve
the quality of their life by providing scientifically valid information regarding what
constitutes well-being and how to achieve that. In the past two decades (year 2000
to 2021) as the field has developed and matured into its adulthood, more researches
have been undertaken on its three main focus viz., understanding of positive
emotions, positive traits and positive institutions. Several books have hit the stands
in book stores and hundreds of research articles in academic journals and popular
articles also in print, electronic and social media have been published. In addition,
the very understanding of what should define the field has also changed. Seligman
gave importance to certain elements which he termed as PERMA (positive
emotions, engagement, relationship, meaning and achievement) as the building
blocks of flourishing. Positive psychology is related to other disciplines of social
sciences and also with different branches within psychology itself. The research
outcomes of the last two decades demonstrate that human beings within and across
societies and cultures have different notions of what happiness and well-being
mean. It is also found that pursuit of money and acquisition of wealth affect our
happiness and sense of well-being only up to a point. In other words, the external
and objective sources do not play a greater role in our feeling of happiness and
wellbeing. Inputs from other branches of psychology support this view. In brief, it
is now realized by many that sustainable happiness and well-being is intrinsic
rather than dependent on extrinsic factors.
 Ten Key Findings from the Science of Positive Psychology

1. Most people are happy.

2. Happiness is a cause of good things in life and not simply a result of success or
good outcomes. Happy people make good things happen.
3. Political conservatives are happier than political liberals.
4. Most people are resilient. They bounce back from adversity, both large and small.
5. Happiness, strengths of character, and good social relationships are buffers against
the damaging effects of disappointments and setbacks.
6. Religious faith matters. People for whom religion is important are happier and cope
better with stress compared to non-believers.
7. Money makes an ever-diminishing contribution to wellbeing, but money can buy
happiness if it is spent on other people.
8. As a route to a satisfying life, eudaimonia (i.e., a life of meaning) trumps hedonism
(i.e., a life of pleasure).
9. Good days have common features: feeling autonomous, competent, and connected
to others.
10. The good life can be taught.

CHARACTER STRENGTHS AND VIRTUES

The VIA Classification of Virtues and Strengths

Peterson and Seligman state that there is a language in psychology to talk about the
negative aspects and what is wrong with people but an equal terminology to
describe human strengths is lacking. The VIA classification provides such a
language and provides a strength-based approach to diagnosis and treatment.
The VIA classification began with the question of defining the concepts of strength
and highest potential. It also aimed to assess the efficacy of a positive youth
development program.
Peterson, Seligman and other colleagues concluded that character included virtues,
character strengths and situational themes.
Distinguishing Virtues, Character Strengths, and Situational Themes
Virtues are the core characteristics which are valued such as wisdom, courage,
humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.
These six categories of virtue are considered to be universal. If a person possesses
these virtues at above-threshold values he is considered to be of good character.
Character strengths are the psychological processes that display the virtues.
Situational themes are habits by virtue of which people manifest certain character
strengths in given situations. Themes differ from character strengths in since they
are located in specific situations.
Themes in themselves are neither good nor bad; they can be used to achieve
strengths but can also be used for wrong purposes.
The VIA Classification of Virtues and Strengths
1.Wisdom and Knowledge – Cognitive strengths related to the acquisition and use
of knowledge
 Creativity  Curiosity  Judgment  Love of Learning  Perspective
2. Courage – Emotional strengths involving the will to achieve goals in the face of
difficulties
 Bravery  Perseverance  Honesty  Zest
3.Humanity - Interpersonal strengths
 Love  Kindness  Social Intelligence
4.Justice
 Teamwork  Fairness  Leadership
5.Temperance – Strengths that protect against excess
 Forgiveness  Humility  Prudence  Self-Regulation
6. Transcendence - Strengths that make connections to the larger universe and
provide meaning
 Gratitude  Hope  Humor  Spirituality  Appreciation of beauty and excellence