HISTORY

&
O R I G I N AT I O N
REFERENCES

• Positive psychology: The Scientific and Practical Explorations of Human Strength. Snyder and
Lopez, Page 23 to 49
MANDATORY READING
• VIA Character Strengths & Virtues handout (soft copy)
THE FOUNDING
FATHERS
ABRAHAM MASLOW

 The term “positive psychology”

was first coined by Maslow, in his
1954 book “Motivation and
Personality.”

 He emphasized how psychology

successfully shows our negative
side by revealing much about our
illnesses and shortcomings, but
not enough on our virtues or
aspirations (Maslow, 1954, p.
354).
 MARTIN
SELIGMAN
 He is famous for his experiments
and theory of learned
helplessness.
 Often referred to as the founder of
positive psychology.
 Elected as president of APA in
1996, chose central theme of
address to be on positive
psychology.
 Today he is the director of the
Positive Psychology Center at the
University of Pennsylvania.
CHRISTOPHER
PETERSON
 Seligman and Peterson joined hands
to produce the “positive DSM”
titled as, VIA Character Strengths
and Virtues.
 Referred to as one of the founders
of Positive Psychology.
 Died in 2012

 Was the professor of Psychology at

the University of Michigan and the
former chair of the Clinical
Psychology department.
 M I H A LY
C Z I K S Z E N T M I H A LY I

 Born in Hungary, 1934

 Deeply affected by World War II

 Italian prison; first thought of

optimal experience
 Coined the term “flow.”

 He is the Distinguished Professor

of Psychology and Management at
Claremont Graduate University.
 TAL BEN
SHAHAR
 Born in 1970

 Received his PhD in Organizational

Behavior from Harvard University
 As a lecturer at Harvard University,
Ben-Shahar created the most popular
course in Harvard's history: Positive
Psychology 1504.
 Over 1400 students enrolled.

 Till date he has written several books

on leadership, positive psychology
and happiness. (Not a founding
father).
EVOLUTIONARY
PERSPECTIVES
WEST & EAST
EASTERN & WESTERN PERSPECTIVES

• Within both cultures, the concept of the “good life” has existed for centuries.
• The Western cultures involve an individual’s hopeful pursuits for a better life on earth,
• Whereas, Eastern perspectives are more grounded in the beliefs that an optimal life is based on
a spiritual journey involving others.
 WESTERN
PERSPECTIVE
 HOPE IN A WORLD FULL OF EVIL
Hope—the agentic, goal-focused thinking that gets you from here to there—has been so interwoven
into the fabric of our civilization’s eras and events that it can be hard to detect.
• Societies differ in their view of the possibility of changes/solutions.
• Example:- Greek mythology of “hope,”
• Classic Greek Myth – Pandora’s box.
• Several contexts
ATHENIAN VIEWS
• Discussion of virtue and human strength by both Plato and Aristotle,
• Aristotle expanded on Plato’s ideas regarding virtue and listed 11 moral virtues:

Moderatio Generosit
Courage n y

Munificen Magnifice Even

ce nce Temper

Friendline Truthfulne
JUDEO-CHRISTIANITY
• Religious teachings of Judaism and Christianity are full of teachings regarding virtue
• In the old testament following virtues are highlighted and encouraged,

Faith Hope
Charity
• Later discussed as part of the “Seven Heavenly Virtues” by Thomas Aquinas (Williams &
Houck, 1982)

• These four are

often called the
Fortitude Justice
“Cardinal
Virtues”
 EASTERN
PERSPECTIVES
MOMOTARO – THE PEACH BOY
• he sets out for the good of the group even though doing so incurs individual harm
(collectivism),
• along the way he stops others from petty squabbling (promoting harmony),
• he works with them to achieve his goal (interdependence and collaboration),
• he brings back the treasure to share with the group (interdependence and sharing)
• Together, we achieve the seemingly impossible.
• Brute strength vs tricks and intellect.
• Spontaneous – making do with what he had.
• Also known as the "Sage"
• Leadership and education are central to morality.

CONFUCIANISM Duty to treat

others well (yi)
Humanity (jen, the
one most exalted and
is said to encompass
the other 4 virtues)
Etiquette and
sensitivity for
others' feelings (li)

• A philosophical and religious system developed

from the teachings of Confucius. Confucianism
Wisdom Truthfulne
(zhi) ss (xin)
values love for humanity, duty, etiquette, and
truthfulness. Devotion to family, including
ancestors, is also emphasized.

• Confucius:
• Also known as the "Sage“

• Leadership and education are central to

morality
• Confucian's Five Virtues:
TAOISM
Taoism
• A philosophical and religious system developed by Lao-Tzu that advocates a
simple, honest life and noninterference in the course of natural events.
Virtues
Tempera
Humanit
Justice
nce
y
Propriet
y

• Tao is the energy that surrounds everyone and is a power that "envelops,
surrounds, and flows through all things."
• It cannot be taught to another.
• Both good and bad experiences can contribute to the greater understanding of
the Way.
• Achieving naturalness and spontaneity in life is the most important goal.
• Must be practiced by the virtuous individual
without effort.
"The Way"• Tao is the energy that surrounds everyone and is a power that
"envelops, surrounds, and flows through all things."
 BUDDHISM • A philosophical and religious system based on the
teachings of Buddha: Life is dominated by suffering
caused by desire; and enlightenment obtained
through right conduct, wisdom, and meditation
releases one from desire, suffering, and rebirth.

• Buddha: "The Master" or "The Enlightened One“

Love(Mai Compassio
tri) n(Karuna) • Nirvana: A state in which self is freed from desire.
This is the final destination in Buddhist philosophy.

Joy(Mudit Equanimit
• Buddhism's Brahma Viharas: (Also known as the
a) y(Upeksa) "Universal Virtues“ by Peterson and Seligman,
2004)
HINDUISM
• A diverse body of religion, philosophy, and cultural practice native to and predominate in
India. Hinduism is characterized by a belief in the interconnectedness of all things and
emphasizes personal improvement with the goal of transcending the cycle of reincarnation.

• Hinduism's Upanishads State:

• A man turns into something good by good action and something bad by bad actions.

• "Karma" also known as "Good Action" is encouraged in the sense that, if one does not reach
ultimate self-knowledge in one's life and thus does have to return to Earth via reincarnation
after death, the previous life's good actions correlate directly with better placement in the
world in this life.
 ISLAM – WEST & EAST BOTH
• Scholars disagree as to whether islam should be considered as a western or eastern
religion

• Islam incorporates many virtues recognizable in other philosophical traditions and

categorizes them as moral obligations.

• Among others, the following are valued (Farah,1968):

• Gratitude – (to Allah for His Benevolence)
• Love (of Allah because of His Forgiveness)
• Kindness (specially towards parents
• Justice (emphasizing fraternity and equality of all)
• Courage (acts of bravery)
• Brotherhood
• Sharing, charity and rights of the poor/needy/destitute
• Value systems EAST
• Orientation to time
• Thought processes
MEETS
WEST
VALUE SYSTEMS
• Individualistic culture VS collectivistic culture

• Individualism: A cultural value that emphasizes individual achievement, competition, personal

freedom, and autonomy.

• Collectivism: A cultural value that prizes the concepts of sharing, cooperation,

interdependence, and duty to the group.

• Examples:-
• Western;
• Eastern;
 ORIENTATION TO TIME Eastern

Incidentally,
strengths
commonly valued
in west are future
oriented; hope,
optimism, self-
efficacy.

Future Past

Strength of “looking backward,”

Recognising the wisdom of elders,
Western Chinese fable; old horse knows the way,
Proverb; to know the road ahead, ask those coming back
 THOUGHT PROCESSES
• Constantly changing, circular view of the world – Yin and Yang
• Dark – light, each exists because of the other and neither could exist
alone (Taoist belief)
• Priorities, desires, goals, life decisions
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• Westerners (US); life of liberty, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness
• West; “or”
• East; “and”
EAST OR WEST; IS ONE BEST?

Discuss