User:Rdewitt92/Positive psychology

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Raven, these are some great observations! I appreciate your initiative with this draft. I would suggest that for the purposes of peer review, you create a synopsis of what changes you are making at the top (above the article) and/or underline, italicize, or do something to call out changes you are making in text so that your reviewers may have an easier time evaluating your changes. (Liz)


Notes to those who are to peer review this draft:

Much of what I've focused on so far in my edit of this article has been correcting the multiple inappropriate citations that are used. There were several citations to websites that were blogs, pop psychology websites, or websites that are designed to sell a product. In order to make it easier for you to see the changes I've made I'll italicize the portions that I've changed.

Positive Psychology[edit]

Positive psychology is the scientific study of the "good life", or the positive aspects of the human experience that make life worth living. The discipline of positive psychology stresses both individual and societal well-being. [1]

(Positive psychology is "the scientific study of what makes life most worth living", or "the scientific study of positive human functioning and flourishing on multiple levels that include the biological, personal, relational, institutional, cultural, and global dimensions of life" This is the original introductory sentence, I changed it to reduce redundancy in the article. I also removed one of the sentences because the citation was not from an appropriate source.)

Positive psychology began as a new branch of psychology in 1998 when Martin Seligman chose it as the theme for his term as president of the American Psychological Association. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Christopher Peterson and Barbara Fredrickson are regarded as co-initiators of this development. The development of this branch of psychology is a reaction against psychoanalysis and behaviorism, which have focused on mental illness, maladaptive behavior and negative thinking. It builds further on the humanistic movement, which encouraged an emphasis on happiness, well-being, and positivity, thus creating the foundation for what is now known as positive psychology.[1]

(I removed this sentence because the citation was to an inappropriate source. There is a history section further into the article in which these things can be discussed)

Positive psychology is concerned with eudaimonia, "The good life", reflection about what holds the greatest value in life – the factors that contribute the most to a well-lived and fulfilling life.

Positive psychologists have suggested a number of ways in which individual happiness may be fostered. Social ties with a spouse, family, friends and wider networks through work, clubs or social organisations are of particular importance, while physical exercise and the practice of meditation may also contribute to happiness. Happiness may rise with increasing financial income, though it may plateau or even fall when no further gains are made.[2]

Definition and basic assumptions[edit]

Definition[edit]

Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi define positive psychology as "... the scientific study of positive human functioning and flourishing on multiple levels that include the biological, personal, relational, institutional, cultural, and global dimensions of life."[3] Christopher Peterson defines positive psychology as "... the scientific study of what makes life most worth living".

(Removed: reference inappropriate)

Basic concepts[edit]

Positive psychology is concerned with eudaimonia, "the good life" or flourishing, living according to what holds the greatest value in life – the factors that contribute the most to a well-lived and fulfilling life. While not attempting a strict definition of the good life, positive psychologists agree that one must live a happy, engaged, and meaningful life in order to experience "the good life". Martin Seligman referred to "the good life" as "using your signature strengths every day to produce authentic happiness and abundant gratification".[4]

Positive psychology complements, without intending to replace or ignore, the traditional areas of psychology. By emphasizing the study of positive human development this field helps to balance other approaches that focus on disorder, and which may produce only limited understanding.[5] Positive psychology has also placed a significant emphasis on fostering positive self-esteem and self-image, though positive psychologists with a less humanist bent are less likely to focus as intently on the matter. [6]

The basic premise of positive psychology is that human beings are often drawn by the future more than they are driven by the past. A change in our orientation to time can dramatically affect how we think about the nature of happiness. Seligman identified other possible goals: families and schools that allow children to grow, workplaces that aim for satisfaction and high productivity, and teaching others about positive psychology.[7]

Those who practice positive psychology attempt psychological interventions that foster positive attitudes toward one's subjective experiences, individual traits, and life events.[8] The goal is to minimize pathological thoughts that may arise in a hopeless mindset, and to, instead, develop a sense of optimism toward life.[8] Positive psychologists seek to encourage acceptance of one's past, excitement and optimism about one's future experiences, and a sense of contentment and well-being in the present.[9]

Related concepts are happiness, well-being, quality of life, contentment,[10] and meaningful life.

Research topics[edit]

According to Seligman and Peterson, positive psychology is concerned with three issues: positive emotions, positive individual traits, and positive institutions. Positive emotions are concerned with being content with one's past, being happy in the present and having hope for the future. Positive individual traits focus on one's strengths and virtues. Finally, positive institutions are based on strengths to better a community of people.[7]

According to Peterson, positive psychologists are concerned with four topics: (1) positive experiences, (2) enduring psychological traits, (3) positive relationships, and (4) positive institutions.[5] According to Peterson, topics of interest to researchers in the field are: states of pleasure or flow, values, strengths, virtues, talents, as well as the ways that these can be promoted by social systems and institutions.[11]


History[edit]

To Martin Seligman, psychology (particularly its positive branch) can investigate and promote realistic ways of fostering more well-being in individuals and communities.

Origin[edit]

The term positive psychology dates back at least to 1954, when Maslow's first edition of Motivation and personality  was published with a final chapter titled "Toward a Positive Psychology."[12] In the second edition (1970), he removed that chapter, saying in the preface that "a  positive psychology is at least available today though not very widely."[12] There have been indications that psychologists since the 1950s have been increasingly focused on the promotion of mental health rather than merely treating mental illness.[13][14]. From the beginning of psychology, the field has addressed the human experience using the "Disease Model," specifically studying and identifying the dysfunction of an individual.

Positive psychology began as a new area of psychology in 1998 when Martin Seligman chose it as the theme for his term as president of the American Psychological Association.[1][15] In the first sentence of his book Authentic Happiness, Seligman claimed: "for the last half century psychology has been consumed with a single topic only – mental illness",[16] expanding on Maslow's comments.[a] He urged psychologists to continue the earlier missions of psychology of nurturing talent and improving normal life.[18]

Development[edit]

The first positive psychology summit took place in 1999. The First International Conference on Positive Psychology took place in 2002.[18] More attention was given by the general public in 2006 when, using the same framework, a course at Harvard University became particularly popular.[19] In June 2009, the First World Congress on Positive Psychology took place at the University of Pennsylvania.[20]

The International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) is a recently established association that has expanded to thousands of members from 80 different countries. The IPPA's missions include: (1) "further the science of positive psychology across the globe and to ensure that the field continues to rest on this science" (2) "work for the effective and responsible application of positive psychology in diverse areas such as organizational psychology, counselling and clinical psychology, business, health, education, and coaching", (3) "foster education and training in the field".[21]

The field of positive psychology today is most advanced in the United States and Western Europe. Even though positive psychology offers a new approach to the study of positive emotions and behavior, the ideas, theories, research, and motivation to study the positive side of human behavior is as old as humanity.[22]

Influences[edit]

Several humanistic psychologists, most notably Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Erich Fromm, developed theories and practices pertaining to human happiness and flourishing. More recently, positive psychologists have found empirical support for the humanistic theories of flourishing. In addition, positive psychology has moved ahead in a variety of new directions.

In 1984, Diener published his tripartite model of subjective well-being, positing "three distinct but often related components of wellbeing: frequent positive affect, infrequent negative affect, and cognitive evaluations such as life satisfaction".[23] In this model, cognitive, affective and contextual factors contribute to subjective well-being.[24] According to Diener and Suh, subjective well-being is "...based on the idea that how each person thinks and feels about his or her life is important".[25]

Carol Ryff's Six-factor Model of Psychological Well-being was initially published in 1989, and additional testing of its factors was published in 1995. It postulates six factors which are key for well-being, namely self-acceptance, personal growth, purpose in life, environmental mastery, autonomy, and positive relations with others.[26]

According to Corey Keyes, who collaborated with Carol Ryff and uses the term flourishing as a central concept, mental well-being has three components, namely hedonic (c.q. subjective or emotional[27]), psychological, and social well-being.[28] Hedonic well-being concerns emotional aspects of well-being, whereas psychological and social well-being, c.q eudaimonic well-being, concerns skills, abilities, and optimal functioning.[12] This tripartite model of mental well-being has received extensive empirical support across cultures.[12][27][29][30]

Influences in Ancient History[edit]

While the formal title "positive psychology" has only been around for the past two decades [1] the concepts that form the basis of this field have been present in religious and philosophical discourse for thousands of years. The field of psychology predating the use of the term positive psychology has seen researchers who focused primarily on topics that would now be included under the umbrella of positive psychology. [31] Some view positive psychology as a meeting of Eastern thought, such as Buddhism, and Western psychodynamic approaches.[32] Other examples of the rich historical roots of positive psychology are present in the teachings of Aristotle, who emphasized the importance of happiness and well-being, which he referred to as eudaimonia.


Historical perspectives[edit]

While the formal title "positive psychology" has only been around for the past two decades [1] the concepts that form the basis of this field have been present in religious and philosophical discourse for thousands of years. The field of psychology predating the use of the term positive psychology has seen researchers who focused primarily on topics that would now be included under the umbrella of positive psychology. [31] Some view positive psychology as a meeting of Eastern thought, such as Buddhism, and Western psychodynamic approaches.[32] Other examples of the rich historical roots of positive psychology are present in the teachings of Aristotle, who emphasized the importance of happiness and well-being, which he referred to as eudaimonia.


  1. ^ a b c d e Seligman, Martin E. P.; Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (2000). "Positive psychology: An introduction". American Psychologist. 55 (1): 5–14. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.5. ISSN 1935-990X.
  2. ^ Seligman, Martin E. P.; Steen, Tracy A.; Park, Nansook; Peterson, Christopher (2005). "Positive Psychology Progress: Empirical Validation of Interventions". American Psychologist. 60 (5): 410–421. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.465.7003. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.60.5.410. PMID 16045394.
  3. ^ Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi 2000.
  4. ^ Seligman 2002, p. 13.
  5. ^ a b Peterson 2009.
  6. ^ Mruk, Christopher (April 2008). "The Psychology of Self-Esteem: A Potential Common Ground for Humanistic Positive Psychology and Positivistic Positive Psychology". The Humanistic Psychologist. 36 (2): 143–158. doi:10.1080/08873260802111176. ProQuest 212086932.
  7. ^ a b Seligman, Martin E.P. "Positive Psychology Center." Positive Psychology Center. University of Pennsylvania, 2007. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.
  8. ^ a b Seligman, M. E., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2014). Positive psychology: An introduction (pp. 279-298). Springer Netherlands.
  9. ^ Shesthra, Arjun (December 2016). "Positive psychology: Evolution, philosophical foundations, and present growth". Indian Journal of Positive Psychology. 7 (4): 460–465. ProQuest 1862867466.
  10. ^ Graham, Michael C. (2014). Facts of Life: ten issues of contentment. Outskirts Press. pp. 6–10. ISBN 978-1-4787-2259-5.
  11. ^ Peterson 2006.
  12. ^ a b c d Maslow, Abraham H. (1970). Motivation and Personality (2nd ed.). New York: Harper & Row.
  13. ^ Secker J (1998). "Current conceptualizations of mental health and mental health promotion" (PDF). Vol. 13, no. 1. Health Education Research. p. 58. Retrieved 2010-05-18. ... Amongst psychologists ... the importance of promoting health rather than simply preventing ill-health date back to the 1950s (Jahoda, 1958)
  14. ^ Dianne Hales (2010). "An Invitation to Health, Brief: Psychological Well-Being" (2010–2011 ed.). Wadsworth Cengage Learning. p. 26. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  15. ^ "Positive Psychology: The Benefits of Living Positively". World of Psychology. 2013-03-11. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  16. ^ Seligman 2002, p. xi.
  17. ^ Maslow, Motivation and Psychology, p. 354
  18. ^ a b Compton 2005, pp. 1–22.
  19. ^ Ben-Shahar, Ben (2007) "Happier -Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment", First Edition, McGraw-Hill Co.
  20. ^ Reuters, Jun 18, 2009: First World Congress on Positive Psychology Kicks Off Today With Talks by Two of the World's Most Renowned Psychologists
  21. ^ International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) (2011). international positive psychology association. Retrieved from "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-03-24. Retrieved 2013-03-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ^ Compton, William C., and Edward Hoffman. Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness and Flourishing. 2nd ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2013. Print.
  23. ^ Tov & Diener (2013), Subjective Well-Being. Research Collection School of Social Sciences. Paper 1395. http://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/1395
  24. ^ Costa Galinha, Iolanda; Pais-Ribeiro, José Luís (2011). "Cognitive, affective and contextual predictors of subjective wellbeing". International Journal of Wellbeing. 2 (1): 34–53. doi:10.5502/ijw.v2i1.3.
  25. ^ Diener, Suh, Ed, Eunkook (2000). Culture and Subjective Well-being. A Bradford Book. p. 4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Carol Ryff’s Model of Psychological Well-being. The Six Criteria of Well-Being
  27. ^ a b Robitschek, Christine; Keyes, Corey L. M. (2009). "Keyes's model of mental health with personal growth initiative as a parsimonious predictor". Journal of Counseling Psychology. 56 (2): 321–329. doi:10.1037/a0013954.
  28. ^ Keyes 2002.
  29. ^ Joshanloo, Mohsen; Lamers, Sanne M. A. (2016-07-01). "Reinvestigation of the factor structure of the MHC-SF in the Netherlands: Contributions of exploratory structural equation modeling". Personality and Individual Differences. 97: 8–12. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.02.089.
  30. ^ Gallagher, Matthew W.; Lopez, Shane J.; Preacher, Kristopher J. (2009-08-01). "The Hierarchical Structure of Well-Being". Journal of Personality. 77 (4): 1025–1050. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00573.x. ISSN 1467-6494. PMC 3865980. PMID 19558444.
  31. ^ a b Diener, Ed (2009-07-30), "Positive Psychology: Past, Present, and Future", The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, Oxford University Press, pp. 6–12, ISBN 9780195187243, retrieved 2019-09-23
  32. ^ a b "The Positive Psychology of Buddhism and Yoga, 2nd Edition". 2000-05-01. doi:10.4324/9781410605665. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)


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