Positive Psychology:
It is that field of psychology that involves the study of happiness. Here we study human strengths and weaknesses. It involves the scientific study of what makes living life meaningful in Nature. Treatment is not just fixing what is broken but it is nurturing what is best within us.
History of Positive Psychology:
1. Psychologists like Albert Bandura, and Abraham Maslow. Erich Fromm was working on human happiness and positivity and developed theories on it.
2. The term positive psychology was then coined by psychologist Martin Seligman in the year 1998.
3. The world’s first positive psychology summit was held in the year 1999.
4. The first international conference on positive psychology was held in the year 2002.
5. Positive psychology became a topic of attention among the general public in the year 2006.
6. The first world conference on positive psychology was held in the year 2009 by the University of Pennsylvania.
Levels of Positive Psychology
1. Subjective Experience- This consists of those feelings that are associated with our daily experience. For example – Feelings of happiness, and well-being.
2. Individual Level- This level combines the subjective level of well-being along with the characteristics that make us well-rounded people. For example – love, kindliness, faithful, etc.
3. Group Level- This level focuses on the positive interaction with the environment and our characteristics of us that helps in building strong social relations. For example- social responsibility.
PERMA
P-Positive Emotions – Feeling good and positive helps in perseverance even when we are facing any obstacles. This includes optimism, happiness, and life satisfaction.
E-Engagement – This includes doing something that we love so that we fall into our sweet spot.
R-Relationship- Authentic, meaningful, life-enhancing, and real social connections of people with us and our connection with them is very important for positive well-being.
M-Meaning- A clear sense of purpose in life and an idea of what is important in your life is important.
A -Achievement- This involves motivation and a sense of accomplishment and inspired actions.
V-Vitality- This involves keeping oneself physically active by eating and drinking healthy items, sleeping properly, and doing some kind of physical exercise.
Goal
The goal of positive psychology is to make people work at their optimal level, this can be in various spheres including biological, experiential, individual, relational, institutional, cultural, and global.
To fulfill this study the below-listed factors are necessary:-
a) A dynamic relationship exists between the various spheres listed above.
b) The ability of humans to create order and meaning in response to inevitable availability.
c) The ways through which the good life can be achieved through this process.
There are various areas where positive psychology holds a lot of importance, this includes school, college, the research field, sports, business, politics, and analysis work.
Findings of Positive Psychology
1. Most people are generally happy.
2. People don’t feel happy because of money but they feel happy by spending it on someone.
3. Strong social relationships and character strength are important for getting over disappointments and setbacks.
4. Work that gives satisfaction in doing and is engaging in nature and provides satisfaction in doing helps in maintaining and regulating positive well-being.
5. The conservatives in the political sphere are happier than the liberal mindset people in the political sphere.
6. The practice of good life can be taught.
7. Religious people are able to deal with stressful events more effectively than atheist people.
Limitations of Positive Psychology
1. Lack of research evidence to support its claims it has denied and rejected earlier research works that were done in the related field.
2. It takes positive applications to the extreme.
3. The approach focuses on personal responsibility which can become a triggering point for someone having a mental disorder as they may feel it’s because of themselves that they are suffering.
4. The approach was less useful or better to say ineffective in the treatment of disorders like schizophrenia.
5. This approach is basically more western in nature and reflects the individualistic culture of American society.
Advantages
1. It helps a person in bringing attention and expectation toward a positive environment.
2. It helps in achieving a balanced perspective.
3. It has helped in the development of various concepts which are helpful for people suffering from anxiety and depression.
4. It helps in strengthening one’s positive character and strengths.
5. It can be useful in people suffering from depression.
Conclusion
Positive psychology is a new field in the area of psychology and even though it has various implications in today’s World still it suffers from some disadvantages due to the lack of much research in this field. However, this field has gained much popularity from the time it was first introduced as more and more people are getting concerned about how to reach their full potential and make their life competent and meaningful.
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