No? Do not worry. Let’s get into it.
Positive psychology is a term that is used a lot (especially by me!), but for many, I think it is a little unclear what exactly it is. So I wanted to take the opportunity to give you a brief overview of what it is (and isn’t).
A widely accepted definition is, as follows:
“Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living” (Peterson, 2008)
In layman’s terms, it is the study of positive experiences such as happiness, joy and optimism, of the characteristics that makes someone a “good person” such as compassion, courage and creativity, and, of positive environments such as the workplace and community.
Positive psychology: a brief history
Since 1948 the World Health Organisation has defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 1948). In other words, the absence of mental illness does not equal mental health.
Martin Seligman, the psychologist and researcher who founded positive psychology in 1999 had grown tired of the negative focus of traditional psychology. He felt not enough time was spent looking at joy, happiness and strengths. He believed psychology is not just about fixing that which is damaged or wrong but also about building upon what is right. Positive psychology is so important for this reason as psychology has previously been based on a deficit (pathology focused) model, however, this ignores a vast majority of the population. What Seligman created challenges this idea. It is a move away from the disease model and a towards a model that looks at why people succeed, thrive and live full lives. It is easy to imagine it on a scale; if the disease model aimed to move severely depressed people from a -8 to 0, positive psychology focuses on moving people from a 2 to a +8 which is considered flourishing.
It is important to note positive psychology is not trying to take the place of traditional psychology but complement it.
What does positive psychology focus on?
Seligman (2011) created a simple and straightforward way of looking at positive psychology, The PERMA Model.
The PERMA Model covers what he describes as the 5 pillars of positive psychology and outlines what Seligman believes is necessary for optimal happiness. It offers a solid framework for both understandings and looking at ways to improve well-being within the population.
The PERMA Model:
P – Positive emotions
E – Engagement
R – (Positive) Relationships
M – Meaning
A – Accomplishments
What positive psychology is not
One of the main misconceptions of positive psychology is that it just a happy-go-lucky, self-help fad. However, the focus is not purely on positive thinking and positive emotions or even wishful thinking. It is an evidence-based look at how individuals and communities can flourish. Yes, it is positive, uplifting and inspiring but it also looks at how we can best move through some of the most difficult things we go through in life. For without one you do not have the other. All humans go through difficulties in their lives and engaging with these difficulties, learning about resilience and facing our emotions is what leads us to transformation and growth.
References
Peterson, C. (2008). What is positive psychology, and what is it not? Positive Psychology Today.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. New York City, NY, US; Atria Books.
Photo by Jerry Wang on Unsplash