How we change what others think, feel, believe and do |
Positive Psychology
Explanations > Theories > Positive Psychology Description | Research | Example | So What? | See also | References
DescriptionPositive psychology is the study of the positive approaches and experiences of life and how and why they happen.
Psychology grew up as a science that was related to medicine and was consequently largely about sickness and dysfunction. After writing about such as learned helplessness, Martin Seligman made the brilliant observation that the positive experience was an almost completely unexplored field. Positive psychology is about our strengths rather than our weaknesses. It is about:
Interestingly, positive emotions all feel pretty similar, yet negative emotions such as fear, anger, disgust and sadness each have quite unique feelings. This is possibly due to their evolutionary purpose of driving different behaviors, whilst positive feelings just mean 'Stay as you are and keep doing what you're doing'. ExampleA person gives a significant amount to a charity. Some people just seem happier and upbeat. So What?Using itUnderstand what makes people happy and offer them happiness as a reward for compliance in some way with your needs. DefendingWhen people are being nice to you, wonder why. Maybe they are just being prosocial. Maybe they want something from you. See alsoProsocial Behavior, Love, Happiness, Ways to happiness ReferencesSeligman and Csikszentmihalyi (2000), Seligman (2002)
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Site Menu |
| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings | |
Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories | |
Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help | |
More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes | |
Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate | |
| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links | |
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