Positive Psychology

In my exploration on the internet I came upon a video on a conference presenting a modern trend in the field of psychology, "positive psychology". This topic caught my attention as I've studied in the past how the power of positive thinking influences peak performance. Martin Selingman is the the founder of positive psychology, a field of study that examines healthy states, such as happiness, strength of character and optimism. I have embeded in this post my notes which I took while viewing the video presentation.

“Positive Psychology”
Matin Seligman - University of Pennsylvania 2004
Martin Seligman is the founder of positive psychology, a field of study that examines healthy states, such as happiness, strength of character and optimism.

Former Field of Psychology: “disease model”, focus on causality
1. concerned with human strength and weakness – cure mentally ill
2. concerned with building strength and minimizing damage
3. genius

Recent decade: “Positive Psychology” is a science of measuring happiness
1. focus on the causation of positive states
2. examination of left hemisphere and right hemisphere activity
3. studying extremely happy people; not more religious, better shape, etc.
4. found one common factor:
Happy people are extremely social; they have a rich repertoire of friends.

Three aspects of life which contribute to happiness:
1. Pleasant Life – positive emotion, having as many of the pleasures and learn
the skills to savor. 3 drawbacks:
a. 60% inheritable
b. Habituates rapidly
c. Not particularly malleable

2. Life of Engagement – focus on what you do/role; work, parenting, love
a. capable of flow – time stops for the person … can’t “feel” anything
at that time/totally in the zone/focused; distinct from pleasure, know what
you are strong at and recraft your life to use your strengths as much as
possible
b. high productivity

3. Meaningful Life – know your overall strengths and plan your life around them
a. identify top 5 strengths and use them
b. health is an important factor

The goal is to develop all aspects; however, #3 has greatest impact to life happiness, then #2 and lastly #1.

Positive interventions:
1. Gratitude visit – think of a person who you feel had an impact on your life
who you never properly thanked, write a 300 word essay to him & then visit
the person and share it. This results in long lasting happiness.

2. How can we use design, entertainment and technology in the future to
increase the amount of happiness on the planet? The mission is to divert
entertainment to draw out positive emotion, increase engagement in life and
to help people develop a meaningful life. This will impact broad sweeping
change for life lasting happiness.