History and Topics in the Field of Positive Psychology

History and Topics in the Field of Positive Psychology Theories Print The Field of Positive Psychology By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on February 16, 2020 Peathegee Inc / Getty Images More in Theories Behavioral Psychology Cognitive Psychology Developmental Psychology Personality Psychology Social Psychology Biological Psychology Psychosocial Psychology In This Article Table of Contents Expand History Important People What It Is (and Isn't) Major Topics Research Findings Applications View All Back To Top Positive psychology is one of the newest branches of psychology to emerge. This particular area of psychology focuses on how to help human beings prosper and lead healthy, happy lives. While many other branches of psychology tend to focus on dysfunction and abnormal behavior, positive psychology is centered on helping people become happier. Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi describe positive psychology in the following way: We believe that a psychology of positive human functioning will arise that achieves a scientific understanding and effective interventions to build thriving in individuals, families, and communities.?? Over the last twenty years or so, general interest in positive psychology has grown tremendously. Today, more and more people are searching for information on how they can become more fulfilled and achieve their full potential. Interest in the topic has also increased on college campuses. In 2006, Harvards course on positive psychology became the universitys most popular class. In order to understand the field of positive psychology, it is essential to start by learning more about its history, major theories and applications. History Before World War II, psychology had three distinct missions: curing mental illness, making the lives of all people more productive and fulfilling, and identifying and nurturing high talent, wrote Seligman and Csikszenmihalyi in 2000.?? Shortly after WWII, the primary focus of psychology shifted to the first priority: treating abnormal behavior and mental illness. During the 1950s, humanist thinkers such as Carl Rogers, Erich Fromm, and Abraham Maslow helped renew interest in the other two areas by developing theories that focused on happiness and the positive aspects of human nature. In 1998, Seligman was elected President of the American Psychological Association and positive psychology became the theme of his term. Today, Seligman is widely viewed as the father of contemporary positive psychology. In 2002, the first International Conference on Positive Psychology was held. In 2009, the first World Congress on Positive Psychology took place in Philadelphia and featured talks by Martin Seligman and Philip Zimbardo. Important People in the Field Martin SeligmanMihaly CsikszentmihalyiChristopher PetersonCarol DweckDaniel GilbertKennon SheldonAlbert BanduraC.R. SnyderPhilip Zimbardo What It Is (and Isnt) In a 2008 article published by Psychology Today, the late Christopher Peterson, author of A Primer in Positive Psychology and professor at the University of Michigan, noted that it is essential to understand what positive psychology is as well as what it is not. Positive psychology is...a call for psychological science and practice to be as concerned with strength as with weakness; as interested in building the best things in life as in repairing the worst; and as concerned with making the lives of normal people fulfilling as with healing pathology, he writes.?? He cautioned, however, that positive psychology does not involve ignoring the very real problems that people face and that other areas of psychology strive to treat. The value of positive psychology is to complement and extend the problem-focused psychology that has been dominant for many decades, he explained.?? Major Topics Some of the major topics of interest in positive psychology include: Happiness??Optimism and helplessnessMindfulnessFlowCharacter strengths and virtuesHope??Positive thinkingResilience Research Findings Some of the major findings of positive psychology include: People are generally happy.Money doesnt necessarily buy well-being, but spending money on other people can make individuals happier.??Some of the best ways to combat disappointments and setbacks include strong social relationships and character strengths.Work can be important to well-being, especially when people are able to engage in work that is purposeful and meaningful.While happiness is influenced by genetics, people can learn to be happier by developing optimism, gratitude, and altruism.?? Applications Positive psychology can have a range of real-world applications in areas including education, therapy, self-help, stress management, and workplace issues.?? Using strategies from positive psychology, teachers, coaches, therapists, and employers can motivate others and help individuals understand and develop their personal strengths. The Differences Between Positive Psychology and Positive Thinking