POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY- ENHANCING MINDSETS AND ATTITUDE

‘Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.”

Carl Jung (Founder of Analytical Psychology)

Since time immemorial people have been wondering about questions such as- “What is happiness? Where can it be found?” 

Happiness can be directly linked to finding positivity in one’s life because it’s a state of mind that involves positive emotions and a positive attitude. Happiness is a subjective term and it can mean different things to different people. Each has to find what’s happiness for them on their own, it’s a search left for all to do. Happiness can be linked to positive psychology, as Positive Psychology tries to answer questions like “What can one do to find joy and happiness, that eventually would lead to a more meaningful and fulfilling life?”

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POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY-

Positive psychology is the branch of psychology that focuses on the behaviour and strengths which can allow people to have meaning and purpose in their lives, going beyond the realms of mere survival. It builds on the humanistic movement by famous psychologists like, Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, which revolved around encouraging the importance of happiness, well-being, and positivity. 

It’s a common belief that psychology as a science, gives attention to weaknesses; tries to improve maladaptive behaviour, and focuses on reducing human misery, which by the nature of the very fact stands true. But what most of us overlook is that psychology also studies the promotion of the best in human behaviour, by giving attention to strengths and by promoting the study and understanding of healthy human functioning.  

FOUNDER OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY-

Martin Seligman may have been the first contemporary psychologist to call this new perspective “Positive Psychology.” Martin was also known as the “Father of Positive Psychology”.  

During his 1998 presidential address to the American Psychological Association, Seligman made a plea for a major shift in psychology’s focus.  Seligman noted the imbalance in Psychology which failed to give enough significance in improving the lifestyle and the quality of life of individuals. He asked his audience that why psychology shouldn’t study things like “joy and courage”. He was hopeful that positive psychology would help expand the scope of psychology.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND OTHER FIELDS OF PSYCHOLOGY-

Positive psychology is different from other areas of psychology because it tries to focus on identifying and building mental assets and not just addressing weaknesses and problems. This field is vast since it is not limited to people who are facing mental illnesses; it caters to the needs of everyone in general. Hence in culmination, psychology is a science concerned with strengths as well as weaknesses; interested in repairing the worst things in life but also in this process trying to build the best things in life, finding ways to improve the lives of people and make them fulfilling and satisfying, along with healing them.

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IMPORTANCE AND NEED FOR THIS FIELD-

As much as it’s important to focus on the worst, it’s also important to work on the best and to know the direction to it, because after all, life is meant to be lived and not just to be survived. Every individual yearns to achieve self-actualization which is a complete realization and development of one’s potential, abilities, and appreciation for life. This concept lies at the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and this need motivates each individual to make their life better.  A study shows that people facing mental illnesses can benefit more from positive psychology than healthy people (Resnick, & Rosenheck, 2006)

MISCONCEPTIONS REGARDING POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY-

What’s important to keep in mind is that positive psychology doesn’t disregard other branches of psychology. It does not intend to undermine any of the very real problems and issues that people face, but rather it seeks to highlight the positive aspects of what makes life worth living.

Positive Psychology promotes positivity in life but it does not promote toxic positivity, which is the belief that no matter how dire or difficult a situation is, people should try to see the good in every situation. 

Toxic positivity causes harm by promoting the idea that if you aren’t trying to find a way to feel positive while facing a tragedy, you are doing something wrong. Psychology would never promote such misleading ideas which can cause so much more damage to people who are already suffering.

CONCLUSION-

Happiness lies within us, it’s not available outside or it isn’t a consequence of a successful life. Good mental health is not about always being happy; it’s about feeling and accepting all kinds of emotions, including negative ones, and still finding the strength to move on without giving up. At the end of the day, a good life is not just the absence of problems, it’s about trying to figure out more ways to make life more joyful. Positive psychology can assist us in reaching these goals in life by helping individuals unleash their inner potential and be happier and happier each day.

The aim of Positive Psychology is to catalyze a change in psychology from a preoccupation only with repairing the worst things in life to also building the best qualities in life.

Martin Seligman (Father of Positive Psychology)

WRITTEN BY:
Palak Singla (Editing Team Coordinator)

Reviewed By:
Aasis Sethi (Senior Blog Coordinator)
Manvi Mehrotra (Senior Blog Coordinator)