Essay on positive psychology
History and background
The history and the advent of positive psychology can be backdated to the times of Martin Seligman’s who was the then leading the American Psychological Association (APA) as their president (Seligman, 2014, p.290). Seligman realized that psychology had positively impacted to a larger extent in the neglect of two of his missions before the world war II broke out. These three of his missions were to treat mental disorders, helping people to live a life which is more productive, fulfilling and also the nurturing of high talent among the people especially among the young generation of that time (Seligman, 2014, p.291). The rise of the veteran’s administrations during the 1940’s primarily made the discipline of psychology to be a discipline that was healing and centered on the disease model and the illness ideology. Due to this realization, Seligman resolved to vie for the American Psychologists Association presidency to enhance a change in the focus of psychology as a discipline towards a more positive way i.e. the idea of positive psychology (Compton, 2005, p.250).
The initiative by Seligman was propelled by a series of other meetings that taking place all over the world especially in the city of Akumal, Mexico where scholars from all over the globe could inform and draft the early stages of development of positive psychology. Seligman is one of the leading advocates of positive psychology. (Christopher and Hickinbottom, 2008, p.570). The deliberate sociology of science approach in understanding the discipline of psychology, building and understanding the structural forces that have shaped and continue to shape the discipline of psychology led to the cementation of positive psychology (Compton, 2005, p.250). This has been enhanced by bringing in significant research funding, provision of essential research leadership and drawing in a portion of the brightest early vocation researchers through the arrangement of preparing organizations, inquire about coordinated efforts with the experienced researchers on psychology, and appreciating them for their good research on the positive psychology.
The study of the research on psychological literature reveals that positive psychology did not begin in the early late 19th century. These revelations have been proved to be otherwise that the idea of positive psychology has always been with us and it has been a source of knowledge. However, positive psychology has passed been unrecognized for a long time by many people. The major achievements of positive psychology movement up to the present has always been to consolidate, to lift up and celebrate what we do think about what makes life worth living, and also precisely outlining the ranges where we have to accomplish more (Seligman, 2014, p.290)
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Area of interest/Focus
My area of concentration in this research on positive psychology will be based on trying to understand the main characters behind the championing of positive psychology, theories that have been propelled forward by these researchers/scientist to champion for the positive psychology and how these theories apply to my area of focus. Many definitions have put forward to explain or define what positive psychology is. There are absolutely center subjects and textures, additionally, contrasts in accentuation and elucidation. In considering how best to define positive psychology, and how best to position its understanding in the main issue of The Journal of Positive Psychology, we trust it is useful to give what we see as a meaning of positive psychology that distinguishes and depicts the diverse things that it may intend to mean to various individuals (Snyder and Lopez, 2009.p.185).
Researchers and theories in positive psychology
Positive psychology, according to Martin Seligman, can be defined as the ‘scientific study of optimal human functioning that aims to discover and promote the factors that allow individuals and communities to thrive.’ Research into the field of positive psychology topics has been there for a long time now and can be even be traced back to the origins of psychology itself. In general, the field of positive psychology has common interests with the humanistic psychology, and it majorly emphasizes on the fully functioning individual i.e. fully functioning human being. In understanding the theories in the field of positive research, the first and foremost thing that we need to learn is to know the researchers and the founding fathers of this area (Gable and Haidt, 2015, p.103).
Researchers and founders of positive psychology and theories.
According to positive psychology program, there are many founding fathers of the field of positive psychology, but it has listed five of the most influential researchers and founders. Martín Seligman is widely seen as the father of the modern day i.e. the contemporary positive psychology.one of the founding father of positive psychology is
- William James
Apart from James being a psychologist, he was also a physician and a philosopher and was also among the earlier people to teach psychology in the US. James proposed that to understand and study an individual’s best functioning thoroughly; one has to critically understand how they experience i.e. subjective experience (Snyder and Lopez, 2009.p.185). James saw the need to bring together positivistic and phonological methodology in understanding psychology; this is because James was interested in understanding objective and observable in an individual. Despite all these reasons, many people consider William James as the first positive psychologist.
- Abraham Maslow
Abraham Maslow was the first person to coin the word “positive psychology” was used for the first time by Abraham Maslow through his book titled “motivation and personality”. He did not like the way in which psychology expressed itself concerned itself majorly with disorder and dysfunction; Abraham Maslow said positive psychology that it did not have a prosper grasp of the human feeling and his potential (Gable and Haidt, 2015, p.103). He accentuated how brain research conclusively demonstrates our negative side by uncovering much about our ailments and deficiencies, however insufficient on our excellences or goals.
- Martin Seligman
As an American psychologist, teacher, Seligman has written many motivational books. Seligman is known for his research, experiments and the theory of learned helplessness, and this makes him be regarded as the founder of positive psychology. Seligman worked on the theory of learned helplessness and on the pessimistic attitudes garnered which he co-wrote with Christopher Peterson to make a positive side to the demonstrative and measurable manual Disorders (DSM) (Sheldon and King, 2011, p.216).
- Christopher Peterson
Peterson was an instructor of brain research at the University of Michigan and furthermore a former head of the clinical brain science division at the University. Peterson and Seligman co-authored the book strengths, character and virtues. Peterson’s other works include the study of integrity, optimism and the well-being (Sheldon and King, 2011, p.216). Peterson is remembered for his significant findings, and this makes him one of the originators of positive brain science for lifting up and bring psychology into this new period.
Conclusion
Overall, the main aim of positive psychology is to develop the individuals’ strengths of the young people in the society so that they may realize their personal potentials and to fulfill the second goal which s of creating a community where members are thriving civically, responsible and productive in their day to day activities. Also, mental prosperity has been assessed hugely.
References
Seligman, M.E. and Csikszentmihalyi, M., 2014. Positive psychology: An introduction (pp. 279- 298). Springer Netherlands.
Sheldon, K.M. and King, L., 2011. Why positive psychology is necessary. American psychologist, 56(3), p.216.
Snyder, C.R. and Lopez, S.J., 2009. Oxford handbook of positive psychology. Oxford University Press, USA.
Compton, W.C., 2005. Introduction to Positive Psychology. Thomson Wadsworth.
Gable, S.L. and Haidt, J., 2015. What (and why) is positive psychology? Review of general psychology, 9(2), p.103.