Debate

Question 1

What is this debate?

Answer 1

The relevance of positive psychology in todays society

Question 2

What are our 3 themes?

Answer 2

Work
Military
Health

Question 3

Work for- evidence?

Answer 3

Mihaley sikszentmboly

Question 4

Work for- Mihaley sikszentmboly?

Answer 4

Found that work can be a major source of happiness and flow as they are appropriately challenging in line with our own special skills 3x more likely to flow in work then leisure

Question 5

Work for, SEEW paragraph?

Answer 5

S- Positive psychology is relevant today in the workplace
E- MS Found that work can be a major source of happiness and flow as they are appropriately challenging in line with our own special skills 3x more likely to flow in work then leisure
E- Meaning that its relevant because people accept that its fun and is like leisure time so will be more efficient workers
W- This therefore presents us to a reason on why positive psychology is good for us in the wider society as people will be more active at work, have low absence rates and sick pay
SI- Ultimately this leads to a knock on effect on the economy as people will want to go to work meaning less sick days so no sick pay

Question 6

Social implication for work?

Answer 6

SI- Ultimately this leads to a knock on effect on the economy as people will want to go to work meaning less sick days so no sick pay

Question 7

Against work sociologist?

Answer 7

Deiner et al

Question 8

Against work- Deiner et al?

Answer 8

Found a modest correlation of 1-2 between income and happiness
Finding work attributes don’t relate to happiness e.g. more money

Question 9

Against work- social implications?

Answer 9

Ethical issues as it can be used as a way to discriminate against people in different walks of life

Question 10

Against work- SEEW paragraphs?

Answer 10

S- Reasons to say positive psychology isn’t relevant today is due to the workplace
E- Found a modest correlation of 1-2 between income and happiness
Finding work attributes don’t relate to happiness e.g. more money
E- Presents to us why positive psychology isn’t good for us, only applies to the wealthy and flow is a luxury to the western world who can afford to do low paying jobs compared to others who work to survive
W- Ethical issues as it can be used as a way to discriminate against people in different walks of life

Question 11

Military for- sociologists?

Answer 11

Seligman
Psychology today

Question 12

Military for- seligman?

Answer 12

Did interventions to increase hope in soldiers to deeply to front line
Significantly improved relationships at home as well as in stressful situations
Over 6,000 soldiers who received psychology training were emotionally fit, optimistic, better at coping and showed better resilience

Question 13

Military for- Psychology today?

Answer 13

Did research in the navy and airforce and developed in CSI programmes
found that the interventions can prevent combat stress disorders and treat them
Strategic communications about ptsd

Question 14

Military for- SEEW paragraph?

Answer 14

S- One way to show that positive psychology is relevant in todays society is due to the military
E- Seligman and psychology today (explain)
E- Relevant to society as it eans people will want to join the military due to its precaution to mental health
W- Giving a knock on effect to the economy. Ethical it’s ethical to portray a rose tinted view on the military when it’s dangerous, there are more established methods

Question 15

Military for social implications?

Answer 15

Giving a knock on effect to the economy. Ethical it’s ethical to portray a rose tinted view on the military when it’s dangerous, there are more established methods

Question 16

Military against- sociologists?

Answer 16

Lester et al
Penn resilience programme

Question 17

Military against- Lester et al?

Answer 17

Critics due to lack of sensitive evidence
Lester et als research shows the psychological health is measured through self report, meaning that their can be an under reporting and social desirable

Question 18

Military against- Penn resilience programme?

Answer 18

Programme based on was designed for children so it may not be relevant today
Do we need happy people or skilled people for the military
And should we be using mindful instead of drugs of other therapy’s
Can waste time and money

Question 19

Military against- social implications

Answer 19

Ethical issue a knock on effect on the economy as we are wasting time and money

Question 20

Military against- SEEW paragraph?

Answer 20

S- One way to show that positive psychology isn’t relevant in todays society is because of the military
E- Lester et al
Penn resilience programme explain this
E- Relevant to society as if we are taking these programmes we aren’t getting an accurate representation of mental health as if positive psychology helps
W- Ethical issue a knock on effect on the economy as we are wasting time and money

Question 21

For health- sociologists?

Answer 21

Kubzanskey and Thurston
Harvard T H Chan school of public health

Question 22

For health- Kubzanskey and Thurston

Answer 22

6000 men and women aged 25-75 for 20 years found patients with high levels of emotional validity, enthusiasm have a reduced risk of coronary heart disease

Question 23

For health- Harvard T H Chan school of public health?

Answer 23

14,000 adults over age of 50 had higher acceptation and satisfaction for aging jad 43% lower risk of dying
More satisfied had a lower risk for conditions like heart disease stroke cancer and diabetes
Having better cognitive functions as most likely to engage in activity’s and less trouble speaking

Question 24

For health- social implication?

Answer 24

Social implications less strain on the NHS and economic implications
More healthy, workforce, less sick days/absence, more people at work so bigger economy

Question 25

For health- SEEW paragraph?

Answer 25

S- Positive psychology is relevant today within healthcare
E- Kubzanskey and Thurston
Harvard T H Chan school of public health explain this
E- Benefits to society as we will live in society with greater health and happier
W- Social implications less strain on the NHS and economic implications
More healthy, workforce, less sick days/absence, more people at work so bigger economy

Question 26

Against health- sociologists?

Answer 26

BPS- Iris malse
Richard Davidson

Question 27

Against health- BPS- Iris malse?

Answer 27

People who strive for happiness set themselves up for failure and often ends up more miserable than before they started
So focus on happiness that they become loney and therefore at a greater risk for manic episodes and depression

Question 28

Against health- Richard Davidson?

Answer 28

Did an 8 week intensive clinical trial on 25 healthy employees
made p’s do weekley training classes and a silent retreat
Brain activity’s measured, and vaccinated by fluenza vaccine
Disd show an effect on result on healthy individuals for a short term but not for long term effects

Question 29

Against health- general evidence?

Answer 29

Its difficult to establish a cause and effect relationship between happiness and health
Can be significant influence in the health sector
but it isn’t taken seriously as it has difficulty conducting research drawing clear cause and effect relationship

Question 30

Against health- social implication?

Answer 30

Ethical implication
is it ethical to make people do therapy when it can make them mentally unwell
Also economic, bad health causing sick days so a loss on the economy

Question 31

Against health- SEEW paragraph?

Answer 31

S- Positive psychology is relevant today with health
E- BPS- Iris malse
Richard Davidson explain this
E- Effects society as it may waste tie for people. May take time off work due to depression etc
W- Ethical implication
is it ethical to make people do therapy when it can make them mentally unwell
Also economic, bad health causing sick days so a loss on the economy

Question 32

Against health- conclusion?

Answer 32

In conclusion, the evidence above provides me to believe that positive psychology is relevant in todays society
This is due to the fact that it can be extremely beneficial in the military and within health
Although it can be selective in certain cultures within work
Ultimately the positives outweigh the negatives
Therefore positives psychology is relevant now in society