Lectures Flashcards
What is the formal definition of positive psychology?
It is the scientific study of the personal qualities, life choices, life circumstances, and sociocultural conditions that promote a life well-lived. (This is defined by criteria of happiness, physical and mental health, meaningfulness and value
What does positive psychology study?
everything that people do that makes them function optimally in a satisfying way. also our strengths, values, and our actions
hedonic happiness
evaluating one’s life as satisfying and containing an increased rate of positive affect and low rate of negative affect
prudential happiness
feelings of satisfaction that come primarily from living a fully engaged life
often includes “flow”
happens more in childhood than adulthood
eudaimonic happiness
umbrella term that incorporates psychological well-being, virtue/excellence, intrinsic motivation/authenticity, flow, meaning/purpose, and concern for others
can come and go
chaironic happiness
feeling blessed and fortunate because of a sense of awe, gratitude, and oneness with nature or god
does depend on receptivity and preparedness
the three pillows of pp
positive experiences, positive individual traits, and positive institutions
the positive-activity model
aims to explain how and why performing activities make ppl happier
positive activities increase positive emotions, behaviours, thoughts, etc.
different things make different people happy
subjective well-being
looks at happiness from the individual perspective
1. more + than - emotions
2. whether the individual is satisfied with life
hedonic well-being
usually refers to sensual pleasure
external
psychological well-being
defined in terms of flourishing
human flourishing
an effort to achieve self-actualization and fulfillment within the context of a larger community of individuals, each with the right to purse their own such efforts.
compromises and individuals autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, and relations with others, purpose in life, and self acceptance
what are the three different happy lives?
- the pleasant life. aka having many of the pleasures and happy emotions as possible.
- the good life. aka work, play, love. capable of flow.
- the meaningful life. aka knowing your highest strengths and using them in something larger than you
what is flow?
a state of intense engagement, focus and contentment in the present moment and current activity. like an automatic pilot. needs to have med-high challenges and med-high skills
what is PERMA?
Positive emotions
Engagement
Relationships
Meaning
Accomplishment
what are the 6 virtues?
- wisdom and knowledge
- courage
- humanity
- justice
- temperance
- transcendence
wisdom and knowledge virtue
creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective
courage virtue
bravery, persistence, integrity, vitality
humanity virtue
love, kindness, social intelligence
justice virtue
citizenship, fairness, leadership
temperance virtue
forgiveness and mercy, prudence, humility/modesty, self-regulation
transcendence virtue
appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, humour, spirituality
define emotion
emotions are a state or feeling that connot be conjured up at will. attitudes or responses to a situation or an object, like judgements
a sense of elation, happiness, and perhaps even exhilaration, often experienced as a sudden spike due to something good happening
joy
a feeling of thankfulness, for something specific or simply all-encompassing, often accompanied by humility and even reverence
gratitude
a calm and peaceful feeling of acceptance of oneself
serenity
a feeling of curiosity or fascination that demands and captures your attention
interest
a feeling of optimism and anticipation about a positive future
hope
a sense of approval of oneself and pleasure in an achievement, skill, or personal attitude
pride
a feeling of light heartened pleasure and enjoyment, often accompanied by smiles and easy laughter
amusement
feeling engaged, uplifted, and motivated by something you witnessed
inspiration
an emotion that is evoked when you witness something grand, spectacular, or breathtaking, sparking a sense of overwhelming appreciation
awe
perhaps the strongest of all positive emotions. a feeling of deep and enduring affection for someone, along with a willingness to put their needs ahead of your own; can be directed towards an individual, a group of people, or all humanity
love
a feeling of pleasure and contentment in the way things are going; a general sense of enjoyment and enthusiasm for life
happiness
+ and hopeful emotion that encourages you to look forward to a bright future, one in which you believe that things will mostly work out
optimism
emotion involving a strong sense of self esteem and belief in yourself; can be specific to a situation or activity, or more universal
confidence
what is the role of positive emotions in psychology?
they provide the foundation for those fleeting but meaningful moments that make life worth living.
allow for creative thought and action. they expand our awareness
health benefits of positive emotions
a reduction in stress and a boost to general well-being.
can act like a buffer between you and stressful events which allows you to cope more effectivity.
helps you regulate your reaction to stress.
may encourage you to make healthier decisions.
what is positive affectivity
it is a broad disposition, a strait that reflects stable individual differences in + emotional experiences
high: frequent and intense episodes of pleasant, pleasurable moods. generally cheerful, enthusiastic, energetic, confident and alert.
moderate: consistent mood levels across different situations, such as social interactions, being alone, and working
emotional intelligence
a set of four interrelated abilities focused on the processing of emotional info
what are the four interrelated abilities in e.i.?
- ability to perceive, appraise, and express emotion accurately and adaptively
- using emotions to facilitate cognitive activities
- understanding emotions
- managing emotions in oneself and other people
what is empathy?
grasping facts, feelings, and significance of another person’s story.
is cognitive, emotional, and sometimes even physical process
walk in someone else’s shoes
what is gratitude?
involves feeling and expressing a deep sense of thankfulness in life.
acknowledging the goodness in your life.
recognizing the source of this goodness is outside yourself
forgiveness
replacing hot emotions of anger or fear with positive emotions such as empathy or compassion
not necessarily forgetting or ignoring the hurt, but being aware of those negative feelings and being able to let them go
