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WJEC AS Psychology > Positive Approach > Flashcards

Positive Approach Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 3 assumptions of the positive approach?

A
  1. Acknowledgement of free will.
  2. Authenticity of goodness and excellence.
  3. Focus on ‘the good life’
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2
Q

Describe the acknowledgment of free will assumption. (4)

A
  1. Humans in charge of emotions and have the free will to change how they direct them.
  2. We are self-directing and adaptive.
  3. A good life can be experienced if we use our (recognised) strengths and virtues.
  4. Diener & Seligman researched correlation between depressed people and happiness (negative correlation)
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3
Q

What is the assumption of authenticity of goodness and excellence?

A
  • States happiness and goodness are as natural as anxiety and stress so need to give positive states of mind equal attention.
  • We have inherent ‘signature strengths’ like kindness, generosity and humour. These help transform our lives.
  • Celebrates good things in our lives instead of magnifying the worst.
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4
Q

What is the assumption: Focus on ‘the good life’?

A

3 lives: Starting point —> finish

  1. Pleasant- Happiness from pursuing positive emotions in relation to past, present & future.
  2. Good- Happiness from pursuing activities that positively absorb & engage.
  3. Meaningful- Happiness from deep sense of fulfilment by living for a purpose much greater than oneself.
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5
Q

Explain how authenticity of goodness and excellence is applied to relationship formation. (3)

A
  • Entering relationship gives opportunity to develop and express signature strengths to strive for a happier life.
  • Social programmed to work hard to find relationship to build and contribute to happiness.
  • Authentic emotions like love, kindness, generosity & forgiveness can maintain relationships.
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6
Q

How does the good life apply to relationship formation? (2)

A
  • One of the elements to a good life is a positive connection to others and ability to love and trust are essential ingredients to maintain a relationship.
  • The absorption and engagement in a relationship makes us feel happy and feel we are living the good life.
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7
Q

Explain the formation of friendship in the positive approach.

A
  1. Encourages expression of authentic emotions for both parties.
  2. Rewards act as buffer during difficult times, preventing negative states like depression and anxiety developing.
  3. Seen as one of key ingredients to happiness.
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8
Q

What is the therapy in the positive approach?

A

Mindfulness

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9
Q

How does the positive assumption of authenticity of goodness and excellence apply to mindfulness?

A

Positive and negative are all authentic emotions. Individuals strive to achieve greater life fulfilment by developing natural strengths and virtues.

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10
Q

How does the assumption of free will apply to mindfulness?

A

Mindfulness enhances self regulation and encouragement to gain control of thoughts and emotions. Hence is free will.

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11
Q

What are the main components of mindfulness?

A
  1. Gaining control of thoughts
  2. Meditation & mindful breathing
  3. Informal practices of mindfulness.
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12
Q

Explain the ‘gaining control over thoughts’ component of mindfulness. (3)

A

Being mindful trains us to focus on present thoughts and emotions as normally our minds are focused on the past or the future.
Aim is to dominate and control thoughts.
Negative automatic thinking can lead to anxiety & depression so mindfulness practice helps patient notice.

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13
Q

Describe meditation and mindful breathing in mindfulness.

A

Sitting meditation is most effective for mindfulness skills to develop as it physically removes an individual from their daily interactions with life so it is easier to focus on the mind.
Is usually guided and encouraged to pay attention to body sensations. PREVENTS NEGATIVE THOUGHTS.

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14
Q

Explain informal practices of mindfulness. (3)

A

Once learned, can be practised through daily life & anywhere.
Making the conscious decision to focus on one single task.
Paying attention to surroundings and if attention begins to wander, should bring attention back.

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15
Q

Effectiveness: How does mindfulness integrate with other therapies?

A

Increasingly incorporated into psychoanalysis & CBT. Is shown to be effective.

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16
Q

What did Teasdale et al (2000) report in the effectiveness of mindfulness?

A

MBCT provided greatest help to those suffering from previous episodes of depression.

17
Q

Explain group vs individual mindfulness in effectiveness.

A

Mantzios & Giannou (2014) found that group mindfulness was more beneficial. (to loosing weight)

18
Q

What are the ethical issues in mindfulness? (2)

A

Client anxiety is AVOIDED as it does not ‘drag’ up the past. Lack of determinism is extremely positive. ENCOURAGES ACCEPTANCE OF NEGATIVE THINKING SO AVOIDS FRUSTRATION.
Mindfulness is seen as moral and those who practise it have more moral values.

19
Q

What is the classic research in the positive approach?

A

Myers and Diener (1995)

20
Q

What is the methodology and procedures of Myers and Diener? (4)

A 
A REVIEW of happiness.
SWB by interviewing with closed question/questionnaire.
Observations.
Correlations (what factors co-vary)
META-ANALYSIS
21
Q

Findings of Myers and Diener? (Gender & age) (4)

A
  • People of all ages were equally happy (80%) satisfied. (Inglehart 1990)
  • Different factors contribute to it
  • Women 2x more vulnerable to depression
  • Gender accounted for 1% of global well-being
22
Q

Outline the findings of Myers & Diener. (Race & culture) (2)

A

•African-Americans nearly 2x as happy as European Americans. (Diener et al 1993)
•Notable different between countries.
Those in individualist cultures have greater SWB than collectivist cultures.

23
Q

Name the findings in Myers and Diener. (Money) (2)

A
  • 75% American college students selected ‘being well off’ is an essential life goal in 1993, compared to 39% in 1970.
  • Rich do not report greater happiness. 37% were less happy.
24
Q

What are the traits of happy people according to Myers and Diener’s findings? (4)

A
  • High self-esteem
  • Sense of personal control
  • Optimism
  • Extraversion
25
Q

What are the 3 conclusions from Myers and Diener?

A
  1. Importance of adaptation- effects of positive & negative events fade.
  2. Cultural world view- these attitudes predispose people to interpret life differently.
  3. Values & goals- High SWB correlated with goals/ambitions. Money/intelligence only matter if they are relevant to your goals.
26
Q

What do happy people tend to have? (4)

A
  1. Certain traits
  2. Close relationships
  3. Enjoy work
  4. Are religious
27
Q

Explain the issue of a self-report.

A

SWB is subjective so is no way of telling or measuring happiness from person to person. Social desirability also is a factor.

28
Q

Evaluate the correlations in the methodology and procedure of Myers and Diener. (1995)

A

The findings are correlational but does not equal cause. There may be intervening variables.

29
Q

What was the issue of the samples in Myers and Diener? (1995)

A

Data based on Western samples. (Americans) May be roots of happiness elsewhere so is not a wide range of people/diversity.

30
Q

What were the ethical issues of Myers and Diener? (2)

A
  • Very little risk of harm as behaviour is not being manipulated. However, those who are not happy may not welcome being asked about happiness so require a debrief.
  • It is socially sensitive as may make us think more positively/negatively about a certain group of people. (like the 2 cultures) Must be cautious of statistics as unknown if sample was fair representation.
31
Q

What are the strengths of the positive approach?

A
  1. Moves focus beyond explaining & treating disorder and illness to celebrating human character as authentic strengths.
  2. Used in many fields of life. (education,therapy etc)
  3. Free will unlike all of the other approaches.
32
Q

What are the weaknesses of the positive approach?

A
  1. Not a new idea- some argue it is just an add on to humanistic psychology.
  2. Can happiness be measured scientifically?- Subjective. However, neuroscience suggests emotional experience of happiness can be objectively measured.
  3. Ignore individual differences (nomothetic)- Thinks that being positive will work for everyone.

WJEC AS Psychology (6 decks)

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