Positive Approach Assumptions

Question 1

Assumptions

Answer 1

> Acknowledgement of free will
Authenticity of goodness and excellence
Focus on ‘the good life’

Question 2

Acknowledgement of free will

Answer 2

• believes that humans are in charge of own emotions and have free will to change how they direct them.
• humans are self-directing, adaptive, good life can be experienced if we use our strengths and virtues to enhance our lives
• Seligman = happiness isn’t result of good genes - result of recognising own strengths +developing them to make life better

Question 3

Example - acknowledgement of free will

Answer 3

• Supported by Ed Diener - research into why people are happy
• find factors that increase well-being and happiness.
• DIENER & SELIGMAN - looked at ties students had to friends,family - measured in terms of time invested in relationships.
  >strongest ties = happier
  >also negative correlation between level of happiness + depression
• we are in control of our happiness - choose to engage in activities that make us happy

Question 4

Authenticity of goodness and excellence

Answer 4

• states that feelings of happiness and goodness are as natural as feelings of anxiety, stress = psychologists need to assign these +states of mind equal attention.
• Sgman: belief that positive traits are less authentic than negative traits are an obstacle in psychological research.
• Seligman - we have inherent traits (kindness,generosity,humour) ‘signature strengths’- need to nurture these to transform our lives

Question 5

Authenticity of goodness and excellence - influence

Answer 5

• Traditionally pyschology focused on disorders and negative states of mind - P.P goal to change this by focusign on the good things
• Influential in therapies
• rather than trying to fix what’s wrong - it faciliates positive well-being, achieve fulfilment
• offers diff way of alleviating mental illnesses = focusing on traits that produce goodness and excellence
• acts as a buffer to protect individuals from future metntal health problems.

Question 6

Focus on ‘the good life’

Answer 6

• Primary focus of P.P = focus on the good life, those factors that contribute most to a well-lived life
• Seligman - 3 desirable lives
• to achieve the good life we need to develop our strengths and virtues - as they are natural routes to gratification, help us function
• good life is combination of 3 elements

Question 7

3 desirable lives

Answer 7

> The pleasant life
The good life
The meaningful life

Question 8

The pleasant life

Answer 8

• happiness comes from pursuing positive emotions in relation to the past, present and future

Question 9

The good life

Answer 9

happiness comes from pursuing activities that positively absorb and engage us

Question 10

The meaningful life

Answer 10

happiness comes from a deep sense of fulfilment by living for a purpose much greater than oneself

Question 11

3 elements to good life

Answer 11

1. positive connection to others
2. positive individual traits
3. life regulation qualities

Question 12

Positive connection to others

Answer 12

this encompasses out ability to love, trust enjoy happiness, forgive and develop spiritual connections with the self and others

Question 13

positive individual traits

Answer 13

these may include personal qualities such as a sense of integrity, morality, creativity, bravery, courage and humility

Question 14

life regulation qualities

Answer 14

these are qualities that we need to develop to regulate, monitor and control out behaviour in order to accomplish our goals. They may include a sense of autonomy, independence, faith in our decision making and wisdom to guide our behaviour

Question 15

Relationship formation - authenticity of goodness and excellence

Answer 15

• positive qualities such as kindness, love are authentic - explains why relationships are formed
• Entering/maintaining a relationship allows us to develop and express signature strengths
• Individuals will strive toward a happier life - able to nurture these qualities through their relationships
• acording to P.P socially programmed to work hard and find relationships. - contribute to our happiness

Question 16

Relationship formation -
The Good Life

Answer 16

• Seligman - element of good life ‘positive connections to others’ - can explain formation
• Happiness and good life comes from pursuing activities that absorb and engage us. - relationships acheive this
• first enter a romantic relationship people abosrb in the other person - this absorbtion and engagement lead to experiencing the good life
• Pew Research Centre - people in relationships are happier - 43% married respondents ‘very happy’ compared to 24% unmarried.