Positive Approach- Debate Flashcards
1
Q
Relevance of positive psychology in today’s society
Is Relevant
A
Education:
- Seligman et al. (2009) proposed a positive psychology curriculum (PPC) can promote a range of qualities such as skills and strengths that are valued by most, it can produce measurable improvements in student wellbeing and behaviour and can promote student engagement in learning and achievement.
- This was supported by Penn Resiliency Program (PRP), students on this programme showed reduced symptoms of depression compared to a control group. The results still showed 24 months later with 22% of the PRP only showing symptoms of depression compared to 44% for the control group.
Work:
- Research carried out by Csikszentmihalyi demonstrated that work can be the major source of happiness. His theory on the flow theory highlights that an individual’s experiences will be most positive when both the challenge and skills are high, thus increase self-esteem.
- Csikszentmihalyi and LeFevre (1989) found that individuals can experience more than three times of flow experiences at work than any other activity. This highlights that working environments can offer more opportunity for positive experience.
Leisure and lifestyle advice:
- Research carried out by Csikszentmihalyi and LeFevre (1989) explained that individuals increase their experience of flow and quality of lives by being more conscious of and more active in their use of leisure time.
- E.g., sites can promote positive social change such as www.actionforhappiness.org or www.headspace.org
Health:
- Research carried out by Kubzansky and Thurston’s (2007) carried out a longitudinal study on 6,000 males and females aged 25 to 74 for 20 years.
- They found that participants who stated high levels of ‘emotional energy’ (engagement in life, hopeless etc) had a reduced risk of coronary heart disease.
2
Q
Relevance of positive psychology in today’s society
Is Not Relevant
A
Education:
- Spence and Short (2007) argued that the research carried out is based on a small scale of short-term intervention, therefore lacks empirical evidence. Seligman et al. (2009) stated further research is required to ensure the programme can be accessible for all.
- Applying such proposed plans to schools can be costly and can result in other courses being dropped from the curriculum.
Work:
- It has been argued that the concept of work promote positivity is not a new concept. I.E Diener et al. (1993) found a modest correlation of +.12 between income and happiness.
- It is difficult to apply this concept to other cultures and societies, western societies have more opportunity of seeking happiness through work.
Leisure and lifestyle advice:
- It is difficult to measure leisure activity as not everyone has access to increase flow experiences, I.e., cost and time constraints.
- The use of positive online sites is difficult to measure for effectiveness on wellbeing.
Health:
- It is difficult to measure/prove the cause-and-effect relationship between happiness and health
- Are people happy because they are healthy or are people healthy because they are happy
3
Q
Ethical, social and economic implications:
A
- Foresight mental capital and wellbeing project (2008) estimated staff sickness, staff turnover etc, was costing the UK economy£26 billion per year.
- Oswald et al. (2009) found that happy workers were found to be 12% more productive.
- In the Private sector of google they found by increasing the standard maternity from 3 months to a flexible 5 months, resulted in lower staff turn-over, they found female staff wanting to leave the company dropped to 50%.
- Boorman review (2009) estimated the NHS could save £555 million with healthier work environments.
