POSITIVE Assumptions

Question 1

Acknowledgment of Free will

Answer 1

Free will allows for personal autonomy and means we can hold people accountable for their actions
A deterministic stance does not allow for a person to be in control of their own behaviour
Raising the ethical issue to whether we can hold someone accountable for their actions
Only thing that controls our behaviour is our own free will
We are in charge of our own psychological and emotional wellbeing
Happiness is accessible to all
Argues that being too deterministic can be detrimental
Helpless and powerless to change
Supported by research that has found that feeling that we can control our lives predicts higher job satisfaction, better job performance and better health outcomes
Residents of a nursing home lived longer and reported better health when they were empowered to take control over their own lives
Langer and Rodin (1976)

Question 2

AUTHENTICITY OF GOODNESS AND EXCELLENCE

Answer 2

The positive approach argues that a focus on the bad gives us an unbalanced view of human behaviour
Seligman (2002) argues that the positive traits such as virtue and happiness have been neglected and are seen as less authentic than negative ones
Takes a more positive attitude towards the treatment of mental illness
Focuses on developing the individuals positive traits
Seligman’s theory of signature strengths
Character strengths that are most essential to who we are
Most satisfied, upbeat people were those who had discovered and exploited their unique combination of signature strengths

Question 3

FOCUS ON THE ‘GOOD LIFE’

Answer 3

Seligman (2003) argues that the way to happiness and the way to experience the best life you can is to develop our strengths and virtues
We can live a ‘good life’
We should start by achieving a pleasant life, then a good life, then an optimum which is a meaningful life
The pleasant life - Positive emotions and daily satisfaction
The good life - Discovering our strengths and enhancing our loves
The meaningful life - Using our strengths for a greater purpose
The way to live a food life is to develop positive connections with others, to have positive individual traits and develop life regulation qualities

Question 4

RELATIONSHIP FORMATION AUTHENTICITY OF THE GOOD LIFE

Answer 4

Feelings of love, kindness, generosity are authentic
Entering, maintaining a relationship allows individuals to develop and express their signature strengths
Strive towards a happier life and are able to nurture these qualities

Question 5

RELATIONSHIP FORMATION the good life

Answer 5

We strive towards a good life which is a place of happiness, good relationships and work
One of the elements of a good life is ‘positive connection to others’
Ability to love, trust, enjoy happiness and forgive