Positive Psychology Flashcards
What is Positive Psychology?
The study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives and enhance their experiences of love, work and play.
Overall Goal = Improve the lives and nurture the talents of all people.
Definition of Wellbeing and Harmony:
The state of happiness and contentment, with low levels of distress, overall good physical and mental health, and good quality of life.
Definition of Fulfillment and Meaning:
Doing things that are important to you and give you a sense of achievement.
How do we measure positive psychology?
Less about grouping people into categories and more about measuring continual growth along the full spectrum of possibilities.
GDP was previously used to measure a countries happiness - the richer, the happier. This misses out on health, beauty, intelligence etc.
The BLI offers 11 different indices of a better life such as health, safety and housing.
WHR - World Happiness Report
Environmental Factors of Happiness
Lottery = Happiness increases for 3 months before returning to normal
Buying something nice = Happiness increases only for a few moments
Good Grade = Happiness lasts a few days
Bad Grade = Sadness only lasts a few days
Biological Factors of Happiness
Genetics = Most influential factor. Personality has a strong genetic component which accounts for a lot of our baseline level of happiness.
Age = Happiness is slightly positively correlated with age.
Gender = No difference.
How to Improve Happiness and Wellbeing
Flow States - Fully immersed in what you are doing, lay to your strengths
Mindfulness - Focusing on the present, not future
Optimism
Building Resilience
Healthy Relationships - Creates regular positive experiences
Exercise
ABC Model of Resilience
many resilience-building programmes are based on this
A - Adversity = Learning how to be comfortable in challenging situations.
B - Beliefs = Interpreting the situation in a productive way.
C- Consequences = Reflecting on and accepting the outcomes of your response.
PERMA Model:
P - Positive Emotion E - Engagement R - Relationships M - Meaning A - Accomplishments
