Pursuing Human Strengths CH 1 (Positive Psychology)

Question 1

Positive Psychology

Answer 1

• study of human strengths

- Martin Seligman, 1999

Question 2

Choice

Answer 2

Often brings out the best in people

Question 3

Human Freedom

Answer 3

• Choice, Change and Control

- Satisfying our need for autonomy is important to well-being and personal achievement.

Question 4

Entity Theorists (Change)

Answer 4

• View human behavior as “fixed”
• Assign greater weight to ability than effort when considering what forms intelligence
• Tend to exert less effort

Question 5

Incremental Theorists (Change)

Answer 5

• View traits as malleable
• Assign greater weight to effort than ability when considering what forms intelligence
• Tend to exert more effort

Question 6

Theory about Human Nature

Answer 6

• Affects how we see the social world

- Affects how we think about and evaluate our own behavior as well as we perceive, judge and relate to others

Question 7

Positive Psychology and Children

Answer 7

• Adults should praise children’s efforts over abilities

- Avoid making global statements and be specific in both positive and negative feedback

Question 8

Control

Answer 8

• Uncertainty leads to anxiety

- Hostages and prisoners of war often report the worst part of their experiences being uncertain about their fate.

Question 9

Human Limits

Answer 9

• Having too many choices leads to unsatisfaction

- Having many choices fuels illusory control (may come to believe even chance events are under our control, gambling)

Question 10

Maximizers

Answer 10

• Routinely seek to make “optimal” decisions and report overall lower feelings of well-being than “satisfiers” who seek “good enough”

Question 11

Biological and Environmental Constraints

Answer 11

• Behavior geneticists demonstrate how our unique genetic blueprint contributes to individual differences in intelligence, personality, sexual orientation, and vulnerability to psych. disorder.
• About 50% of most personality traits may be attributable to genetic inheritance
• (Martin Seligman) We may inherit a genetic inclination that steers us toward a certain level of happiness or sadness.
• (Lyubomirsky) Research identifying the biological and environmental constraints of behavior not only defines our limits but gives direction to efforts for successful change and control.

Question 12

Clear Direction

Answer 12

• key ingredient to personal development

Question 13

Personal Growth

Answer 13

• a person’s active, intentional involvement in changing and developing as a person

Question 14

Personal Growth Initiative Scale

Answer 14

(Robitschek) 
4 components 
- Readiness for change
- Planfulness
- Using resources
- Intentional Behavior

Question 15

A Meaningful, Productive Life

Answer 15

• involves 2 processes:

differentiation - reflects a strong sense of personal responsibility for developing and using our unique talents

Integration - the realization that however unique we are, we are also completely enmeshed in networks of relationships w/ other human beings

Question 16

To Be Happy

Answer 16

People must enjoy doing their best while contributing to something beyond themselves (incorporating differentiation and integration).