46). The use of character development programs is because psychological strengths are developed through enhanced awareness and increased attention (Biswas-Diener, Kashdan & Minhas, 2011, p
building human strength and developing genius. During this period, psychologists had largely omitted this mission, which created in a new focus in the field of psychology (Compton & Hoffman, 2012, p
One of the activities I will use to develop my personal psychological strengths is assimilative activities. This will involve establishing specific goals, performance standards, and desired projections in life and developing innovative ways to achieve them (Drucker, Csikszentmihalyi & Davidson, 2006, p
Third, I will embark on character education based on my strengths through involvement in character development programs at school and/or work. These programs will help in development of my personal psychological strengths since they will provide insights regarding specific activities to carry out in everyday life (Park, 2009, p
Maslow saw the role of psychology as helping people to identify and achieve these levels of need in their life, moving towards self-actualization, which is very much like the basic focus of positive psychology (Maslow & Frager 1970; Seligman 2000). Another near-contemporary of Rogers and Maslow is Albert Bandura, whose social learning theory is more part of the behaviorist school than the humanist, though these are not as dissimilar as is often thought (Bandura 2010; Ricks & Wandersman 1982)
Maslow saw the role of psychology as helping people to identify and achieve these levels of need in their life, moving towards self-actualization, which is very much like the basic focus of positive psychology (Maslow & Frager 1970; Seligman 2000). Another near-contemporary of Rogers and Maslow is Albert Bandura, whose social learning theory is more part of the behaviorist school than the humanist, though these are not as dissimilar as is often thought (Bandura 2010; Ricks & Wandersman 1982)
Scientific rationalism has in many ways been poised to define human misery; it is a perspective that sees problems and cannot really function without attempting to address negatives (Seligman 2000). Perhaps as a reaction to this trend during the Enlightenment period, when rational and scientific inquiry began to take place in a truly meaningful way, thinkers like Thomas Jefferson envisioned an inalienable human right to "pursue happiness," John Stuart Mill developed his framework of utilitarian ethics whereby that which made the most people happy was deemed to be a moral good (with certain other caveats, it should be noted), and other humanist philosophies that also had a strong rational basis also began to emerge (Hill 1996; Sandage & Hill 2001)
Now, however, positive psychology is emerging as one of the dominant and most dynamic psychological schools. One of Martin Seligman's most foundational theories is his belief in the attachment principle as an early and fundamental need that must be fulfilled in order for happiness to be achieved again and again throughout life (Joseph & Seligman 2004)
Early Beginnings Though positive psychology has only recently been codified as such, certain key strains of thought that appear in the theory are quite old. Several Eastern philosophical and religious traditions emphasize the pursuit of happiness and the escape of suffering -- this is the fundamental pursuit of Buddhism and several other related religions (Levine 2006; Engler 2009)
Abraham Maslow was a contemporary of Rogers that developed a psychological theory and framework along very similar lines. Maslow gave his framework a more specific bent, however, focusing on human motivation and need as a means of determining how to help people (Maslow 1946; Maslow & Frager 1970)
Abraham Maslow was a contemporary of Rogers that developed a psychological theory and framework along very similar lines. Maslow gave his framework a more specific bent, however, focusing on human motivation and need as a means of determining how to help people (Maslow 1946; Maslow & Frager 1970)
Humanist Psychology The humanist philosophies that began to develop as a response to scientific rationalism during the Enlightenment did not simply leap to positive psychology, but rather this psychology developed out of earlier related psychologies that took a very humanist approach. Carl Rogers is considered by many to be the founder of humanist psychology, believing that psychology should be involved in and focused on helping every individual achieve their highest level of potential and satisfaction as human beings, rather than fitting them into a mold of "normal" psychology or behavior (Rogers 2003; Rogers 1956)
Humanist Psychology The humanist philosophies that began to develop as a response to scientific rationalism during the Enlightenment did not simply leap to positive psychology, but rather this psychology developed out of earlier related psychologies that took a very humanist approach. Carl Rogers is considered by many to be the founder of humanist psychology, believing that psychology should be involved in and focused on helping every individual achieve their highest level of potential and satisfaction as human beings, rather than fitting them into a mold of "normal" psychology or behavior (Rogers 2003; Rogers 1956)
2010; Sandage & Hill 2001). This is not true only of specifically "Eastern" religions, but is a strain of thought that can be found in many older and/or "non-Western" traditions, including certain indigenous African and South American religions (Sandage & Hill 2001)
It is not only in their grand pursuit of happiness that several Eastern religions can be seen evoked in the theories and actions of positive psychology and its proponents and practitioners, but the position of man in relation to the world that all of these perspectives imply is also quite similar. Rather than seeing all of the negative features and events that can and do befall individuals, positive psychology, Buddhism, and other systems of belief and/or thought emphasize the ability for people to overcome such adversity and even to find joy in many things in life (Seligman 2000; Fiske et al
It is not only in their grand pursuit of happiness that several Eastern religions can be seen evoked in the theories and actions of positive psychology and its proponents and practitioners, but the position of man in relation to the world that all of these perspectives imply is also quite similar. Rather than seeing all of the negative features and events that can and do befall individuals, positive psychology, Buddhism, and other systems of belief and/or thought emphasize the ability for people to overcome such adversity and even to find joy in many things in life (Seligman 2000; Fiske et al
It is not only in their grand pursuit of happiness that several Eastern religions can be seen evoked in the theories and actions of positive psychology and its proponents and practitioners, but the position of man in relation to the world that all of these perspectives imply is also quite similar. Rather than seeing all of the negative features and events that can and do befall individuals, positive psychology, Buddhism, and other systems of belief and/or thought emphasize the ability for people to overcome such adversity and even to find joy in many things in life (Seligman 2000; Fiske et al
Enabling Institutions The most simple way to explain the framework of positive psychology is perhaps to define its opposite: while much psychological theory is focused on the inherent problems and negative potential of situations -- a feeling of admiration might stem from a feeling of personal inadequacy, etc. -- positive psychology sees the positive that arises from situations (Sheldon & King 2001)
From these other theorist and psychologists of the twentieth century, the primary trend in thinking that has lead to the development of positive psychology can clearly be observed: understanding people as whole individuals that have already been equipped with the means of dealing with and deriving joy and satisfaction from their world is the new goal of psychology, as opposed to identifying peoples problems and fixing them. Seligman and Attachment Martin Seligman is considered the founder of positive psychology, and he was certainly the first person to put the concept of positive psychology forward in a concrete and explicit manner (Snyder 2002)
Even in seemingly opposed theoretical schools, then, the development of psychology during the twentieth century was leading inevitably towards positive psychology along several different channels (Sandage & Hill 2001). For decades, Robert Sternberg has been a major luminary in the realm of psychology, and though his most prominent theoretical contributions have been in the area of intelligence testing, measurement, and definition, his overarching approach to psychology can also be seen as having a largely humanist bent (Sternberg 2001; Salovey & Mayer 2002)