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Positive Psychology


APSARA KATUWAL DANGOL

When we see Diagnostic Statistical Manual of mental disorder (DSM-5) in psychology, we clearly know that even the normal behavior is said to be abnormal and termed as a disorder because so many classifications have been done that in some of the disorder each person falls. But Positive Psychology is something different from these mental disorders. It is all about positive aspects, the pursuit of happiness, well-being, and flourishing.



Martin Seligman defined Positive psychology as " the scientific study of optimal human functioning that aims to discover and promote the factors that allow individual and communities to thrive".

The focus of positive psychology remains in psychological well being. It is not just focused on problems. It is focused in strengthing human mind, behavior, attitude towards concerned life. Simply it is about provoking happiness, positivity and good environment.

Positive Psychology being in 1998, the term was used from Maslow,s book Motivation and Personality (1954). Martin Seligman as the president of American Psychological Association used Positive Psychology as the theme for his team and he focused in positive part of psychology.

The Levels of Positive Psychology
Positive psychology includes three levels which include Subjective level, Individual level, and Group level.



The subjective level is characterized by experiencing and feeling of well being, joy, satisfaction, happiness, optimism, flow and contentment. It is all about feeling good. Experiencing goodness is more important.

Individual level is characterized by learning to be good. Keeping all those essentials like love, passion, strength, wisdom, forgiveness, courage, kindness in life.

Group level includes the positivity towards humanism to form better world by understanding social responsibilities and helping communities in need.

Different Theories in Positive Psychology

Flow, PERMA, Character Strengths, and Virtues are the different theories that lead to positive humanism.

Csikszentmihalyi has found nine indicator elements of flow which are as follows:

  1. Clear goals exist every step of the way,
  2. Immediate feedback guides one's action,
  3. There is balance between challenges and abilities,
  4. Action and awareness are merged,
  5. Distractions are excluded from consciousness
  6. Failure is not worrisome,
  7. Self-consciousness disappears,
  8. Sense of time is distorted,
  9. The activity becomes autotelic (an end in itself, for its own sake).


He has found that Flow is greater during work while happiness is greater during leisure time.

In Authentic Happiness (2002), Martin Seligman, in his initial theory, found three paths to happiness (pleasant life, happy life, and meaningful life). Later in 2011, in Flourish, he developed PERMA theory from meaningful life concept.
PERMA signifies five elements of Well being theory.
P-Positive Emotions,
E- Engagement,
R- Relationship,
M-Meaning and Purpose,
A-Accomplishments.

Character Strengths and Virtues
It includes the psychological traits which are important for well being of human being. It is more like DSM. It is the handbook of positive psychological traits represented by Seligman and Peterson. This CVS handbook includes 6 virtues and 24 strengths.



Now, the time has come, instead of just treating mental illness, what precautions can make human life be psychologically strong should be researched. Now, self-improvement is necessary to bring art in life called the art of living. Welcoming Positive psychology will be definitely helpful in many terms as one can build different virtues and strengths.

About Writer

Apsara Katuwal Dangol, is writer, educator, and psychosocial counselor. She writes articles which covers topics related to general and developmental psychology. She teaches to MA Clinical Psychology students as Developmental Psychology Mentor at Tri-Chandra College, and General Psychology at Shubhashree College of Management.







References:

Positive Psychology
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_psychology

What is positive psychology? +3 levels of positive psychology
http://positivepsychology.org.uk/what-is-positive-psychology/


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