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Please send any suggestions and comments here. The Association for Youth, Children and Natural Psychology is a non-profit New Jersey corporation and operates as a federal
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By Abraham Maslow: He pointed out that Truth, Beauty and Goodness are expressed in the lives of all self-actualizing personalities. Without these metavalues, the qualities of devotion and passion toward a cause or mission can become lethal to humankind. Science without higher values often creates better weapons of distruction and even more efficient gas chambers. Those who observe that much of what Maslow says in this book is colored by religion and philosophy are correct.
The Right to Be Human: A Biography of Abraham Maslow, by Edward Hoffman
Brandeis psychologist Maslow (1908-1970), a founder of humanistic psychology, was an uneasy hero of the 1960s counterculture. As spiritualistic fads swept the country, he scolded Esalen Institute instructors for their smugness and warned his followers that too much inwardness is not psychologically healthy. This apostle of self-actualization and creative "peak experiences" was an intensely private man who rarely discussed his own mystical highs. Hoffman, biographer of Wilhelm Reich, has interviewed Maslow's friends, family and students, and while he never fully pierces his subject's calm, scholarly demeanor, his thoughtful biography has its rewards. We meet Maslow the youthful sexologist of the 1930s (his findings were championed decades later by feminists); the socialist-leaning rebel who married his cousin and lived on a commune; the professor who actively disliked conformist students. The first full-scale biography of Maslow, this profile will be of interest to the many people touched by his humanistic vision of personal growth. - Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc
Books on Positive Psychology
A Primer in Positive Psychology,
by Chris Peterson
"Chris Peterson, one of the founding fathers of Positive Psychology, has written a wonderfully engaging and deeply stimulating introduction to this swiftly growing field. Intellectual history is interwoven with data, research findings with backstage gossip, to produce a delightful classic."
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Director, Quality of Life Research Center and C.S. and D.J. Davidson Professor, Peter F. Drucker School of Management, Claremont Graduate University
Practicing Positive Psychology Coaching
Written by Robert Biswas-Diener, a respected researcher, psychologist, life and organizational coach, and expert in positive psychology, Practicing Positive Psychology Coaching presents a wide range of practical interventions and tools you can put to use right away in your coaching practice.
The Oxford Handbook of Positive PsychologyThe Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, Second Edition is the seminal reference in the burgeoning field of positive psychology, which, in recent years, has transcended academia to capture the imagination of the general public.
"This is an excellent book on a unique approach to psychology. The international authorship helps readers see positive pyschology from many different vantage points. The book ends on a helpful note, talking about the importance of the work of therapists in helping clients and families find meaning and happiness-- a point everyone can agree on."--Doody's Health Sciences Review
Thumbs Up Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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| Page updated: November 13, 2011 |
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What is Positive Psychology?
- The Positive Psychology Movement and its History
Penn State University, which could be considered the home and birthplace of Positive Psychology, states,
"Positive Psychology is one of the most innovative, relatively new, approaches to psychology. It involves the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive."
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Positive Psychology begins on a positive foundation, that of building on one's strengths with a positive goal in sight, rather than the negative foundation of modern psychiatry, which basically matches symptoms with a disorder.
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The Positive Psychology Center at Penn State University, promotes research, training, education, and the dissemination of Positive Psychology.
This field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play.
Core Principles of Positive Psychology
Positive Psychology has three central concerns:
1. Positive emotions, which might be considered to be related to emotion-psychology
2. Positive individual traits, and
3. Positive institutions.
Understanding positive emotions entails the study of contentment with the past, happiness in the present, and hope for the future. Understanding positive individual traits consists of the study of the strengths and virtues, such as the capacity for love and work, courage, compassion, resilience, creativity, curiosity, integrity, self-knowledge, moderation, self-control, and wisdom.
Understanding positive institutions entails the study of the strengths that foster better communities, such as justice, responsibility, civility, parenting, nurturance, work ethic, leadership, teamwork, purpose, and tolerance.
Another definition of Positive Psychology states,
Positive psychology is a recent branch of psychology that "studies the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive". Positive psychologists seek "to find and nurture" genius, creativity and talent, as well as "to make normal life more fulfilling", not to cure mental illness.
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Abraham Maslow was an influence for the Positive Psychology Movement
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Background of the Development of Positive Psychology
Several humanistic psychologists such as Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Erich Fromm developed successful theories and practices that involved human happiness. Recently the theories of human flourishing developed by these humanistic psychologists have found empirical support from studies by humanistic and positive psychologists, such as in the area of self-determination theory.
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Photo: TED: Ideas worth sharing
http://www.ted.com/index.php/speakers/martin_seligman.html
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Current researchers in positive psychology include
Martin Seligman, Ed Diener, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, C. R. Snyder, Christopher Peterson, Barbara Fredrickson, Donald Clifton, Albert Bandura, Shelley Taylor, Charles S. Carver, Michael F. Scheier, and Jonathan Haidt.
Martin Seligam and the Birth of Positive Psychology
Influence of Abraham Maslow -
Focus on "mental illness" by psychiatry, not a healthy foundation for psychology
Martin Seligman is considered the father of the modern positive psychology movement, and chose positive psychology as the theme for his term as president of the American Psychological Association. The term itself first originated with Abraham Maslow, who, in 1954 in his book Motivation and Personality, first coined the term.
Seligman candidly observed that for the past fifty years clinical psychology "has been consumed by a single topic only - mental illness", echoing Maslow's comments. He urged psychologists to continue the earlier missions of psychology of nurturing talent and improving normal life. This observation by Maslow and Seligman does have much relevance.
Why the Positive Psyhology Movement
The modern practice of psychology, and especially that of
psychiatry,
has overemphasized the
medical model and drug treatment, partly because it is fast, easy, convenient, as well as profitable for both practicioners,
hospitals and drug companies.
In doing this, much of the field of
psychiatry, especially, has become one in which symptoms are determined, a label is assigned to the disorder, to the person, and the next consequential step usually involves
pharmaceutical treatment, possibly accompanied by additional therapy.
The opposite of positive is negative, and this negative foundation of labeling and treatment, which is the most common approach in modern psychiatry based on the "medical model" of mental health, sometimes leads to a guilty until proven innocent mentality in the psychiatric world.
For this reason, persons can be labeled much too hastily, and that label can put one into a mind-set of compliance and apathy with regards to improving their situation.
Positive Psychology takes the opposite approach, building on strengths, searching for the positive, not assuming that a label needs to be attached unless absolutely necessary. For this reason, it can be a much more beneficial framework or springboard from which to begin when considering the subject of psychology, a much needed breath of fresh air, coming not too long after atypical antipsychotics were introduced into the mainstream.
The first positive psychology summit took place in 1999. The First International Conference on Positive Psychology took place in 2002.
Ideology of Positive Psychology
Positive Psychology does reflect ideas that have been expressed in world religions and philosophy. The ideals of
Cristo-Judaism are somewhat reflected in this framework or theory of psychology, as well as some aspects of ancient Greek philosophy.
Positive Psychology sometimes sounds almost religious in its discussions, and might be likened to "applied" or "humanistic religion," minus scripture and reference to God. Like most university science, it uses terms reflective of mankind's evolutionary development in its defense of the movement.
Individualism, self-fulfillment and the pursuit of happiness are also some of the ideals embraced by Positive Psychology. In this respect, it differs from the theme expressed by major religions, in its stress on "self-fulfillment" as opposed to "self-sacrifice" and active interest in the welfare of others.
Positive Psychology - Character Strengths and Virtues Handbook and positive traits
The development of the Character Strengths and Virtues (CSV) handbook espouses positive traits in much the same way as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the "bible" of psychiatry, catalogs symptoms and labels of mental illness.
Some of these virtues and strengths are as follows:
1.
Wisdom and Knowledge: creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective
2.
Courage: bravery, persistence, integrity, vitality
3.
Humanity: love, kindness, social intelligence
4.
Justice: citizenship, fairness, leadership
5.
Temperance: forgiveness and mercy, humility, prudence, self control
6.
Transcendence: appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, humor,
spirituality
Character Strengths and Virtues (CSV) handbook, see:
The Ennegram Institute Discussion Board
https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/forum/post.asp?method=TopicQuote&TOPIC_ID=20688&FORUM_ID=2he
Conclusion on Positive Psychology and Its Place in Psychology Theory
The Positive Psychology Movement provides one of several viable counter-theories to the "medical model" of mental health, which many professionals and educators believe to be an inadequate model on which to base mental health evaluation and treatment. The medical model of mental health has resulted in a tremendous increase in over-diagnosis and misdiagnosis of mental health disorders, with treatment of mental health disorders disproportionately and needlessly focused on labeling and medicating.
Positive Psychology offers a foundation on which to base both prevention and treatment of mental health difficulties, which presupposes strong individual traits on which to build, rather than searching for what is at fault and treating symptoms with, often-times, sedating (or stimulating) drugs.
By building on the positives rather than searching for the weaknesses, it helps to balance out the field of psychology and psychiatry. The Positive Psychology Movement, along with the Bioecological Model of mental health proposed by Urie Bronfenbrenner, provide a more realistic foundation on which to address mental health disorders.
Positive psychology helps to more fully preserve the dignity of the one experiencing mental health difficulties, and empowers the individual, encouraging him to make positive changes, rather than attaching an often stigmatizing label to an individual.
The "label and drug" method of psychiatry pre-supposes some physical, biological, or genetic deficiency or defect, which cannot be remedied, but only controlled, and only controlled with psychiatric drugs, carefully monitored by a psychiatrist. This (the medical model of mental health), is based partially on fallacy, and at its best is a foundation for mental health treatment which is fraught with gaps.
Positive Psychology, then is something to be considered by mental health professionals, in refocusing their way of interpreting and treating mental health disorders.
Positive Psychology, however, also comes very close to being on the border of religion in its own right, espousing principles which have already been encouraged by the world's major religions for milleniums. Sometimes, the movement goes so far as to promise happiness, something that can be an elusive goal for many, especially in view of the fact that the angle that Positive Psychology takes on finding happiness falls more along the lines of self-fulfillment rather than altruism or self-sacrifice. Maslow's theory found its pinnacle in self-actualization, which is certainly a worthy goal for anyone, on the other hand, in offering a humanistic approach that borders on religion, positive psychology might not be able to deliver what it offers to, that is a path to happiness.
References for Positive Psychology Movement and History
1. Positive Psychology: An Introduction, Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000
2. Positive Psychology Progress: Empirical Validation of Interventions, Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005
3. What (and Why) Is Positive Psychology?, Gable and Haidt, 2005
4. Balanced Psychology and a Full Life, Seligman, Parks, & Steen, 2004
5. Positive Psychology in Clinical Practice, Duckworth, Steen, & Seligman, 2005
6. Positive Psychotherapy, Seligman, Rashid, & Parks, 2006
7. Positive Health, Seligman, 2008
8. Penn State University. Positive Psychology
http://www.ppc.sas.upenn.edu/
Pages Related to Positive Psychology
Psychology History - Moral Management: Successful non-pharmaceutical holistic treatment for mental heath in the 1800's.
Mental Health Treatment - A Closer Look at Psychopharmacology - Let the Buyer Beware! by Louis Kirby, MA
Appeal to Mental Health Professionals for professional non-pharmaceutical treatment options and clinical studies
Bioecological Model of mental health
NAMI - Mental Health Disorder Recovery
The Medical Model of mental health. Psychiatric labeling and what can be done to prevent stigma of mental illness.
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