Positive Psychology: Principles, Strengths, and Well-being
Positive Psychology
- Founder: Martin Seligman (1998)
- Scientific study of strengths, well-being, happiness, and flourishing.
- Aim: Build strengths, not just treat illness.
- Scope: Happiness, optimism, hope, resilience, mindfulness, flow, character strengths.
Keywords: Strengths • Flourishing • Well-being • Positive emotions
Positive Psychology & Indian Psychology
Positive Psychology
- Happiness
- Strengths
- Flourishing
Indian Psychology
- Happiness + Self-realization
- Spiritual well-being
- Inner transformation
Both aim at:
- Well-being
- Meaning
- Flourishing
VIA Classification (Peterson & Seligman)
6 Virtues and 24 Character Strengths
Wisdom
- Creativity
- Curiosity
- Critical Thinking
- Love of Learning
- Perspective
Courage
- Bravery
- Perseverance
- Honesty
- Zest
Humanity
- Love, Kindness, Social Intelligence
Justice
- Teamwork
- Fairness
- Leadership
Temperance
- Forgiveness
- Humility
- Prudence
- Self-regulation
Transcendence
- Appreciation of Beauty
- Gratitude
- Hope
- Humour
- Spirituality
Self-Concept
- Perception about oneself.
- Components:
- Real Self = Who I am.
- Ideal Self = Who I want to become.
- Positive self-concept → confidence and well-being.
Self-Esteem
- Evaluation of one’s own worth.
- High self-esteem → confidence.
- Low self-esteem → self-doubt.
- Develops through experiences and feedback.
Self-Efficacy
- Albert Bandura
- Belief in one’s ability to perform a task.
- Sources:
- Mastery Experience
- Vicarious Experience
- Verbal Persuasion
- Physiological & Emotional States
Self-Regulation
- Ability to control thoughts, emotions, and behaviour.
- Helps achieve long-term goals.
- Components:
- Goal setting
- Self-monitoring
- Self-evaluation
- Self-control
Hedonic vs Eudaimonic Happiness
Hedonic (SWB)
- Pleasure
- Positive emotions
- Life satisfaction
- Diener
Eudaimonic (PWB)
- Meaning
- Purpose
- Self-actualization
- Personal growth
- Aristotle
Remember:
SWB = Pleasure
PWB = Meaning
Stress
Stress = Response to demands (stressors)
Types
- Eustress
- Distress
GAS (Hans Selye)
Stages
- Alarm
- Resistance
- Exhaustion
Hope (Snyder, 1994)
Hope = Goal-directed thinking
Components
- Goals
- Pathways
- Agency
Formula:
Hope = Goals + Pathways + Agency
High hope people:
- Find alternative routes.
- Stay motivated.
False Hope:
- Unrealistic goals.
- Wrong methods.
- Illusions.
Optimism
Expectation that good things will happen.
Dispositional Optimism
- Scheier & Carver (1985)
- Personality trait.
Learned Optimism
- Martin Seligman (1990)
- Explanatory style.
Optimists explain bad events as:
- External
- Unstable
- Specific
Pessimists:
- Internal
- Stable
- Global
Flow (Csikszentmihalyi)
Flow = Complete absorption in an activity.
Components
- Action-awareness merging
- Concentration
- Loss of ego
- Sense of control
- Clear goals & feedback
- Autotelic experience
- Altered sense of time
Flow occurs when: Challenge = Skill
Mindfulness
Present-moment awareness without judgment.
Dimensions
- Present awareness
- Acceptance
- Non-judgment
- Non-reactivity
Interventions
- MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction)
- MBCT
- ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
- DBT
Benefits:
- Less stress
- Better focus
- Better emotional regulation
Flow vs Engagement
Flow
- Peak experience
- Temporary
- Any activity
Engagement
- Persistent state
- Mostly work-related
- Flow is the highest level of engagement
Indian Psychology
Definition: Study of consciousness, mind, and behaviour based on Indian wisdom traditions.
Characteristics
- Holistic
- Consciousness-centred
- Spiritual + empirical
- Self-realization
- Covers biological to spiritual life
Sources
- Vedas
- Upanishads
- Yoga
- Vedanta
- Buddhism
- Jainism
Indian vs Western Positive Psychology
Western
- Scientific
- Empirical
- Happiness & strengths
- Self as object
Indian
- Consciousness
- Spiritual growth
- Self-realization
- Self as subject
Positive Parenting
Parenting that promotes healthy development with warmth, guidance, and respect.
Parenting Styles
- Authoritative ✅ Best
- Authoritarian
- Permissive
- Neglectful
Ways to Practice
- Warm communication
- Positive discipline
- Praise effort
- Set clear rules
- Active listening
- Emotional support
- Consistency
Mindfulness in Parenting
- Be fully present.
- Listen without judgment.
- Control reactions.
- Respond calmly.