Introduction

Question 1

What is positive psychology

Answer 1

What it takes to live the good life as a human being

Question 2

positive psychology is the flip side of ________

Answer 2

abnormal psychology

Question 3

Define statistical criteria

Answer 3

Individuals significantly above the mean in positive qualities (emotions, traits, cognitions) and/or below the mean in negative emotions, traits and cognitions

Question 4

define personal satisfaction

Answer 4

Individuals pleased with thier emotions, traits, cognitions

Abnormal: if they find their behaviours distressing

Positive: are they satisfied by their emotions

Question 5

define adaptive criteria

Answer 5

individuals with emotions, traits, cognitions that make it easier for them to succeed in life

abnormal: making it difficult for the individual to get along, risk to health of self or others, work or education, forming relationships = maladaptive
positive: ability to help them adapt to changing aspects of life

Question 6

define sociocultural criteria

Answer 6

individuals with emotions, traits, cognitions that are valued by their culture or society

abnormal: consideration behaviours/emotions pathological if they unacceptable in the society in which they live
ex: homosexuality
Positive: valued, accepted by our culture
ex: sublimation

Question 7

who was the first and most influential to write about the good life?

Answer 7

Aristotle

Question 8

Living the good life = ? = ?

Answer 8

Living the good life = functioning well as a person = living a life of virtue

Question 9

Define moral virtue

Answer 9

–> subordinate(diminish) carnal appetites to reason (nothing in excess)
• control your basic animal desires with reason; manage to fulfill those with ways that do not harm others
• Nothing in excess – moderation = classic virtue

Question 10

define intellectual virtue

Answer 10

wisdom and understanding
• Knowing what’s going on
• Begins with self-knowledge, self-understanding, self-awareness
• Classic Greek idea

Question 11

What are virtues in general?

Answer 11

character traits between excess and deficiency

• Virtues are moderations – excess vs. deficit

Question 12

What’s the history of the good life in writings?

Answer 12

Greek ideas dominated until collapse of Roman empire
→ switch to domination of Catholic church for 1000 yrs (Christian - the good life after life)
→ @ Renaissance switch to Roman and Greek philosophers (more began to write about the good life)

Question 13

What Were william Bennet’s virtues? (LISTEN TO LECTURE)

Answer 13

• Self discipline
• Compassion
• Responsibility
• Friendship
• Work courage
• Perseverance
• Honesty
• Loyalty
• Faith

Question 14

Who developed the idea of hedonism?

Answer 14

Freud

Question 15

what did freud say our motivation was?

Answer 15

to seek pleasure and avoid pain

Question 16

what is mental health according to erikson?

Answer 16

the ability to work and to love (most important aspects of human life)

Question 17

Define Love

Answer 17

form and sustain relationships with others, critically important to our mental health as we are social species
• The rarest human being is the isolate

Question 18

Define Work

Answer 18

ability to make a positive contribution to society

Question 19

How does Jung define Self-actualization?

Answer 19

blending of complexes

Question 20

What is our highest motivation according to Jung?

Answer 20

is to realize the archetype of the self in our own personality

Question 21

What is a symbol of the self?

Answer 21

the mandala

Question 22

What did maslow believe is our highest motivation?

Answer 22

• Self-actualization is our highest motivation, achieved by very few

Question 23

what are the current century ideas of positive psychology

Answer 23

Humanist ideas

- Maslow

Question 24

what is The eight-fold way to self-actualization - where did it come from

Answer 24

help us get closer to achieving self-actualization, from Buddhism
(also Maslow)

Question 25

According to Viktor Frankl what are the 3 ways we achieve meaning in life?

Answer 25

(1) by creating a work or doing a deed;
(2) by experiencing a something or encountering someone; and
(3) by the attitude we take toward unavoidable suffering

Question 26

What is learned helplessness (Seligman)?

Answer 26

repeatedly exposed to a negative situation over which you have no control (dogs being shocked), you develop learned helplessness where you fail to avoid negative experiences when you have control; therefore, theorized that learned optimism is also a possibility

Question 27

which President of American Psychological Association focused his term on positive psychology

Answer 27

in 1998-1999

Question 28

Before WWII, psychology had three missions

Answer 28

• Curing mental illness
• Helping people lead more fulfilling, productive lives
• Identifying and nurturing exceptional talent

Question 29

After WWII, founding of VA (1946) and NIMH (1947) left only which mission?

Answer 29

The first = curing mental illness

Question 30

Although positive psychology has roots in the humanistic tradition, it differs from the humanistic tradition in that positive psychology:

Answer 30

is more likely to adopt a scientific approach to the issues of positive psychology than is the
humanistic approach.

Question 31

what philosophy argued that the purpose of life is to attain self-knowledge and strive for self-betterment.

Answer 31

hinduism

Question 32

part of Maslow’s Eight-Fold way is lack of ego defences. This concept is closest to which
aspect of the Buddhist Eight-Fold Path?

Answer 32

right view

Question 33

5. Freud argued that a satisfactory life is one in which the individual is capable of:

Answer 33

Work and love