SELIGMAN (2004) POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY- CONCEPT Flashcards
(17 cards)
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What is positive psychology?
- The scientific study of the 3 different happy lives
What are the 3 different types of happy lives?
- Pleasant life
- Good life
- Meaningful life
What is the pleasant life?
A life focused on experiencing and maximizing positive emotion (joy, pleasure, comfort) through enjoyable activities and sensory pleasures.
What is the good life?
A life that emphasizes gratification and self-efficacy, where a person uses their core strengths regularly to achieve goals and gratification in work, relationships, and hobbies.
What is the meaningful life?
A life in which a person uses their strengths in core service of something greater than themselves, such as a cause, community, or belief system, providing a sense of purpose and fulfilment.
What is the VIA (Values-in-action Institute of the Mayerson Foundation) Questionnaire?
- A questionnaire designed to identify a person’s strengths and virtues from a list.
What was the aim of Seligman (2004) study?
To investigate whether teaching positive psychology strategies (e.g., gratitude, optimism, strengths use) to college students would improve their well-being and reduce symptoms of depression.
Which research method did Seligman use?
Field expeirment (naturalistic setting- college campus)
What was the IV and DV of the study? (simple)
IV= Intervention (positive psychology seminar)
DV= Well-being (measured via life satisfaction scales and depression invetories)
Describe the sample in Seligman (2004) study?
- University students (enrolled in University of Pennsylvania)
What sampling method did Seligman (2004) use?
(Volunteer sampling). Participants volunteered or signed up for the course as part of their studies.
Summarise the procedure of Seligman (2004)?
- Introductions- students introduced to each other, instructed to identify strengths/virtues in classmates.
- Psychoeducation- positive past emotions (contentment), postive future feelings (hope), depressive realism, set ranges for happiness, link between wealth and life satisfaction.
- Techniques/ methods to inc positive emotions- Pleasant Life- gratitude, challenging catostrphic thoughts, savouring present moments, mindfulness.
- VIA (Values In Action Questionnaire)- Good Life- identify 5 strengths/virtues. Given HW to integrate these strengths and virtues to daily life.
- Evaluating their community role- Meaningfu Life- evaluating strengths/ virtues of community- imagine postive future and their role in it.
- Reading ‘Aging Well’ by George Valliant
Can you explain the procedure?
- Introductions
- Psychoeducation
- Techniques/ methods to inc positive emotions- Pleasant Life
- VIA (Values In Action Questionnaire)- Good Life.
- Evaluating their community role- Meaningfu Life.
- Reading ‘Aging Well’ by George Valliant
What is ‘Aging Well’ by Martin Valliant about?
George Valliant—who conducted a longitudinal study comparing the life satisfaction of top Havard graduates to those from a lower socio-economic, uneducated status—and found no significant differences in life satisfaction, marital ha[pines and depression and alcoholism rates.
What are the results of the study?
Significant increases in lifesatisfaction
Significant decreases in depressive symptoms
Positive changes- sustained for several months post-treatment.
What was the conclusion of the study?
Seligman and his students concluded- spending money to educate oneself on positive psychology would likely lead to sucess and life satisfaction
Name 1 strength and 1 weakness?
Strength- RWA- Demonstartes how psychological theory/ psychoeducation can improve everyday well-being. (Psychoeducation- simple/ pratical to implement)
Weakness- Small and self-selected sample: May not generalize beyond motivated college students.
