BASIC THEMES OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

“Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living.”- Peterson.
Positive psychology is the scientific approach to studying human thoughts, feelings, and
behaviours, with a focus on strengths instead of weaknesses, or we can say, the ‘glass-half
full’ approach. ‘The new area of positive psychology is concerned with the use of
psychological theory, research, and intervention techniques to understand the positive, the
adaptive, the creative, and the emotionally fulfilling elements of human behavior’ (Positive
Psychology, page 28; para 3).
Positive psychology has 3 different levels: the subjective level, which focuses on feelings of
happiness, well-being, and optimism, and how these feelings transform our daily experiences.
It is about ‘feeling good’, which comes from the positive experiences. When we feel good, it
reflects in our behaviour and actions. Our efficacy and quality of work increases which
results in further increase in the ‘good feeling’. It creates a positive chain. The individual
level is a combination of the subjective level feelings, and virtues such as forgiveness, love,
and courage. The group level, focuses on positive interactions with the community,
including virtues like selflessness and social responsibility that strengthen social bonds.
These 3 levels together contribute to building a ‘good life’.

THE GOOD LIFE

The question that arises is, what is a good life? Is it money, getting what one desires, living
your dream, or just simply complete well-being?
‘Good life’, as defined by Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology, means
“using your signature strengths every day to produce authentic happiness and abundant
gratification”.
A combination of 3 elements forms the good life: connections to others, positive individual
traits, and life regulation qualities. The ability to love, presence of selflessness, the ability to
forgive, and the presence of spiritual connections to help create a sense of deeper meaning
and purpose in life are aspects of positive connections to others. It is a mix of the subjective
and individual level of positive psychology and is concerned with the effect of an individual’s
qualities or abilities on others. The degree of positive individual traits differs on a personal
level and does not affect others. It includes traits like sense of integrity, ability to play and be
creative, and presence of virtues like courage and humility. The element of life regulation
qualities is on the group level of positive psychology. It involves self-regulation to
accomplish our goals while helping the people and institution we encounter along the way to
benefit.
The good life is not an individual achievement. It must include relationships with other
people and with the society to reach the greatest sense of well-being, satisfaction or
contentment.
POSITIVE EMOTIONS ARE IMPORTANT
In the 20th century, many scientists argued that psychology should focus on social problems,
like substance abuse, criminal behavior, or the treatment of major psychological disorders
like depression which was only partially correct. Positive psychologists do not reject the need
to study and attempt to overcome the terrible societal and individual costs of these problems.
Recent research, however, suggests that the study of positive emotions can indeed help to
fight these problems. “Low positive well-being in the present can set the stage for the
development of depression up to 10 years later (Joseph & Wood, 2010)”. (pg 33, para 2)
At present, newer forms of psychotherapy have emerged that instead of focusing on internal
conflicts, or anxieties and trauma of the past, focus on the development of positive emotions
and adaptive coping strategies. “Psychoanalyst Volney Gay argued that adult distress often
occurs because people cannot recollect joy, which in turn leads to a retreat from active
participation in life.” (pg 33, para 2). According to Barbara Fredrickson, the developer of
Broaden and Build Theory, positive emotions are internal signals that encourage “approach
behavior,” among us, thus motivating individuals to engage in their environments and explore
novel people, ideas, and situations. When people are open to new ideas and actions, they
broaden their horizons, learn, and grow as individuals.

“Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ed Diener, and Laura King (2005) concluded that people who
experience more positive emotions tend to have greater success in numerous areas of life
compared to those more negatively oriented. For instance, people who experience and
express positive emotions more often are likely to be satisfied with their lives, have more
rewarding interpersonal relationships, and are more productive and satisfied at their job.” (pg
33-34; para 3 & 1)

‘Positive emotions’ doesn’t just mean feeling happy all the time. A range of other emotions
can also increase focus and success and, over time, improve an individual’s wellbeing. These
emotions include joy, amusement, hope, pride, interest, compassion, gratitude, etc. it all starts
with accepting the emotions one feels and then driving them towards the positive direction to
achieve complete well-being.

PEOPLE CAN FLOURISH AND THRIVE

“Human beings are often, perhaps more often, drawn by the future than they are driven by the
past” (Seligman, 2011, p. 106).
Often, psychological research shows a bias towards biological factors, childhood, the levels
of consciousness, past experiences or traumas, and cultural conditioning. However, we see
that many people adapt to life’s changes well or for the better. They do not let their past
control their future and its often dismissed or overlooked.
A classification system created by Corey L. M. Keyes and Shane Lopez shows that people
who score high on well-being and low on mental illness are flourishing. People who score
high on both well-being and mental illness are struggling, people who are low on well-being
and high on mental illness are floundering, and those who score low on both well-being and
mental illness are languishing. Flourishing describes high level of well-being, struggling
describes generally doing well but facing distress, floundering describes being in a difficult
situation, and languishing describes no mental health issue but dissatisfaction in life. These
classifications describe the life of students across the globe today. Keyes and Lopez suggest
that a combination of high emotional well-being, psychological well-being, and social well-
being, with low mental illness makes contribute to complete mental health. Happiness and
satisfaction with life results in high emotional well-being, the feeling of competence results in
high psychological well-being, positive attitude towards others, understanding the social
world, and feeling like a part of a larger social community results in high social well-being.

NEED OF POSITIVE SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

“Other people matter. Period.”- Christopher Peterson.

We as humans need each other to survive, grow, and sustain. It is the basis of our nature. It is
how we have come this far, and it is the only way we see the future. Therefore, well-being
cannot be an individual pursuit. We need positive social relations. When we have positive
social relationships, we feel connected to others in ways that we cannot experience when we
are alone, or when we have only superficial relationships.
Positive social relationships bring emotional, material, and physical health. They give us
emotional support and encouragement in difficult times and happiness. It starts creating a
chain of positive actions and feeling that impacts us and everyone around us.

IMPORTANCE OF COMPASSION AND EMPATHY

‘Both Sigmund Freud and the early behaviorists led by John B. Watson believed that humans
were motivated primarily by selfish drives. From that perspective, social interaction is
possible only by exerting control over those baser emotions and, therefore, is always
vulnerable to eruptions of greed, selfishness, and violence. The fact that humans actually
lived together in social groups has traditionally been seen as a tenuous arrangement that is
always just one step away from mayhem.’ (pg 39’ para 1)
For decades, psychological research assumed that humans were driven by aggression,
selfishness, and pleasure and therefore, the design of the research supported this assumption.
Recent psychological research found that socialization and the ability to live in groups are
highly adaptable traits and that the need to cooperate and the desire to help others may be
biologically based and innate.
Empathy and compassion are needed in everyday life, especially when interacting with
others. Without these two things, it can be difficult to maintain healthy relationships. This is
because they help you exhibit kind and loving behavior to your loved ones, which helps
reinforce the relationship.
Seppala, Rossomando and James describe social connection as an underlying drive of human
behavior, even at the physiological level. As we are a highly social species, fostering
meaningful relationships is an essential aspect of healthy human adjustment.

INDEPENDENCE OF POSITVE AND NEGETIVE EMOTIONS

People hope to win a lottery in hope of eliminating all the worry about not having money and
that the money is going to take away all their problems and make them happy and satisfied. It
is the same with emotions. It is assumed that just by eliminating the negative emotions, the
positive emotions would automatically take their place. The positive and negative emotions
are independent of each other and cannot automatically replace each other.
Argyle noted that the probability of experiencing negative emotionality is predicted by
several factors, such as unemployment, high stress, and low economic status. However,
happiness and psychological well-being are not automatically achieved when a person has a
job, is subject to normal stress levels, and is middle class. On comparing with someone
undergoing greater stress, such a person feels better but is not necessarily as happy as he or
she could be. Merely to eliminate one’s negative feelings does not automatically bestow
human strengths, virtues, and the capacity to thrive and flourish. Just because someone is
relatively free of anxiety, depression, and worry, does not mean that person automatically
exhibits inspiring instances of compassion, courage, honesty, or self-sacrifice. (pg 40 para 3)

NEGATIVE EMOTIONS ARE STILL IMPORTANT

Negative emotions are as important as positive emotions, and we would be far too vulnerable
if we completely ignore fear, anxiety, sadness from our lives. The recognition and expression
of negative emotions are also vital to self-understanding and personal growth.
Anger, frustration, fear, and other "negative emotions" are all part of the human experience.
They can all lead to stress and are often seen as emotions to be avoided, ignored, or otherwise
disavowed, but they can be healthy to experience. A better approach is to manage them
without denying them.

THE SCIENCE OF WELL-BEING

Well-being is the experience of health, happiness, and prosperity. It includes
having good mental health, high life satisfaction, a sense of meaning or purpose, and ability
to manage stress. Positive psychology is not the first attempt by psychologists to study well-
being and good life. Psychological wellbeing involves not only the absence of illness, but the
presence of something positive: growth, positive relationships, autonomy, purpose and
environmental mastery.

In current times, focusing on building more positive feelings from positive emotions is a
necessity. Being locked in the house for days together can shift our focus on the things that
are negative, loss, pain, fear, sadness. In such times, building a good life is only possible after
accepting and overcoming these emotions. Being connected with other people and
maintaining and building positive social relationships and having compassion and empathy
can act like a catalyst in reaching the good life. The good life is a collective achievement, and
therefore, affects the people around us. It is like spilling a mug full of goodness.