Positive psychology & the pursuit of “happiness” Helen Murphy Director / Psychologist.

Positive psychology & the pursuit of “happiness”

Helen MurphyDirector / Psychologist

Positive Psychology?

* Positive Psychology is:• as much concerned with

strength as with weakness• as interested in building the

best things in life as in repairing the worst

• as concerned with making the lives of normal people fulfilling as with the healing of pathology

* © Martin E.P. Seligman 2004. Used with permission

Three Pillars of Positive Psychology *

• Positive Emotion– The Pleasant Life

• Positive Character (Traits)– The Good Life

• Positive Institutions– The Meaningful Life

* © Martin Seligman 2004. Used with permission

The Pleasant Life & How to Enhance It *

• Past – satisfaction, gratitude, pride,

forgiveness, contentment

• Future – optimism, hope, trust, confidence

• Present– Pleasures (bodily senses)

• “savouring”, “mindfulness”– Gratification (absorbing activities,

flow, use of “signature strengths”)

* © Martin Seligman 2002 & 2004. Used with permission

The Good Life & How to Build It *

• Flow – deep, effortless involvement;

intellectual, social or physical engagement or absorption

– time stops, “self” vanishes

• Eudaimonia– contentment, flourishing– activities of noble purpose

• Signature Strengths & Virtues• No short cuts

* © Martin Seligman 2002 & 2004. Used with permission

The Meaningful Life & How to Attain It *

• Use of Signature Strengths in the service of what is larger than ourselves

• Positive Institutions

•

* © Martin Seligman 2004. Used with permission

Relevance

“Authentic happiness comes from identifying & cultivating your most fundamental strengths & using them every day in work,

love, play & parenting”. Seligman (2002)

Applications?• Organisational (selection, team work,

leadership, conflict resolution, E. l. …)

• Vocational (career decisions, job satisfaction, job search resilience… )

• Educational (learning, resilience, optimism, social intelligence, …)

• Relationships (satisfaction, resolutions)

• and more

The 24 Character Strengths

WISDOM - KNOWLEDGE • creativity • curiosity • open-mindedness • love of learning • perspective

COURAGE • bravery • persistence • integrity • vitality

HUMANITY • love • kindness • social intelligence

JUSTICE • citizenship • fairness • leadership

TEMPERANCE • forgiveness & mercy • humility • prudence • self-regulation

TRANSCENDENCE • appreciation of

beauty/excellence • gratitude • hope • humour • spirituality/purpose