Positive psychology promotes interventions based on people's strengths.
Positive psychology is a branch of psychology that is dedicated to the analysis of what increases well-being and improves the quality of life of people . It is a current that examines the virtues and strengths of human beings.
What positive psychology does is change the usual focus of psychological study focused on negative emotions and painful or traumatic situations. On the contrary, it is proposed to observe the favorable elements to enhance them .
History of positive psychology
The history of positive psychology began in the late 1990s . The American psychologist Martin Seligman , then director of the American Psychological Association , is identified as its creator.
Seligman considered that psychology should evolve and investigate the traits and factors that contribute to the happiness, personal growth , and life satisfaction of individuals. His position was to go beyond solving emotional problems to focus on the positive and nourish it .
Thus, a first summit of this psychological current was held in 1999 . Three years later, the first international conference of this trend was organized and little by little the meetings, congresses and courses began to take place.
It must be emphasized that the first reflections on issues such as personal strengths, joy and satisfaction arose thousands of years ago. In Ancient Greece , for example, Aristotle wrote about eudaimonia , a concept usually translated as happiness . Much closer in time, in the 1940s, humanistic psychologists such as Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow also investigated positive mental health.
A Seligman se le reconoce el impulso para estudiar científicamente las emociones positivas, indagando en dinámicas y procesos que contribuyen al bienestar. Su aporte, al igual que el realizado por otros psicólogos como Mihály Csíkszentmihályi yEd Diener, hizo esta ciencia deje de concentrarse casi exclusivamente en el tratamiento de trastornos y enfermedades mentales para ahondar en intervenciones de bienestar con una perspectiva positiva.
With positive psychology you can achieve personal fulfillment.
The pursuit of happiness
According to Seligman , there are three great paths to progress towards happiness:
- Meaningful life : Actions associated with a meaning in life and the fulfillment of goals that transcend the individual. Empathy , kindness, and altruism are virtues mentioned by Seligman to build enriching relationships and help with healthy social connection.
- Committed life : The application of personal skills and strengths to live rewarding experiences in all areas, whether in the family environment, the work universe, etc. Wisdom , temperance, creativity , courage, passion and vitality are among the resources indicated by the American psychologist.
- Pleasant life : Maximization of pleasant emotions. According to Seligman , we must learn to generate positive emotions and sustain them over time, achieving an emotional balance between the past, present and future. Gratitude, hope, optimism and so-called mindfulness are instruments to achieve these goals.
Positive psychology contributes to emotional regulation .
Characteristics of positive psychology
Positive psychology, in short, is based on the analysis of people's positive functioning by examining multiple dimensions, from biology to institutional, cultural and social aspects. It can be said that positive psychologists aspire to understand the bases of happiness.
In this context, the factors that enable an individual to have a full life and enjoy well-being are studied. Emotional intelligence , creativity, positive humor and resilience are some of the positive aspects of people that help a happy and pleasant development.
It is important to mention that positive psychology is not intended to replace other branches of psychology. Just as the need to treat depression , anxiety disorders and other mental health problems is recognized, this work must be complemented with a focus on strengths to stimulate and promote them.
Its advantages and disadvantages
Positive psychology can provide multiple benefits. Thanks to its approach, it contributes to strengthening self-esteem and helps face obstacles, promoting empowerment .
Likewise, it favors leadership qualities since it can channel the individual's strengths. On the other hand, it serves to regulate emotions because it focuses on the interpretation of the environment and adaptation.
These advantages are especially relevant in education . Positive psychology can make great contributions to children's development in school and the successful deployment of their skills and talents.
It cannot be omitted to mention, however, that there are those who warn about the risks and shortcomings of positive psychology. On the one hand, it is mentioned that considering that happiness is "positive" implies that sadness and other emotions are "negative" , which means they lose their transformative capacity and their potential as an instrument to overcome certain instances.
It is also often indicated that the reality on which positive psychology works is too simple. Seligman 's model, according to this vision, does not take into account the complexities of the real world and, therefore, its conclusions are not valid or applicable.