We can track the origins of psychology as a part of philosophy as far back as 500 BC. Anyway, scientific psychology as we know it today is a relatively new science dating back to about 150 years when Leipzig and Gustav Fechner started exploring the sensory experiences and subjective judgments of people.

 

For over a century, psychology kept dealing with issues, mental illnesses, and maladaptive behavior as a primary focus. Or else said – it was generally a science aiming to determine what’s wrong, how it went wrong, and how it can potentially be made right again.

 

This course of development was uninterrupted until the very end of the 20th century. Then, the current-time president of the American Psychological Association, Martin Seligman, took on the humanistic approach of Abraham Maslow and started talking about “positive psychology.”

 

In the decades to come, positive psychology developed as a subfield of psychology focused on identifying and building assets instead of just dealing with issues. Below, we’re discussing the fundamentals of positive psychology and how it alters the general perception of ourselves and our own role in our general well-being.

What Is Positive Psychology: Definition

According to Martin Seligman’s own definition from the book “Positive Psychology: An Introduction”, this field of psychology can be described as:

 

“The scientific study of positive human functioning and flourishing on multiple levels that include the biological, personal, relational, institutional, cultural, and global dimensions of life.”

That’s the first scientific approach interested in the pursuit of happiness beyond motivational speaking, literature, and art. It’s a blend between modern science and a modern mindset, looking to define the means for achieving satisfaction, gratification, and good spirits by using one’s own signature strengths.

 

Or else said – positive psychology emphasizes happiness as a term for subjective well-being.

 

It explores the role of simple pleasures, fulfillment, accomplishments, meaning, and social inclusion in building up one’s general life satisfaction. Moreover – it can be applied to both individuals and societal groups looking to improve their long-term well-being instead of merely addressing their immediate problems.

What Are the Main Positive Psychology Concepts and Principles?

Considering its character and theories, positive psychology is often poorly misinterpreted as pseudoscience or even equalized with superficial self-help methodologies. It’s important to stress on the scientific nature of this psychology subfield, as it relies on research and evidence above all.

 

When it comes to theoretical concepts, we have the most straightforward set of definitions written down by Christopher Peterson – a professor at the University of Michigan and a major name in the field of positive psychology.

 

His evidence-based concepts of positive psychology can be summed up as follows:

 

• Most people are naturally resilient and capable of feeling happy and well-satisfied for most of their lives.
• Living a good life is something people can be educated about, and finding happiness can be trained.
• Feeling happiness promotes even more happiness and is a direct cause of fortunate events in life.
• Assets such as social relations, personality strengths, and general satisfaction can make disappointments and setbacks easier to take.
• A person’s inner resources are best revealed during times of challenge and crisis.
• People can draw meaning and purpose from other people, from their own spirituality, and from a meaningful and fulfilling professional realization.
• Financial stability plays a role in subjective life satisfaction but has diminishing returns on our happiness after a particular point.
• Living a good life is more about Eudaimonia (a deep inner satisfaction) than Hedonism (fleeting pleasures and instant positive experiences).
• Emotional intelligence and empathy are even more important than critical thinking for a person’s general quality of life.

 

Last but not least, Peterson states that all good days share three essential features. These are a sense of autonomy, a feeling of competence, and a connection to others. Translated from theory to practice, these would mean independence, education, and social interaction.

 

In the field of positive psychology, resilience is an inherent quality. And the more we perceive it as a resource, the more it would support us in revealing our additional resources.

Examples of Positive Psychology Interventions

Before we give examples of positive psychology interventions, we need to mention the most influential model these interventions are based on. It’s called the PERMA model, and it’s an acronym standing for Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment.

 

The upper ones are perceived as a type of formula for authentic well-being, and they act as puzzle pieces to the bigger picture of one’s happiness.

 

Anyway, bringing the pieces together can be easier said than done, especially given the scope of a person’s life they cover. So there are actually hundreds of positive psychological interventions for the sake of addressing each puzzle piece. And some of the most popular among them include:

 

• Savoring each experience and practicing mindfulness in the little pleasures in life, such as observing nature or enjoying the taste of a meal.
• Working on your empathy skills and practicing self-love and self-respect along with acceptance and respect towards others.
• Practicing everyday acts of kindness towards yourself and others. Altruistic and selfless acts are not strictly about gifts, money, or even volunteering. Instead, they can be just the words you say and the emotional support you provide.
• Focusing on gratitude and cherishing the things you have, the support you receive, or the good things life actually offers to you every day.
• Entertaining your optimistic view of life, including by means of imagination, analysis, thought experiments, and future expectations.
• Acknowledging your internal capacities and values as means to affirm your own strength and your own power in your life.
• Ever searching for meaning in the things you do and the goals you pursue. But not the meaning someone expects; the meaning that matters for you.

 

As broad as they are, the interventions listed above are meant to help you stay aware instead of swimming with the current. All-around perception, genuineness, reasoning, and appreciation cost nothing – but they are vital for teaching yourself to feel happy with yourself and the world around you.

The Positive Psychology Strengths and Virtues

As mentioned above, positive psychology is all about finding your strengths and using them in your favor. These strengths and virtues are best defined in a book by Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman called “Character Strengths and Virtues.”

 

According to the two positive psychology scientists, a person’s character strengths can be classified into six categories as follows:

 

Wisdom and Knowledge	Creativity, curiosity, judgment, flexible thinking, perspective, quick learning, etc.
Courage	Bravery, determination, perseverance, verve,  high intrinsic motivation, etc.
Humanity	Kindness, empathy, love, gratitude, social and emotional intelligence, etc.
Justice	Fairness, leadership, teamwork, collaboration, integrity, honesty, etc.
Temperance	Humbleness, forgiveness, attentiveness, discreetness, self-regulation, reasoning, etc.
Transcendence	Spirituality, hope, humor, appreciation of beauty, buoyancy, devotion, etc.

 

For the sake of objectiveness, there are multiple tests and surveys to help you determine your character strengths and virtues. They will lead you through different life situations to minimize subjectivity and determine your core resources as they are.

The Best Books for Positive Psychology

If you’re already interested in the principles of positive psychology, you’d probably want to dig deeper into the science of happiness. Although there are multiple resources you can support your learning process with, here are some of the best books you can begin with:

 

1. Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification by Christopher Peterson and Martin E.P. Seligman
2. Pursuing the Good Life: 100 Reflections on Positive Psychology by Christopher Peterson
3. Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life by Martin E.P. Seligman
4. Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment by Martin E.P. Seligman
5. The Psychology of Happiness by Michael Argyle
6. Flourishing: Positive Psychology and the Life Well-lived by Corey Keyes and Jonathan David Haidt
7. Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life by Todd Barrett Kashdan
8. What Is the Good life? Positive Psychology and the Renaissance of Humanistic Psychology by Brent Dean Robbins
9. Psychology of Human Strengths: Fundamental Questions and Future Directions for a Positive Psychology by Lisa G. Aspinwall and Ursula M. Staudinger
10. The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology by Shane J. Lopez

 

Stay tuned to our happiness, mental health, and well-being blog to find the next game-changer in your life!