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Affiliates:
Brian Ashin, MSW
Fernando Colón, Ph.D.
Kate Drinkwater, MSW
Douglas Ensor, Ph.D.
Paul Estenson, Ph.D.
Manal Assi Houmani, MD
Moira Hubbard, Psy.D.
Emily Jernberg, Ph.D.
Judith Kleinman, MD
Lori Lichtman, Psy.D.
Andrew Orosan-Weine, Ph.D.
Ellen Barahal Taylor, Ph.D.
Mary Whiteside, Ph.D.
Administrative Staff:
Chris Wozniak
Nancy Yonkman
Marcie Komanecky
Editor:
Patricia Pasick, Ph.D.
In this Issue:
More Positive Psychology
Eight Ways to Practice Positive Psychology
Divorce Mediation:
A Strength Based Alternative
Ann Arbor Center for the Family Current Events
Home
'Positive' is a relative thing. What is positive for me may not be positive for my spouse, co-worker, friend, or child.
Psychologists have long known that positive experiences are about the degree to which people are achieving goals they value. But if others create goals for you that you do not value personally, the experience may well be frustrating and hollow.
Having wealth is not a predictor of positive thinking and feeling. Living in poverty does not promote happiness, but having more than one needs has little effect on well-being.
Good physical health - aside from chronic or multiple disabling conditions - is also not a predictor of positive psychology. Illness is stressful, but plenty of physically healthy people walk around feeling miserable.
Well-being and satisfaction
Well-being is the sense that life has been and is good, and that life as a whole is fulfilling, meaningful, and pleasant. Satisfaction comes from accomplishing a goal, especially if one compares favorably with others who have achieved this goal.
Flow
Flow is a state of optimal experience, high concentration, and initiative. When people are in flow-type experiences, they are fully engaged and concentrating. Time seems to slip away. Feelings of inadequacy are missing.
Happiness
People who tend to describe themselves as generally 'pretty happy' tend to have higher self-esteem (feeling successful or competent in reaching goals) and a sense of personal control. They tend to be optimistic, extroverted, and show high levels of hope.
One note about self-esteem: it's about feeling good because of some inner quality, or some accomplishment, not about what people call 'unwarranted self-esteem.' Studies show that people who feel very high self esteem no matter what they do are prone to violence and relational problems.
Optimism and hopefulness about the future
Optimistic people, according to Martin Seligman, generally feel that good things will last a long time and will have a beneficial effect on everything they do. The flip side - pessimism - is a different explanatory style: Bad things will always happen (permanence), they set the stage for other bad things (pervasiveness), and it's all your own fault (personalization). Too much optimism, on the other hand, can erode a sense of responsibility. One should not attribute all events to external causes.
Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to
Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment. Martin E.P. Seligman. Free Press, 2002.
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. David D. Burnes. Wholecare, 1999.
The Feeling Good Handbook. David D. Burns. Plume, 1999.
Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind & Your Life. Martin E. Seligman. Pocket Books, 1998.
The Pursuit of Happiness: Discovering the Pathway to Fulfilment, Well-Being, and Enduring Personal Joy. David G. Myers. Avon Books, 1993.
What You Can Change...and What You Can't: The Complete Guide to Successful Self-Improvement: Learning to Accept Who You Are. Martin P. Seligman. Fawcett Books, 1995.