Seligman's Theory Of Positive Psychology

Aristotle first discussed ethics, virtue, and their relationship to happiness around 340 BC. in The Nicomachean Ethics (trans. 1953). This work, later known as Aristotelian ethics identifies the struggle to come to terms with living a good life. These are questions that have been pursued through the ages and in this essay, I will be investigating the theory behind the identification of my own signature strengths and corresponding virtues as proposed by Seligman and Peterson (2004), touching on the ideas behind the theory of positive psychology (Peterson, 2006). I will examine how these strengths affect my life, briefly contemplate weakness and the ‘shadow’ sides of my attributes, as first described by C.G Jung (1953) and finally, investigate

Treatment is not just fixing what is broken; it is nurturing what is best within us.” (p. 1). Seligman conceived the term Positive Psychology (Lopez, Teramoto Pedrotti, & Snyder, 2015), a concept with ideas that goes beyond the balance and principle ascribed by Aristotle; aiming to develop individual strength and subscribing to the idea of living a good life, focusing on what is already working with an individual and what is developing (Compton & Hoffman, 2013). Lopez et al. (2015) write that these ideas are in contrast to that of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) (2013), focusing on difference and strength, as opposed to illness or deficit. Signature strengths, of which there is 24, are determined with a questionnaire known as a Values in Action Test (VIA) (Park, 2013), and have a set of six corresponding virtues, the primary one being wisdom and knowledge, followed by courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence (Park, 2013; Peterson, 2006). This idea appeals to me, as previous experience of psychological diagnosis has been one of demonstrating what is wrong and what cannot be corrected, whereas, this idea focuses on “positive functioning”

As investigated by Casey (2011), with the application of Barbara Fredrickson’s broaden and build theory of positive emotions (Kok & Fredrickson, 2013). With a focus on the presence of a cognitive aspect to positive emotions and the motivation to act positively after experiencing them, this theory demonstrates that building joy can affect health and quality of life while building internal resources (Lopez et al., 2015), and progress from languishing to flourishing (Faulk, 2013). Using a measure known as the state hope scale (Boyle, Skalofske, & Matthews, 2014), Casey’s study participants became more aware of their existing strengths and were able to achieve sub-goals more easily after engaging in the focus of positive emotions. This type of work lends itself to a counselling or coaching situation (Passmore & Oades, 2014). While the state hope scale is a useful tool to identify weakness, I find myself asking - while this may build my strengths, what of the work to be done outside of a clinical