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Martin Seligman Positive Psychology

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Introduction Since the beginning of psychological science, psychologists have directed their entire focus on what troubles the mind. This emphasis on psychopathology has resulted in the abandonment of the essential positive aspects of human nature and life. However, through the work of Martin Seligman and his colleague Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, positive psychology was able to redirect this perspective (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). Thus, this allowed a comprehensive understanding of optimal functioning and thriving, as the basis of positive psychology was to help individuals recognise their strengths and guide themselves to a state of flourishing. Various studies, including those conducted by Park, Peterson and Seligman (2004) and Proctor …show more content…

However, following World War II, psychologists abandoned two vital aspects of their pursuit and thus, shifted their entire focus onto eliminating the negative psychological outcomes of the war and treating mental illnesses (Maddox, 2002; Seligman, 2002). This decision was influenced by the rise of research funding in pathology, the innate negativity bias within humans and the belief that priority should be placed onto helping those “who are suffering… before those who are already doing well” (Gable & Haidt, 2005, …show more content…

These strengths exist in degrees and thus, can be qualitatively classified and measured using the Values in Action – Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS), which involves twenty-four universal character strengths arranged under six comprehensive virtues (Park, Peterson & Seligman, 2004). Thus, many researchers have utilised this effective tool to investigate the impact of character strengths on well-being and life satisfaction. This research area is viewed as being significant by various researchers, as the research literature depicts that some character strengths are associated with enhanced fulfilment of life and thus, decreased psychopathology, increased physical health and increased positive social relationships (Frisch, 2000; Furr & Funder, 1998; Veenhoven,

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Intro: Between 1914 and 1918, Australia’s involvement in the war changed many lives of people from all different ranks, on the battle grounds and the family’s back home in Australia. It had a great impact on Australia as a country, soldiers, family’s, nurses or other personnel’s, however when the guns fell silent in 1918 it did not end there, instead it continued on for years. When soldiers returned to their homes they suffered from their mental or physical problems as a result of the war. For example, soldiers affected with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD often deal with trauma as a result of the combat, they often suffer with nightmares, flashbacks, difficulty with sleeping which can impact their daily life. The war also had a great

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In 1917, a woman named Elizabeth Huntley decapitated her own daughter. When her case was brought to trial, doctors and professionals wrote it off as depression. Friends and family described that Huntley was a joyful woman until the air raids happened in London. She had nervous breakdowns during the air raids and even more so when her children screamed and cried. Before her doctor got her out of London and away from her children, she had already murdered her child.

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997 Words | 4 Pages

The hardships of the Great Depression had a huge psychological impact. The drastic change in living conditions compounded by the fellings of shame and self-doubt left long –lasting invisible scars. “I would go stand on the relief line and bend my head low so nobody would recognize me.” Some of the depressed population were truly desparate and committed

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1357 Words | 6 Pages

The Effects Of War War is a terrible thing, everyone can agree with that. It will leave a mark on everyone who was involved. Either physically or even worse, mentally. In the book “All Quiet on the Western Front” by a World War 1 veteran Erich Remarque describes the effects of not just WWI, but of what war in general can do to a man.

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During the Battle of the Bulge, soldiers fought in “grueling physical and psychological conditions” that led to persistent struggles after the war with remembering these conditions (Intro: Battle of the Bulge). Many veterans refer to the immediate effects of returning as the “shock of peace” (Childers). However, despite these widespread mental health problems, there were few psychiatrists to treat these soldiers as well as a “cultural ethos” that discouraged discussing emotions, especially among men (Childers). When soldiers returned home, they often had difficulty with finances.

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790 Words | 4 Pages

(AGG) When picturing war, the large majority of people will always imagine pain, suffering, and loss. (BS-1) War is understandably viewed in a largely negative light, one reason being its tendency to cause Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a disorder that is hard to cope with. (BS-2) However, some good can come out of a dreadful situation, including the improved trust among those who have gone through tragedy together.

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718 Words | 3 Pages

During World War II, things could get extremely stressful. So stressful, in fact, people would get mentally ill. The war was so much for them, that they would not be physically injured, but mentally. Their spirits would become drained, and they couldn’t go back into battle. That’s why coping methods were crucial in hard times.

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1032 Words | 5 Pages

Mental Illness in “A Soldier’s Home” Throughout history, medical practices have changed and adapted as the time and depth of education of doctors has expanded and grown in understanding of the human body and its function. As these medical practices have become more helpful and beneficial to the human body, sciences and doctors are coming to realize that some diseases and conditions that were labeled as “fake” or “made up” in the past centuries, are in fact real and legitimate ailments. These beliefs can be seen in the literature of the past, as the customs of the specific time would lead the population to think. This believe can be seen in the short story, “A Soldier's Home”, by Ernest Hemingway, the author shows a World War I soldiers struggle of undiagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, through using the main characters' issues with; conformity, friendship and family, to show the audience how this untreated PTSD ruined a young man's identity, friendships and tore apart his family.

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Character traits shapes how everyone expresses their feelings and simultaneously build up great values within people who makes effort. However, a crisis may crush their identity instantly. Countless tremendous changes might occur during the process. For example, the loss of control over oneself might hurt someone. During the stage of crisis, human beings tend to rely on trustworthy people or else they are clueless on what to do.

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Introduction Positive Psychology is the scientific study of positive individual personally traits, positive institutions promises, and positive subjective experience to increase life quality and at the same time avoid pathologies arise during boring and purposeless life (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). The Blind Side is a Chicken-soup American biographical drama sports movie filmed and also directed by John Lee Hancock in year 2009. It was screen played based on real life story of Michael Lewis which was also written into book entitled ‘The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by the author himself in year 2006. Furthermore, the movie overall period is 126 minutes in United States.

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1220 Words | 5 Pages

The reason behind chosen Seligman’s positive psychology is that in dealing with cancer patients, in the real life, the patients usually have the concept of depression as a side-effect of dying, they decide to stay away from any kind of socializing or making new relationships, all the above are the opposite of positive psychology that looks at the things from a positive angle, which suggests the good life they have in dealing with suffers in order to gain the strength. Moreover, in contrasting with Freud’s denial psychology that focuses on denying the concept of dying, and deny the truth or accept the reality as it is. The Fault in Our

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1002 Words | 5 Pages

On the contrary, the acquisition of a good life should rather focus on achievement of an overall balance between an individual with the surrounding world, with practice of fostering good relationships with others and self cognition. The positive development of psychological wellbeing therefore will lead to enduring happiness, which is the ideal outcome of a good

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1511 Words | 7 Pages

Happiness increase resilience to negative emotions and increase physical, emotional and intellectual wellbeing (Huppert, Baylis & Keverne, 2005, p. 227). Seligman 's (2002) authentic happiness theory explored notions of happiness in terms of positive emotions, engagement and meaning. According to Seligman these three aspects combine into "full life". Seligman 's three routes to happiness include both hedonic and eudemonic approach that increase wellbeing (Schueller & Seligman, 2010) and provide for greater life satisfaction (Huppert, Baylis & Keverne, 2005, p. 279). Considering that, it is possible to see a connection between Seligman 's authentic happiness theory and Carl Roger 's “self” theory of personality as both explain active attempts to satisfying one 's needs that are consistent with self-concept.

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915 Words | 4 Pages

In other words, the benefits caused by Buddhist meditation fulfill the criteria of subjective wellbeing, which includes personality, outlook, the quality of people’s social relationships and their ability to meet the basic needs. Through the various improvements in practitioners’ lives, it is suggested that Buddhist meditation is positively related to a better life. However, it should be noted that the conclusion drawn from this essay is not absolute since the impacts of Buddhist meditation on individuals vary. Furthermore, the measurement of wellbeing is complex because individuals place different importance on each factor.

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908 Words | 4 Pages

Basically, Seligman says human beings desire to flourish; in addition to wanting happiness, they desire to be good at something, to have fulfilling relationships, and to have meaning in their lives (Flourish, page 16). Seligman’s theory strives to influence individuals and increase their psychological well-being. His positive psychology offers a unique view on mental health through focusing on individual strengths. The goal of positive psychology is to assist individuals in creating meaningful lives through the promotion of positive emotions, individual character strengths, as well as, happiness, as key components to optimal mental health. So happiness to Seligman is an important component and essential but it is not the ultimate end as Aristotle views

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