Psychology Vs Positive Psychology

In the 1900’s psychologists began focusing on happiness rather than mental disorders. The debate over an individual’s behavior was subjected to reasons why individuals behave in certain ways. Before the 1990’s, many psychologists debated that people act they way they do because they suffer from certain mental disorders. These researchers studied the human mind to find more information to answer what causes an effect in human behavior. However, since the 1900’s, psychologists have switched their research from studying mental disorders to studying positive psychology, which is the study of happiness. Psychologists focused more on happiness rather than mental disorders because even if they cured someone from depression, anger, or fear, it would

In “The New Science of Happiness” it states how disabled people, after they lose function in their limbs, were severely angry and anxious during the first week. However, after eight weeks, happiness was their strongest emotion. They began to accept to their new lifestyle and appreciate the things they still can do. With this creative style of thinking, these people were able to live a happy life (qtd. in Wallis 3). Another example of how negative emotions bring out creativity is in “Happiness: Enough Already,” it says “The creator of “peanuts,” Charles M. Schulz, was known for his gloom, while Woody Allen plumbs existential melancholia for his films, and Patti Smith and Fiona Apple do so for their music” (Begley 456). In this example, Begley explains how these artist are successful because they used their emotions as inspiration for their work. Therefore, negative emotions, such as sadness, can provide people with inspiration for their creative work, which will in turn lead them to happiness because they are successfully

In “Don’t Worry, Be Gloomy,” David wirtes, “When we’re overly cheerful, we tend to neglect important threats and dangers. It’s not too big a stretch to suggest that being excessively happy could kill you” (David 124). This example explains how being overly happy can cloud people’s judgement, which will result in making poor decisions. When an individual is happy, that individual is less likely to notice important details, think critically, or focus on negative outcomes than an individual in a negative mood. Negative emotions keep people safe from making poor decisions because they grant people the ability to notice important details, think critically, and focus more on negative outcomes which will ultimately bring happiness upon an