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The new Science of
Positive Psychology
5 July 2012 - Manuela Glasbrenner Erinvale Golf Estate, Somerset West
What is Positive Psychology?
Dr. Martin Seligman (2004)
Psychology should be...
1. ... bothered with human strengths as much as it is with weaknesses.
2. ... about building the best things in life just as we repair the worst.
3. ...as concerned about making normal people´s lives happier as with healing pathology.
A little bit of history...
Emil Kraepelin
We don´t learn about health if we only know disease
Sigmund Freud
People can make choices that lead them to become happy and healthy.
What is Positive Psychology?
Interventions
1. Primary Prevention„Stop the bad before it happens“
3. Primary Enhancement„Make life good“
2. Secondary Prevention„Fix the problem“
4. Secondary Enhancement„Make life the best it can be“
Happiness – why bother?
Cecilia O'Payne
“God started my life off well by bestowing upon me grace ofinestimable value. The past year which I spent as a candidatestudying at Notre Dame has been a very happy one. Now I lookforward with eager joy to receiving the Holy Habit of our Ladyand to life a life of union with Love Divine.”
90% alive at age 8554% alive at age 94
- Longevity
and to life a life of union with Love Divine.”
34% alive at age 8511% alive at age 94Marguerite Donnelly“I was born on September 26, 1909, the eldest of seven children, fivegirls and two boys. My candidate year was spent in themotherhouse, teaching chemistry and second year Latin at NotreDame Institute. With god's grace, I intend to do my best for ourorder, for the spread of religion and for my personal sanctification.”
Studying Positive Emotions
Positive emotions (e.g. joy)
The Broaden and Build Theory (2000)
Negative emotions (e.g. fear)
Barbara Fredrickson
(e.g. joy)=> creative thinking => action
(e.g. fear)=> protection => no action
Studying Positive Emotions
broadening
New thoughts & activities
Building resources through an upward spiral
Opening up tocues & possibilities
Positive emotions
more
broadening
Increased health & fulfilment
Building resources (social support, skills, knowledge etc.)
Studying positive emotions
Positive emotions lead to improvements in...
Social life
� Interactions with people� Relationships� Generosity
Thinking abilities
� Perception� Problem solving� Creativity� Goal setting
Health
� Pain resistance� Immune functioning� Resistance to viral infections�Later lung cancer onset
Job performance
� Persistence� Productivity� Income� Overall success
� Goal setting
Obstacles on the path to happiness?
Why „bad news“ is stronger than „good news“
Amygdala
TOWARDS...AWAY!
What makes you happy?
What makes you happy?
Pleasures Gratifications
Consuming Activities
Use of strengths
Consuming
Sensations
Activities
Inner drive
Come easy Require effort
Immediate reward Reward afterwardsOne can not fail Risk of failureTemporary Last longer
The strengths based approach
The strengths based approach
Talent: Our strongest neural connections:„Natural patterns of thoughts, feeling or behavior“
+ knowledge
Strength= consistent, near perfect performance in
+ skillsStrength
weakness
perfect performance in an activity
strength
How to detect your talents?
Spontaneous reactions
How do you approach situations when you are under stress?
Try different activities
Write down two activities you would like to try out
Rapid learnings
What have you learnt in the past that came very easily to you?
Satisfaction
Which (work) activity are you looking forward to?
Listen to your yearnings
What did you enjoy most when you were a child?
Where now from here? Summary
Positive Psychology
Positive Emotions
Bad news?
We are at the beginning of a new understanding of the choices that lead to happiness.
Positive emotions help us to be better in all areas of life. Feel positive and create an upward spiral!
Remember your brain detects a lion behind every bush. Are your fears really a lion or actually a door to Bad news?
Pleasures in life
Strengths
bush. Are your fears really a lion or actually a door to walk towards to open?
Take a look at what makes you feel happy: What are lasting sources of happiness?
Your strengths are absolutely unique. Find them and then sail off to make the difference nobody else can make.
Where now from here?
� Subscribe to my blog on www.metathoughts.co.zaBook reviews , interviews and news on Positive Psychology
� Positive Psychology Coaching� Meetup on Positive Psychology & Happiness, 19 July, CT