does positive psychology have value in the real world?
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Does Positive Psychology Have Value In The Real World?. Dr John Parkinson School of Psychology Bangor University. Tonight’s Aims. What is Positive Psychology? What is Happiness? What are the Effects of Positivity? Is Happiness Achievable?. What is Positive Psychology?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Does Positive Psychology Have Value In The Real
World?Dr John Parkinson
School of PsychologyBangor University
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Tonight’s Aims
•What is Positive Psychology?
•What is Happiness?
•What are the Effects of Positivity?
•Is Happiness Achievable?
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What is Positive Psychology?
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“Positive mental health (wellbeing) is more than the absence of clinically defined mental disorder. The WHO definition of mental health as a ‘state of wellbeing in which the individual realises his or her abilities, copes with the normal stresses of life, works productively and fruitfully, and makes a contribution to his or her community’ (WHO, 2001, page 1),”
Positive Psychology and Wellbeing
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1.Emphasis on positive (not negative)
2.The pursuit of happiness3.A population approach4.Humanistic approach – we are
resourceful5.Prevent and prosper
Positive Psychology
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What is Happiness?
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Perspectives on Happiness
US Declaration of Independence:Life, liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness
Aristippus (4th C BC):The goal of life is to maximise the
totality of one’s ‘pleasures’
Bentham (and other Utilitarians):The best action (for a government or
an individual) which procures the greatest happiness for the greatest
numbers
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Not Everyone Sees A Happy World
Freud:
“One feels inclined to say that the intention that man should be happy is not included in the plan of Creation”
Larkin:
Man hands on misery to man
It deepens like a coastal shelf
Get out as early as you can
And don’t have kids yourself.
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Two Types of ‘Happiness’
pleasure, enjoyment, emotion, fun
AFFECT
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Happiness the Second
gratification, contentment, meaning, reflection
COGNITION
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fulfilment and meaning
momentary rewards Time
Happiness is (1) how you feel and (2) how you interpret that in the greater context of your life
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Is happiness inherited or learnt?Lykken (1996)Genes
~50% Learning, life experiences, situational
factors ~50%
Set-point of happiness (like weight)?
Attitude, control, hardiness, experience
Trait Positivity
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What are the psychological and physical effects of positive mood/
happiness?
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Cohen et al., 1991
Stress -> Illness
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Trait Positive Emotional Style (Vigor and well-being)
Participants quarantined and exposed – tracked for 5 days
Controlled for stress levels, previous antibody levels etc.
Cohen et al., 2006
Resilience -> Health
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• What happens when we are happy?
• Intuitively – relaxed, sociable, generous...
• Also appears to make us more open-minded, optimistic and creative
Compare effects of positive and negative emotions:
E.g. Fear - focuses thought-action repertoires
- context of win-lose thinking...
- self-protective and inward-looking
-ve emotions have a clear adaptive focus and drive
Effects of Emotion
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• Broaden and Build theory (Isen, 2000, Fredrickson, 2002)
• ‘Expansive’ thought-action repertoires
• Creates a context of win-win interactions...
• Engenders outward looking attitudes, optimism and creativity
Adaptive value is in affiliation, problem-solving (coping), goal-planning and growth
Effects of Happiness
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• (Isen 1970, Isen and Levin 1972)
• Participants discovered coins in payphone change box (positive mood induction)
• Shortly afterwards, participants met a stooge who had dropped papers or were struggling to carry books
• Coin-finders compared to controls were significantly more likely to help out
Positive emotion engenders altruism
• (Estrada et al., 1997)
• Doctors given treats (e.g. chocolate) just prior to being asked to make diagnosis (they were not allowed to eat the treats)
• They exhibited better decision-making and diagnosis skills
Positive emotion engenders superior reasoning
Happiness, Altruism, Reasoning
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(Fredrickson 2000)
- Positive mood induction (watching a funny film)
- Increases problem solving skills and increases ability to think of new ideas
Positive emotion increases creativity
Happiness and Creativity
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(Frijda, 1994)
• Joy promotes playfulness
• Play has an adaptive function in promoting social interaction and attachment as well as building resources
Positive emotion increases social interaction and attachment
Happiness & Attachment
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‘We are disturbed not by events, but by the views which we take of them.’
Epictetus
Interpretation - of the past(memory bias)
- of the present(mood)
- of the future(optimism and hope)
Attributional (or Explanatory) Style
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Distorted Thinking
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Mark and Smith, 2011
Depression or Job Satisfaction inUniversity Employees
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Proudfoot et al., 2009
Attributional Training and Job Satisfaction
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Positive Attributional Style & Optimism- Is adaptive, motivating, engenders self-confidence
- Is learnt and can be changed1. Better academic achievement (e.g. college
grades)2. Better sport performance (both individual and
team sports)3. Happier family life (positive interactions and
long-term marital satisfaction)4. Better coping strategies to loss and life events
(re-appraise loss in positive terms, distraction not denial)
(Gillham 2000; Seligman, 1988; 1998; Fincham, 2000; Nolen-Hoeksema, 2000)
Summary
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What would a positive psychology intervention look like?
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Positive Psychology Interventions
Positive memory recall - 3 good things
Gratitude letters
Using inner strengths
Confidence statements
Future goal setting - best possible self
Optimistic thinking - attributional training
Communication and socialising
Positive Psychology <---> Psychotherapy
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Promoting Positive Thought Routines1. Selection of ‘pos psy’ or ‘cognitive’
exercise (8 weeks)Optimistic thinking (best possible self)Appreciation (gratitude)Control (Compile a list of activities completed)
2. Amount of effort engaged
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Positive Change Requies Effort
and a Motivation to Change
Lyubomirsky 2011
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How to Deliver an Intervention
Online vs In-person
Peer testimonial
Best possible self (4 weeks: social, health, academic, career)
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Best Possible Self
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Considering a Positive Future
Gains achieved through both: In person
Online
Peer testimonial also increased gains
HopeFuture goal achievementThe possibility of changePersonal choice and autonomy
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Depression Status
Self-selection
Administration format (individual, group, self)
Administration duration (legacy, effort)
Age
‘Shotgun’ approach
Culture
Effect Size Moderators
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Does Positive Psychology have Value in the Real World?- As a field of study, it
explores the positive potential of humanity (research-led, evidence-based)
- As a practical guide, it provides tools to improve immediate affect and longer term attitudes
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Thank you