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Positive Psychology 101

Dr Suzy GreenCEO & Founder

www.thepositivityinstitute.com.auinfo@thepositivityinstitute.com.au

What do you want for your children?

In 2 words or less….

Mental Health Spectrum(Well-being Institute, University of Cambridge, 2011)

Well-Being Science

Seligman, 2012“Flourish”

Flourishing Introductions:When do you flourish?

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Positive Psychology: off the starting blocks

Presidential Address to the American Psychological Association, 1998

What is Positive Psychology?Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the conditions and processes that lead to optimal human functioning (Gable & Haidt, 2005)

•A science of well-being….•A science of resilience…•A science of achievement

Green & Palmer (2018)

Positive Psychology TopicsPositive Psychology

Interventions51 studies involving over 4000 individuals = Significant increase in levels of well-being and decrease in depressive symptoms:

• Goal training and setting; • Practicing gratitude and kindness; • Mindfulness training; • Learned optimism; • Strengths identification and development; • Best possible self exercises;• Coaching Sin & Lyubormirsky, (2009)

Why do we need it?The Negativity Bias!

• A psychological phenomena by which humans pay more attention to and give more weight to negative rather than positive experiences or other kinds of information.

Why Positive Psychology?

• There is a significant amount of research to show that that individuals who flourish or experience more positive emotions than negative emotions in their daily lives do better in many aspects of life.

• Numerous studies have shown that “happy”individuals are successful across multiple life domains, including marriage, friendship, income, work performance, and health (Lyubomirsky et al, 2005).

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IPENInternational Positive Education Network Positive Education Framework

(Norrish et al 2013)

• LEARN it• LIVE it• TEACH it• EMBED it

Why Positive Education?Seligman, 2009

• As an antidote to depression (+ anxiety)

• To increase life satisfaction (well-being)

• To improve learning + creativity (academic outcomes)

“Because most young people attend school, schools provide the opportunity to reach them and enhance their well-being on a large scale”

The EvidenceWell-Being, Learning & Performance!

• Higher GPA; • Improved feelings of competence (self efficacy);• Increased creativity and flexibility of thought; • Improved conceptual reasoning and long-term

memory; • Improved positive/negative emotional ratio;• More resilient in stressful situations;• More tolerance towards others.

The Flipside…• In contrast, students with poor mental health

experience substantial challenges with their learning and school performance.

• Depression and anxiety lead to reduced student learning through decreased concentration, motivation, and interest and challenges to cognitive functions such as working memory (Frojd, Nissinen, Pelkonen, Marttunen, Koivisto, & Kaltiala- Heino, 2008; Owens, Stevenson, Hadwin, & Norgate, 2012).

Positive PsychologyWhy do you need it?

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Suzy’s 7 Simple Strategies… Strategy 1:Turn your ANTS into your PETS

Fixed vs Growth MindsetProfessor Carol Dweck

Strategy 2:Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway!

Scientifically ProvenMood-Boosting Strategies

• Counting your blessings• Practicing acts of kindness• Savoring life’s joys• Thanking a Mentor• Learning to forgive• Investing time & energy in your family• Practicing religion & spirituality• Taking care of your body eg exercise• Developing coping strategies• Envisioning your Best Possible Self

(Lyubomirsky & Sheldon, 2007; Sheldon & Lyubomirsky, 2006)

Strategy 3:Ask yourself the 3 Questions?

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Strategy 4:Know your Why?

Strategy 5:Play to your Strengths

Strengths-Based ParentingProf Lea Waters, University of Melbourne

Prof Waters’ research shows that children and teenagers who have strength-based parents:

• Have higher levels of life satisfaction• Have a better understanding of their own strengths• Cope with conflict in more pro-active ways• Use their strengths to help them meet homework deadlines• Have lower levels of stress

Strategy 6:Toughen up…

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Strategy 7:Choose generosity… Q & A

info@thepositivityinstitute.com.auFacebook: The Positivity Institute

Twitter: DrSuzyGreen