Positive psychology is the scientific study of human prosperity and an applied approach to optimal functioning. It is one of the important disciplines of psychology as a whole. It has been defined as the study of strengths and virtues that enable individuals, communities and organisations to drive. It is the study of optimal human functioning. It aims to discover and promote the factors that allow the human beings and the civilisation to thrive. Positive psychology is grounded in the belief that people want to have and lead a peaceful and meaningful as well as a fulfilling life. They want to cultivate what is best in them and to enhance their experiences and perception of love, work and play.
This branch of psychology is intended to enhance
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It enlisted certain criteria to establish the existence of a positive mental health. Some of these circumstances are realistic self-esteem and acceptance, voluntary control of behaviour and true perception of the world and of oneself. One should thrive towards mental wellness and not just physiological well-being. One should possess self-direction and productivity. Positive psychology depends on three aspects or dimensions namely positive traits, positive state and positive institutions. Some of the basic aims of positive psychology are to teach people to rise to life 's challenges and to learn from past mistakes and adversities in a positive manner. It teaches us to lead a engaged life and relate to other people and find fulfilment in engaging in activities and productivity. It makes us look beyond ourselves and also helps other in doing so to find meaning and satisfaction in life. Some other positive attributes which play a major part in the Disease Model are resilience, will power, honesty, joy, happiness …show more content…
It involves experimentation most often to collect quantitative data to help in this process. Scientific study of psychology has its roots in the late 19th century with the inception of the first laboratory set up by William Wundt to study the introspection method - one of the methods to understand human behaviour by reflecting upon one’s own perception, thoughts and feelings. The reactions to this event resulted in the growth of the early schools of psychology namely Structuralism, Functionalism, Gestalt psychology and Psychoanalysis. Structuralism focuses on understanding of the mental structures like the units that help in processing emotion, image and sensations in general. Functionalism on the other hand helps to analyse the adaptive nature of a human mind of a person in general as adaptation is also a vital pillar of well-being. Both of these fields are now collectively called as behaviouralism. Gestalt psychology mainly focuses on perception as it believes that perceptual experiences depend on the patterns exhibited by the stimulus and how the experience is organised. It believes that the whole is different from a collection of the individual parts because of the relationships between the parts. Psychoanalysis on the contrary is a method of psychotherapy developed by Sigmund Freud. It studies the concepts of
According to Dictionary.com (2017), the definition of psychology is: “The scientific study of mental processes and behaviour. The behavioural and cognitive characteristics of a specific individual, group, activity, or circumstance.” Psychology studies human mental functioning and behaviour by the use of systematic, scientific study known as the scientific method. The scientific method is a standardised way of making observations, gathering data, forming theories, testing predictions and interpreting results. Courses.lumenlearning.com (2017) stated that the scientific method is based on the following process: 1.Ask a question.
Psychoanalysis A method of studying how the mind works and treating mental disorders. Abstract A style of art composing of lines, colors and shapes, sometimes with no recognizable
To some extent also, incorporating a lifestyle that involves plenty of exercises can also be considered to be a value-based choice for management of unhappiness based disease conditions (Seligman, Parks & Steen 543). My concern is if empirical research performed in the area of positive psychology shows some evidence of possessing therapeutic functions on conditions such as depression or mental illnesses. Perhaps there will be some concerns on whether the medical practitioners will comfortably buy the ideology and incorporate the ideas developed from positive psychology to their medical protocols to handle mental illnesses. Of course, such a decision can only be made at an institutional level, having considered all policies that govern the medical protocols in the institution. My additional point of view is that people must be able to choose their values wisely, since according to the article this comes out as an area with an essential capacity (Seligman, Parks & Steen 543).
Lastly, staying positive can not only have physical health effects but mental ones as well. There are many health benefits, such as “Lower rates of depression, lower levels of distress, better psychological well-being, better coping skills during hardships and times of stress…” (Mayo Clinic Staff). Of course, if one stays positive, that person would be able to cope with things like depression and distress. As a person could live with a negative attitude, a positive attitude helps the body function better because it produces hormones like endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine.
Scientific Era a) Biological roots Charles Darwin’s Evolution Theory Gives the framework of human behaviorism and functionalism. His method of comparison is significant in evolutionary psychology. b) Schools of Psychology Structuralism - the progenitor is Wilhelm Wundt and term coined by Edward Titchner. Wundt belief is that to analyze our own perceptions, there must be introspection. According to structuralists, mental processes are broken down into the sensations, images and feelings.
At that time, focusing on the negative was crucial because it may be a threat to survival but this mindset is no longer needed today. Hanson proposes a method called "H.E.A.L." which stands for having a positive experience, enriching, absorbing, and linking the positive and negative. By learning about our brains and following the HEAL method to take in the positive
“I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near! I saw your face when she put me out and you loved me then and you do now!” Abigail exclaimed while grasping John’s shirt. “Child..” John said.
Psychoanalysis was first introduced by Sigmund Freud and is now known as classical psychoanalysis. The theory, as defined by Sigmund Freud, is the dynamic between underlying forces that determine behavior and personality. He stressed the importance of human sexuality, childhood experiences, and the unconscious processes. However, his theory was seen as misogynistic and narrow focused. Consequently, classical psychoanalysis was criticized and rejected by many scholars.
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
When it comes to the science of psychology psychologist are looking deeper into what affects ones behavior and mental health. Looking at the environment, health issues, cognitive, learning, and etc… How does everything affect the overall mental health of a person? 2. Distinguish between a theory, a hypothesis, and an operational definition.
In the mid 1800s, psychology was flourishing. Seemingly each new psychologist would often research mental phenomena with a slightly different perspective. In the 1890s, Edward Titchener brought Wilhelm Wundt’s psychology to the United States of America, establishing what is now known as structuralism. Generally, structuralists believe that everything within conscious experience is merely a combination of mental ingredients, which can be parsed apart via introspection (Hergenhan, 2017). Around the same time, a new school known as functionalism began to develop.
Psychoanalytic Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) is reflected as the forefathers of psychology and founder of psychoanalysis. Based on Freud’s theories, psychoanalytic therapy is a type of treatment that tends to observe at the background from early childhood to perceive if these situations have affected the individual’s life, or to current issues. (Counselling Directory, 2014) This therapy discovers how the unconscious mind empowers thoughts and behaviors, with the purpose of offering insight and resolution to the person seeking therapy. This form of therapy is a long-term treatment whereby it can take duration up to weeks, months or even years depending on the complexity of the patient being explored.
Mental health is a level of psychological well-being, or an absence of mental illness. It is the "psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioural adjustment”. From the perspective of positive psychology or holism, mental health may include an individual 's ability to enjoy life, and create a balance between life activities and efforts to achieve psychological resilience. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health includes "subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, inter-generational dependence, and self-actualization of one 's intellectual and emotional potential, among others”
A person undergoes a happiness advantage when their positivity level soars in the present, which will result in your brain, at positive, performing notably better than at stressed, negative, or neutral (Achor, 2016). A person’s energy, intellect, and creativity improve when a happiness advantage takes place. In fact, Shawn discovered that at positive, your brain is 31% more efficient. Doctors are 19% quicker and precise in diagnosing the correct problem (Achor, 2016). This means that the formula can be reversed.
INTRODUCTION. A set of assumptions or rules on which the practice of an activity is based on is called a theory. It is also a fundamental or a basis used to account for a situation. There are several theories used in counseling practice.