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 …show more content…
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 …show more content…
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
In his article "In Pursuit of Happiness: Better Living from Plato to Prozac," Mark Kingwell describes how there has been many debates on the meaning of happiness for many years yet still a singular, justifiable definition eludes society. The pursuit to define and understand happiness has invited several debates, questions, arguments, and suggestions alike. In 1996, a hand full of genetic and behavioral studies suggest evidence that one’s achievable degree of happiness is genetically decided, with evidences showing that no achievement will change your happiness, you are either happy or you’re not. Some studies demonstrated a correlation between dopamine levels in the brain and expressions of personal satisfaction, while others indicated that
Studies say your happiness level is 50% genetics, 40% is intentional behavior, and 10% circumstantial. I thought that this was interesting because I did not know that 50% of your happiness was based off of genetics alone. In the Ted Talk “On Positive Psychology”, the speaker Martin Seligman talks about this science. There is still a lot more to learn, but what the scientists have learned is amazing and very contradicting to previous studies. One thing mentioned in the Ted Talks was that there are now 14 mental illnesses that can be treatable, and two that are curable when previously all mental illnesses were untreatable.
Modern science has provided us with the techniques to decipher the areas and pathways within the human brain that are stimulated during various emotional states. This has enabled researchers to better understand the reasons, we feel happy about and the reason why we intuitively know that a specific combination tastes much better than the other. Why do we need this course in the curriculum? Positive psychology helps us better understand the reasons why we undergo various emotional changes at several situations that causes emotional distress. It helps us realize what is really important for our happiness and the ways to achieve it.
Happiness is very different for everyone. Over the past year’s people’s views and how they think has changed and that’s due to all the new technology that has been presented in our society. By studying the different kinds of information you can infer that happiness has changed in many ways and people have very different opinions. Table 1 from the “Got Joy?”
Motivation and Emotion Motivation is an area of psychology that has gotten a great deal of attention in the recent years. This is because we all want to make a success of our lives, we all want to be seen as motivated, and we all want direction and drive. A motive or motivation can be defined as a need, interest, desire or want that leads someone in a certain direction. This motivation is what causes us to take action.
How come one who has been so conscious of the mistake of others make the same one by trying to avoid it? In my opinion, it has something to do with their assumption on the relationship between emotion and outcome. Over-simplifying again, positive psychologists subtly assume that positive emotion will lead to positive outcome, and vice versa. As a result, they suggested the “old-school” psychology failed to appreciate human motivation to thrive, and by focusing positive side of everything, positive outcome will eventually be attained.
When I had to make an essay, before I wrote it I made a brainstorming about a lot of possible themes to start developing it. After thinking about many possible themes I decided to make my essay about psychology. Psychology is a theme that catches my mind because it has to do with the human behavior and brain functioning. Psychology is a new science with most advances happening over the past 150 years.
When considering the negative emotions, what is imperative is learning to appropriately regulate the damaging thoughts. Being happy all the time stipulates the epistemic irrationally. With the few minor changes, one can be happier than they currently are. The adjustment does not need much effort and may be easier than you think (Argyle, 2013).
After discovering some interesting information about them, I recognize that it is not difficult to become cheerful. In my point of view, whereas, whatever our circumstances are, people should eliminate their dissapointments and overcome the uncomfortable feelings. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Bergland, C. (2012, November 29). psychology today.
Freud’s simple answer to this widely spread question is happiness which can be achieved by “an
1.3 The different theories of well-being It is through positive psychology that we will provide an overview of the different theories surrounding welfare. Positive psychology is "the study of the conditions and processes that contribute to the development or the functioning of people, groups and institutions". This definition indicates that it is the pursuit of self-fulfillment and personal development, involving interpersonal relationships, social and even political. Therefore, positive psychology may be related to the development of college students, relationships within a work team, or the mode of communication between diplomats preparing a peace treaty.
It has been proven that those in a negative mood have a better memory than those in an uplifted mood. Memories can be corrupted and influenced by a positive mood. When in a negative mood, one is better at reasoning in a debate because he or she will use anger to find information and research to back up the argument being made. The same anger allows a person to be more open to the opposing views. Fear allows a person to know that there is a possible danger and to be more attentive in the dangerous situation.
People, in general, tend to force a positive environment because most believe that when someone is happy that individual is at peace, but being at peace is actually the exact opposite. Unlike other emotions, happiness is earned and must be maintained throughout life. When explaining happiness, critic Richard Smith remarks, “Happiness has become the ultimate luxury item” (452). Happiness and positivity are considered a prize because they are hard to get and hard to keep. Molding the brain to banish negative emotion is a job that pays people with a false feeling of happiness.
According to Wikipedia the philosophy of psychology is understood as the dilemma “at the theoretical foundations of modern psychology. Some of these issues are epistemological concerns about the methodology of psychological investigation.” however, specialists have come a long way in the attempts to solve these issues in the field of psychology. The use of new technology has contributed to more sophisticated solutions and theories for the mentally ill. Here I will take the time to compare and contrast frequent errors done in the history of psychology in contrast to the solutions offered today.
Emotions can sometimes get in the way of our utilitarian decision-making as evidenced by Anderson’s (2003) rational-emotional model. Plato and Descartes regarded emotion as the “enemy” of reason and rationality. However, Aristole and Spinoza posited that emotions such as fear, love, and sadness can also play a functional role in our lives. With self-help books like The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin topping best-seller lists and increasingly sophisticated therapies for emotional maladies being prescribed for daily use such as Prozac and Xanax, society is demanding more answers about how the mind controls our emotions. Branches of psychology such as positive psychology, pioneered by Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania, have