Essay On Positive Psychology

Positive psychology and applied positive psychology as branches of science

Positive psychology is a new, growing branch of psychology. (Sikka, P. 2016c). It can be described as a science of positive aspects of human life like well-being and flourishing. It studies the optimal human functioning which intend to find and to encourage the factors that makes individuals and communities flourish. (Boniwell, 2012). It can also be summarized as a scientific study of positive states of mind and positive behaviors (Sikka, P. 2016c).

Positive psychology has also been described by Sonja Lyubomirsky as the psychology of what makes life worth living. (Sikka, P. 2016c) And by Christoffer Peterson as the scientific study of what goes right in life from birth to death and all stops in between. (Sikka, P. 2016c)

Martin Seligman

They are a natural ally because the positive psychology offers a much needed scientific research base to coaches and coaches can serve as a good soundboard to its scholar ideas.

Both positive psychology and coaching agrees that the focus should be on whats right with a person rather than whats wrong. So rather focus on using one’s strengths than to improve weaknesses. (Boniwell, 2012).

The most important difference between a coaching psychologist, a positive psychology coach and a life coach is the amount of their academic background. A coaching psychologists has the longest academic education. To become a coaching psychologist you need a Bachelor’s Degree, a Master’s Degree, additional supervised practice and specialist training. To become a psychological coach you need have a Bachelor’s Degree. And at last to become a life coach you do not need any education at all. Anyone could practically call themselves a coach since the term coach is not unique to any specific profession. (Sikka, P.