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Prof. Dr. Martin EP Seligman
"Father of Positive Psychology"
father of the
Positive Psychology
Positive psychology is a subdiscipline of psychology that focuses on researching and promoting well-being and the positive aspects of human life (Seligman 1998). In contrast to traditional psychological approaches, which often focus on the treatment of mental illnesses/disorders, the first wave of positive psychology aimed primarily to emphasize the strengths and resources of individuals in order to promote a fulfilling and meaningful life.
This approach was soon further developed, as it turned out in practice that an overly one-sided and strong focus on the positive was just as undesirable and could be detrimental as a concentration on the negative.
It became clear that unrealistic optimism can lead to risky behavior, and that exaggerating one's strength often results in negative consequences. On the other hand, negative outcomes can also lead to positive ones.
Personal crises can contribute to personal growth. Mistakes and failures provide learning opportunities and often open up new perspectives.
Negative emotions are also important; they provide clues to (unmet) needs and personal values. The second wave of positive psychology integrates these insights.
Positive psychology focuses on individual happiness and has thus far paid little attention to questions concerning the well-being of societies and life in a livable world. However, in times of crisis, globalization, and digitalization, these questions are gaining relevance, because the happiness of a society is more than the sum of the happiness of each individual. Every person is embedded in a system. Therefore, changes are not subject to a simple cause-and-effect mechanism. The third wave of positive psychology integrates this previously missing aspect. It asks questions about how systems can function and what factors allow societies to flourish. It poses the fundamental question of how positive psychology can contribute to a livable world.
"People can choose the way they think - the mind is powerful."
(Martin Seligman)
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