PS 373 Exam 2

optimal experiences

experiences in life that are found through intentional, moment-to-moment searches through mindfulness, flow & spirituality; usually involved competence & happiness

Czikszentmihalyi & study of flow

fascinated by "full capacity living" that he first witnessed in painters that would become absorbed in their work; later expanded research to work & play

Wrzeniewski & research on hospital cleaners

found their "calling" in life b/c they made the choice to acknowledge what moments in life were worth their attention (keeping the hospital sanitary, redecorating patients' rooms, etc)

3 conditions when gratitude emerges (Emmons)

when a positive outcome from another has: 1) been costly to them 2) is valuable to the recipient 3) intentionally done

empathy

- a vital skill in positive psychology - the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing feelings, thoughts, & experiences of another without having explicitly experienced those things

personality traits assoc w/ autotelic personality

- curiosity - persistence - low self-centeredness - preference for high-action opportunity, high-skill experiences - experience less stress

true benefits of spirituality

- deeper understanding of ourselves & lives - leads to well-being - helps in times of strife/inc. coping skills

Japanese Naikan

1) First, what did I receive? 2) Second, what did I give? 3) Third, what troubles & difficulties did I cause to others?

neurological benefits of mindfulness

1) better spatial abilities 2) inc. ability for awareness 3) potential increase in neuroplasticity

3 core emphases of collectivism

1) dependence 2) conformity/desire to fit in 3) perceive groups as unit of analysis

Singer's 4 types of love

1) eros = search for the beautiful 2) philia = affection in friendship 3) nomos = submission & obedience to divine 4) agape = bestowal of love by the divine

ways that gratitude increases happiness

1) gratitude is incompatible with negative emotion 2) reduces hedonic adaptation 3) can inhibit negative social comparisons 4) helps cope w stress & trauma 5) promotes savoring life experiences 6) can build & deepen social bonds

Stanford University Compassion Cultivation Training: results

1) increased compassion FOR others 2) increased receptivity to receiving compassion FROM others 3) increased compassion for SELF 4) also: improved mindfulness, less anxiety & worry, improved emotional regulation

"widely accepted description of spirituality"

"the search for the sacred"

mindfulness

- "an active search for novelty, whereas mindlessness involves passively zoning out to everyday life" - mindful people accept uncertainty, avoid auto-pilot, & make fewer judgments on self & others

article: How mindfulness enhances emotional regulation through improvement in exec. control ** awareness & acceptance

- less rumination on affective states - stronger processing of emotion info - nonjudgmental acceptance of stimuli (helps to avoid intense emotional responses) - mindfulness lessens long-term emotional activation consequences

benefits of mindfulness

- mindfulness-based stress-reduction program led to dec. depressive & anxious symptoms, dec somatic complaints, inc quality of sleep, positive feelings about self - inc. "moment-to-moment" awareness - children respond positively to mindful adults - inc. cognitive flexibility

passionate love

- the intense arousal that fuels a romantic union - involves a state of absorption b/w 2 people w/ moods ranging from anguish to ecstasy

companionate love

- the soothing, steady warmth that sustains a relationship - manifested in a strong bond & an intertwining of lives that brings about feelings of comfort & peace

flow state characteristics

1) intense & focused concentration on what one is doing in the present moment 2) merging action & awareness 3) loss of reflective self consciousness 4) a sense that one can control one's actions, allows them to deal with the present & prepare for what's next 5) distortion of temporal experience 6) experience of activity as intrinsically rewarding

4 dimensions of gratitude

1) intensity 2) frequency 3) number of situations 4) number of people

Buddhism's Brahma Viharas

1) love (maitri) 2) compassion (karuna) 3) joy (mudita) 4) equanimity (upeksa)

mindfulness qualities

1) nonjudging = impartial witnessing, observing the present moment w/o evaluation & categorization 2) nonstriving = non-goal-oriented, remaining unattached to outcome or achievement, not forcing things 3) acceptance = open to seeing & acknowledging things as they are in the present moment; acceptance is not passivity or resignation 4) patience = allowing things to unfold in their time, bringing patience to others, ourselves & the present moment 5) letting go = nonattachment, not holding on to thoughts, feelings, or experiences (not the same as suppressing)

what self-compassion is NOT

1) not the same as self-esteem 2) not a license for self-indulgence 3) not self-pity

3 components of self-compassion

1) self kindness vs self criticism/self-judgment 2) common humanity vs. isolation 3) mindfulness vs. over-identification

3 core emphases of individualism

1) sense of independence 2) desire to stand out relative to others (uniqueness) 3) use of self/individual as unit of analysis in thinking about life

adaptive components of minding

1) via in-depth process, each seeks to know the other & be known 2) both use knowledge gained to enhance relationship 3) both accept & respect what they learn 4) motivation to continue this process indefinitely for synergy 5) both feel special & appreciated in relationship

Daniel Kahneman

2002 Nobel Prize winner in economics; believed life is a "sequence of moments," each with potential, that can lead to optimal experiences

response-dose effect w/ Stanford compassion cultivation training

The more participants practiced, the more compassion they experienced.

Helen Reiss's E.M.P.A.T.H.Y.

e= eye contact m= muscles of facial expression p= posture a= affect t= tone of voice h= hearing the whole person ("the third ear") y= your feelings

correlates of self-compassion

greater happiness, optimism, positive affect, wisdom, curiosity & exploration, personal initiative, greater life satisfaction, higher levels of social connectedness, self-determination, self-concept accuracy, greater emotional equanimity when confronting daily life events, less anxiety/depression/rumination/thought suppression/perfectionism

grit vs. self-control

grit = passion & effort sustained over the years self-control = resisting the hourly temptations

minding

knowing & being known

autotelic personality

one who enjoys life & does things for their own benefit, rather than to complete later external goals

Langer & Rodin studies

relationship between the elderly having choice & novelty in day-to-day activities (caring for a houseplant) and their overall longevity & health

gratia

some variant of grace, gratefulness, graciousness