Positive psych final

Active Construction Mode

•Active vs Passive•Constructive vs Destructive Passive Constructive:ColdActive Constructive: NurturingPassive Destructive: IgnorantActive Destructive: Hurtful

Long-Term Effects of Attachment

•Attachment is fairly stable over time - for good and bad•Can change with education, trauma, more/less security•DIRECT link to interactions with peers, self-reliance, and better self-control•INDIRECT link to later romantic relationships

What Humility is NOT

•Humility does NOT mean•You are a door mat•Weak•Give in to what others want•Quiet•Submissive

Positive Academic Advising

Build students' hope by teaching them to set goals and identify pathways to reach those goals. Connect goals to students' values and strengths Bolster students' resilience by helping them develop a healthy explanatory style:Attribute failures to controllable causesAttribute poor performance to external/unstable causes rather than internal/stable causes. Help students develop an adaptive view of self in regard to their personal qualities and abilities.Entity Theory (Fixed Mindset) - intelligence is fixed, unchangeableIncremental Theory (Growth Mindset) - intelligence can be increased through effort

Situational themes

specific habits that lead people to manifest strengths in particular situations

Mechanisms :self

Authenticity: acting in a way that is true to the self. Work that promotes congruence between values/attitudes and behaviors/tasks improves meaning. Behavioral Concordance Model: people high in a personality trait should experience greater positive affect and well-being when they act in ways consistent with that trait. True Self Theory: people have mental representations of their true selves, and this 'true self-concept' provides people with a source of meaning in life. Self-efficacy: belief that one is capable of doing something.Sense of personal control or autonomy improves meaning

Resilience

Beginning around 1970, a group of researchers noticed that there were some children who were at high risk for problems and psychopathology... But who turned out ok.They began to study these children to discover what made these children "resilient." A class of phenomena characterized by patterns of positive adaptation in the context of significant adversity or risk. "Ordinary Magic"Not a "has,"a "do"

Developmental Psychology: Behavioral

BehavioralTHEORY: Development is a function of the laws of learning, and the environment has an important influence on growth and developmentTabula RasaVARIABLE: the frequency of behaviors RESEARCH: Systematic analysis and treatment of behavior and educational applications

Keeper of Meaning

Being a keeper of meaning is aligned with sharing wisdom with othersThrough lived experiences, older adults have gained perspective and the world and of peopleProtects traditions and rituals that my facilitate the development of younger people

Sex and Physical Intimacy

Being able to communicate about sex is important. The ways that sex is understood and interpreted in a relationship matter.Having sex to avoid bad outcomes (e.g., avoid conflict, prevent partner from getting upset, prevent partner from losing interest in relationship) is related to negative relationship outcomes.

Personality and SWB

Big 5ExtraversionNeuroticismAgreeablenessConscientiousnessOpenness to experience ExtraversionPositively related to SWB NeuroticismNegatively related to SWB..

Childhood Attachment Adult Attachment

Childhood•Secure•More trusting in relationships•Anxious-Ambivalent•Dependent•Strong desire for commitment•Avoidant•Avoid intimacy & invests little emotion•Unwilling to share thoughts & feelings•Disorganized•Fearful of getting close •Can't get needs met & can't protect self Adult•Secure•Preoccupied•Dismissing•Fearfu

Hope and Psychological Health

Hope leads to successful goal pursuits (e.g., school), which increases positive emotions.Coping with stress:Hopeful individuals come up with more strategies for dealing with stress (pathways) and express greater likelihood to use strategies (agency).Individuals low in hope are more likely to use avoidance as a coping strategy. Hope is thought to be an important component to successful psychotherapy.

Hope and Physical Health

Hope related to:Ability to attend to and use information about physical illness in order to prevent health problems.Fewer deliberate efforts to harm oneself (e.g., suicide, self-injury).Ability to cope with and recover from illnessand disability

Development of Wisdom

How does wisdom develop?Psychologists say:Resolving daily crises/psychological conflict involving integrity and despairBuilds onKnowledgeCognitive skills Understanding of culture and the surrounding environmentExposure to wise role model

Forgiveness

Humans also have another drive—to forgive when a hurt occurs.This can also be adaptive.Why?Decrease in negative experiences

Humility Research

Humility has not been as well-researched as other virtues (gratitude, forgiveness)2 possible reasons areDifficulty in definingDifficulty in measuring (self-report :|)

Measurement Difficulties

Humility is one abstract concept that might be difficult to measureParadox of Self-Report:More humble - rate themselves lowerMore arrogant - rate themselves higher

Accurate View of Self

Humility is partly defined by the ability of being in touch with realityKnow what your limits areKnow what unique abilities you possessUse these in a respectful, other-oriented manner

Intellectual Humility (IH)

IH: "involves an accurate view of one's intellectual strengths and weaknesses as well as the ability to negotiate different ideas in an interpersonally respectful manner" Help Negotiate Topics like:PoliticsReligionIH helps one NOT feel the "need" to be right in a conversationDon't feel a need to prove you are "right

Valliant's Six Tasks of Adult Development

IdentityIntimacyCareer ConsolidationGenerativity Keeper of MeaningIntegrity

Flow Characteristics

Intense and focused concentration on the present moment. Merging of action and awareness. Loss of reflective self-consciousness. A sense that one can control one's actions. Distortion of temporal experience (e.g., time passed faster than normal) Experience of the activity as intrinsically rewarding, such that often the end goal is just an excuse for the process.

Intimacy

Interdependent relationships with other peopleDevelopment of strong friendships or romantic relationshipsDifferences between men and women in where they claim intimacy Men typically cited relationships with their wives in Valliant (2002)Women identified close female friendships

Attachment

Internal Working Model:Cognitive template for how a person thinks about and behaves in relationships.Model of self and other.Self: how a person perceives himself or herself (e.g., lovability).Other: how a person perceives others (e.g., dependability of caregivers).

Mechanisms: Others

Interpersonal relationships and belongingnessExperiencing your work as community improves meaning

Think of our topics this week as how we search for optimal experiences

Mindfulness = search for noveltyFlow = the search for full absorption Spirituality = the search for the sacredPsychology of "deeper living" and "intentional existence"

Engaged vs. Disengaged

Mindfulness, Flow, and Spirituality are meant to engage you.If you find yourself... "zoning out"Apathetic to others around youBoredLacking direction in lifeThen you might be disengaged..

Problems in assessing SWB

Momentary feelings vs. more global reports of satisfaction.Discussion: Which do you think is more important to subjective well-being?

What is spirituality?

More general experience of closeness, connectedness, and search for the Sacred.

Sick

Most adults over 65 are healthy.Advances in medical technology forecast a brighter picture for older individuals.Nature is forgiving (e.g., if you stop smoking, risk for heart disease goes down after about 5 years).

Mechanisms of Humility

Overall General HealthWarmth-based virtues might promote stronger Social BondsA stronger support system better health RelationshipsHumility helps foster positive emotions in others by not focusing on the self or our pride. Personal TransformationHumility has been theorized to be the "Master" virtue that leads to personal transformationIncrease in humility are positively correlated with other virtues (forgiveness, gratitude)

Sub-Domains of Humility

Overall or Global Humility has been studied in smaller categoriesIntellectual HumilityRelational HumilityCultural Humility

Isolated

Social networks remain relatively stable in size throughout life span.Network losses do happen via death, relocation, and retirement, but most older adults form new relationships to replace lost ones

EMPATHY-ALTRUISM IN REAL LIFE

Socialization practices to enhance prosocial behavior. Improved long-term relationships.Improve attitudes toward stigmatized groups.

Bull's Eye Values

The Bull's-Eye Values Survey can be used to assess the current discrepancy between values and actual valued living.Work/Education refers to your career/educational aims,Leisure refers to how you play in your life, how you enjoy yourselfRelationships refers to intimacy in your life (family, children, friends, dating)Personal growth/health refers to your spiritual life, virtues, character, mental & physical health. Step 1: 1)Write out your personal values in each of these areas (NOT goals, values)Work/EducationLeisure/Hobbies/Free TimeRelationships (family, friends, etc)Personal Growth/Health (spiritual, virtues) Step 2 - Draw a Bull's Eye and mark on itNow, look again at the values you have written. Think of your value as the "bull's eye""Bull's eye" is exactly how you want your life to be, a direct hit, where you are living your life in a way that is consistent with your value.Mark an X (and label it please!) in each area that represents how close your life matches your values for that area as of today. Step 3- What are some obstacles that are hindering you from living your life according to values?Describe a few of them in detail.Estimate on a scale of 1-10 on how powerful that obstacle is at preventing you from living out your values (1 = doesn't prevent me at all & 10 = prevents me completely)

Gender and Wisdom

Who was found wiser? Males or Females?About the same. Males tended to have a more cognitive bent with public displays of wisdom. Females were more likely to have affective bent and remain private.Driven by gender role education and experiences.

Broader momentary thought-action repertoires ...

Wider array of thoughts and actions that come to mind joy leads to •Urge to play•Pushing the limits•Being creative interest leads to•Urge to explore.•Take in new information and experiences. •Expand the self. Contentment leads to... Urge to sit back and savor life circumstances.•Integrate new circumstances into new views of self and the world. Love leads to... Recurring cycles of urges to play with, explore, and savor our loved ones. These resources are DURABLE - last longer than the experience of positive emotionThese resources cause TRANSFORMATION - creative, knowledgeable, resilient, socially integrated, and healthy individuals

Virtues

core characteristics valued by most

Mental Health 2.0?

= Emotional (Subjective) + Psychological (Objective) + Social (Objective)

Benefits of P.C.

Empathize with othersUnderstand their concernsSet the stage for interpersonal problem solvingGet what we wan

Bowlby

"All of us, from the cradle to the grave, are happiest when life is organized as a series of excursions, long or short, from the secure base provided by our attachment figures."John Bowlby

Emotion-Focused Coping

"At 14 I learned to keep my emotions in a glass bottle. Like one of those wine bottles with the cork? I couldn't let it explode or else really bad things would happen. Finally, at 28, it exploded. What happened? I screamed a lot, cried a lot, journaled a lot, listened to a lot of music, and talked a lot. That's why I came to talk to you.""I used to be pretty reserved, but since this breast cancer diagnosis, I've learned how important it is to express my emotions. I've started a journal, where I can say exactly how I feel. When I'm having a bad day with cancer, I make sure I write about it or talk about it. It's hard to face some of the feelings, but it just feels so much better than holding everything inside, like I used to." Coping (in general) is defined as efforts to manage external and internal demands that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person. 2 main categories of coping:Problem-focused: Direct efforts to alter demands perceived as taxing one's resources.Emotion-focused: Attempts to regulate emotions surrounding the stressful encounter. The process of acknowledging, understanding, and expressing one's emotions under and surrounding stressful conditions Some research has found that emotion-focused coping is maladaptive.But the story is more nuanced.Emotion-focused coping covers a range of behaviors:AvoidanceDenialSeeking emotional supportPositive reappraisalDifferentiated by different behavioral systems: activation and inhibition. Key may be differentiating between emotion-focused strategies that involve:Active movement toward stressful encounter.Movement away from stressful encounter. Active movement toward stressful encounter.Active acceptanceEmotional expressionPositive reappraisal

Research Paradigm: Cultural

"Culturally Different Perspective"Cultural PluralismRecognize importance of - and takes a more balanced view of - cultureCultural experiences contribute to healthy functioning and provide unique strengthsCultural RelativismInterpreting behaviors within the context of culture (think last class)

Inferiority Model

"Genetically Deficient Perspective"Early paradigm that lasted until mid-20thcenturyProposed: Differences in functioning - and ability to benefit from opportunities - due to biological differencesFound: Biological explanations for racial/ethnic differences were not supported by human genetic research

Wisdom & Courage

"God grant me the serenity to accept thing things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."Historically intermingledUniversally available Theologians: "cardinal virtues" that are cognitive and motivational dispositions that lead to individual achievement as well as becoming a good, social-ethical personJusticeTemperancePrudence (Wisdom)Fortitude (Courage) Facilitate Good Living:Fostering/developing social resourcesInform human choicesSpark growth in othersFuel individual pursuits that lead to enhanced personal functioningHelps us overcome obstacles

PYD: What is it?

"Problem free does not mean fully prepared." (p. 119)Erase stereotypesElements of choiceRelationships with adultsDifferent assets for different populations with different elements

Repair Attempts

"any statement or action - silly or otherwise - that prevents negativity from escalating out of control"Can take MANY formsI feel (scared, worried, defensive)I need to calm down/Let's take a momentGet to Yes (let's find common ground)I appreciate (I know it's not your fault)

Humility Promotes

"the soil in which happiness grows" has been shown to lead to:Better mental and physical healthHigher quality relationshipsBetter gradesMore patience & empathyHigher job performanceNecessary for personal transformation

Humility Definition

"warmth-based virtue aimed at achieving inner peace, comfort, & harmony""ability to see oneself in true perspective and being at peace with it" Characterized by:Accurate view of Self - strengths & weaknessesOther-oriented stance - "proper value positioning" that does not become superior/inferiorRestrain egoistic motives - accepting, kind, respectfulKnowledge and comfort with the fact that there are things larger than ourselves

CH ≠ Cultural Competence

(Cultural) Competence - an easily demonstrable mastery of a finite body of knowledge, usually by taking a testFinite vs InfiniteWhat you know vs What you don't knowKnowledge vs Humility

Theories of SWB: Goal

(lumped in with Needs theory)Moving toward an ideal state or a valued standard leads to SWB.Discrepancies between 'actual self' and (a) 'ideal self' or (b) 'ought self' leads to low SWB.

Protective Factors:Other Relationships

** Close relationships to competent, prosocial, and supportive adults ** Connections to prosocial and rule-abiding peers Effective schools Ties to prosocial organizations, such as schools, clubs, scouting, etc. Good neighborhoods High levels of public safety Good emergency social services (e.g., 911 or crisis nursery services) Good public health and health care are available

Culture Take Home Messages

1. Culture matters - it has an effect on people's mental health and how we treat their health. It even affects how people define mental health.2. Psychology needs to incorporate cultural issues into their conceptualizations of problems and treatments.

Relational Humility Scale

1.He/she has a humble character.3.Most people would consider him/her a humble person.5.Even strangers would consider him/her humble.6.He/she thinks of him/herself too highly.9.Certain tasks are beneath him/her.10.I feel inferior when I am with him/her.13.He/she knows him/herself well14.He/she knows his/her strengths.15. He/she knows his/her weaknesses.

GRATITUDE

2 BIG REQUIREMENTS: #1: Affirmation that something good has happened to themThis something good must have value to the recipientThis something good can be the presence of a positive event or the absence of a negative event#2: Recognition that someone else is largely responsible for the benefitMore gratitude with bigger events and unexpected helpThe ability to empathize is a necessary condition for feeling gratitude toward another person...WHY?Benefit finding...(~silver lining) Gratitude is viewed as a virtue in all cultures. BUT prefer different ways of expressing it: "Thank you" vs "I'm sorry" Grateful people tend to be... agreeable, emotionally stable, self-confident but not narcissistic, non-materialistic, spiritual, and more likely to help others. Gratitude is positively related to subjective well-being. In a study of virtues, only hope and zest were stronger predictors of subjective well-being.

Wisdom

4 Classical Conceptualizations:1. Wisdom is found in persons seeking a contemplative life2. Wisdom as a practical nature, as displayed by great statesmen3. Wisdom as a scientific understanding4. Wisdom as theoretical thought & knowledge devoted to truth

Gainful Employment

= Work characterized byVariety in duties performedA safe working environmentIncome for the family and oneselfA purpose derived from providing a product or serviceHappiness and satisfactionPositive engagement and involvementA sense of performing well and meeting goalsThe companionship of and loyalty to coworkers, bosses, and companiesA working environment that respects and appreciates diversity

"Subjective Well-being"

= emotional well-being = perceptions of happiness and satisfaction combined with balance of positive and negative affect

Strength

A capacity for feeling, thinking, and behaving in a way that allows optimal functioning in the pursuit of valued outcomes (Linley & Harrington, 2006)

Construct Equivalence

A construct (subjective well-being) might not mean the same thing across cultures. if people in different cultures are thinking about constructs differently, we might be comparing apples to oranges.

Emotional Storytelling

A large body of research has examined whether writing and talking about trauma and other difficult emotional experiences is helpful.

Benefits of Religion and Spirituality

A large body of research has linked religion and spirituality positively with physical and emotional health. Physical health:Lower risk of mortality.Lower risk and better recovery from heart disease, hypertension, stroke, cancer, and gastrointestinal disease.Better self-reported health.Psychological health:Higher levels of well-being, hope, and optimism.Lower levels of depression, anxiety, suicide, and alcohol/drug abuse.

Self-Efficacy at Work

A worker's confidence about his or her abilities to successfully execute a work task Positively related to work performance Developing self-efficacy at workMastery experiences and successVicarious learning and modelingSocial persuasion and positive feedbackPhysiological and psychological arousal

Using Emotions to Facilitate Thought

Ability to (optimal levels may be moderate)Redirect and prioritize thinking on the basis of associated feelingsGenerate emotions to facilitate judgment and memory Capitalize on mood changes to appreciate multiple points of viewUse emotional states to facilitate problem solving and creativity

Managing Emotions

Ability to: Be open to feelings, pleasant and unpleasant Monitor and reflect on emotions Engage, prolong, or detach from an emotional stateManage emotions in oneself and others

Perceive Emotion

Ability to:Identify emotion in a person's physical or psychological statesIdentify emotions in other people Express emotions accurately and to express needs related to themDiscriminate between authentic and inauthentic emotions

Understanding Emotions

Ability to:Understand relationships among various emotions and behaviorsEx. Hope/Fear, Hate/Sadness or Apathy, destruction of jealousy and envyPerceive the causes and consequences of emotions.Understand complex feelings, emotional blends, and contradictory states.Understand transitions among emotions.

Primary Prevention? Does it Work?

According to meta-analyses from 1997, 2008, and 2017, yes. There were positive impacts on teen and adolescent behavioral and social problems through prevention programs. Benefits outweigh costs.

Primary Enhancement

Actions and thoughts taken to establish optimal functioning and satisfaction"Make life good"These take all sorts of forms, so I won't list all of them. However, a few examples may be:Living in close proximity with those we care aboutFinding gainful, fulfilling employmentEngaging in leisure and physical activitiesInvolvement in religious or spiritual practicesMindfulness and You've already been doing a lot of this as well! VIEW Journals have a lot of primary enhancement interventionsIdentifying Personal StrengthsAppreciation and GratitudeForgivenessCompassion and Altruism What, if any, have you found helpful? Why might that be?Have you applied your identified strengths and virtues in any way?

Activity Restriction Model of Depression

Activity restriction: inability to continue normal activities (e.g., self-care, chores, shopping, visiting friends, hobbies).Often follows stressful life events such as debilitating illness. Major life stressors lead to poorer mental health because they disrupt normal activities.

What is religion?

Adherence to a belief system and practices associated with a tradition and community in which there is agreement about what is believed and practiced regarding the Sacred.

ALTRUISM, EGOTISM, EMPATHY, AND GRATITUDE

All consider the motivation - the why - behind helping.

Flow and Culture

All cultures seem to exhibit flow or have a "flow"-like stateHowever, cultural values create differences in what it takes to enter it (i.e., different balance between perceived skill and challenges)Gender: internalization of beauty ideals made it harder for women to achieve flow state

Theories of SWB: Genetics and Personality

Argue that SWB is pretty stable.Process/Activity: changingBiologically determined PERSONALY 'set point.'Personality | Culture | SWBBiological or Genetic Determinants account for (Tellegen et al., 1988): 40% of positive emotionality 55% of negative emotionality

Physiological and Emotional States

Associate: Failure aversive physiological arousalSuccess pleasant emotions Unpleasant physiological arousaldoubt competencePleasant sensations believe in competence

Successful Aging

Avoiding disease Engagement with life Maintaining high cognitive and physical function

Person-Centered Therapy

Based on the position that people are intrinsically motivated toward optimal functioning. Client is the expert. Relationship between therapist and client is important.

Theories of SWB: Need

Basic Idea of Need TheoriesReduction of tensions (e.g., elimination of pain) OR satisfaction of biological and psychological needs leads to happiness. Freud UnconsciousId = driving need/impulseEgo = Negotiates Superego = moral guideThe Pleasure Principle - the demand that an instinctive need be gratified regardless of the consequences Maslow

Ainsworth's Attachment Classifications

CaregiverAttentive, Sensitive, &ReliableSecureAttachmentexplores environmentcries when caregiver leaveseasily comforted by caregiverCaregiverOver-Protective & InconsistentAnxious/Ambivalent Attachmenthesitant to exploreclingyindiscriminately comfortedCaregiverNeglectful & RejectingAvoidantAttachmentdoes not seek contactdoes not show outward distress physiological distressCaregiverFrightening & UnpredictableDisorganized AttachmentAmbivalent reactions to parentInitial impulse to seek comfort followed by fear of closeness

Culture and SWB

Certain things may be valued in some cultures more than others.Self-esteemPersonality congruenceIncomeMarriageHonestly, research has done a consistently bad job figuring out culture and SWBEquivalencesDifference Between AND AmongValue of SWB itself

Depressed

Clinical depression is actually less prevalent in older vs. younger adults.Improved coping skills.Some problems of old age may not be 'solvable' (e.g., death of spouse, decline in health status). Shift from changing the situation to managing emotional reactions or acceptance.

Positive Relationships

Close relationships have a positive impact on health and well-being. Large social network related to decreased risk of mortality. Lack of strong social ties was a mortality risk factor similar to smoking and high blood pressure. The quality of the close relationships matter.

Cognitively deficient

Cognitive abilities do slow down with increasing age. "Use it or lose it."Older individuals can still learn new things.

Some Benefits of Wisdom

Coherent sense of self and solid and consistent egoLess investment in hedonistic pursuits (seeking pleasure)More investment in personal growthReserve social judgment in attempts to understand the whole situation Decreased prejudice and making errors

Cultural Humility (CH)

Combination of:knowing more about more culturesself-reflection - realistic and on-going self-appraisalhow we treat others, how we stereotype othersflexibility of understandingassess each person anew

Hope and Interpersonal Relationships

Comes from adult caregivers: secure and supportive attachmentsGives to other relationship: more likely to have close connections with others.Interested not only in their own goals but also in the goals of others in their lives.

Listening to Understand

Common Listening Mistakes•Mind elsewhere•Thinking of what to say next•Judging•Listening with a specific goal/outcome in mind Active Listening•Attentive Non-verbals•Paying attention to what is being said•No judgment•Tolerating silence

Courage and Fear

Common assumption is that there is a link, but what kind?Is courage action despite fear?Is courage no fear therefore fear?Is courage habituation to fear through repeated action?

Attachment

Considered an extremely powerful indicator of how individuals view relationshipsDefinition: Emotional bond to another person who provides comfortInitially thought to be related to drive reduction

Conflict Resolution

Constructive conflict management is characterized by:flexibilityfocus on the relationship (other-oriented) rather than self-focusedintention to learn from differencescooperation

Emotion-Focused Coping: Benefits?

Coping through actively processing and expressing emotion can have psychological and physical health advantages.

Some Benefits of Courage

Correlated with extraversion, openness, and agreeableness personality factorsLess trait anxietyMore adaptive coping styleHigher confidence in difficult contexts (...could courage = confidence...

Theories of SWB: Process

CsikszentmihalyiPeople are happiest when they are engaged in interesting activities that match their level of skill.FlowProcessPursuing goals creates energy and happinessCULTURE

Integrity

Cultivation of a sense of contentment with life and a sense of pieceOften paired with an increased spirituality

Cultural Humility (CH)

Cultural Humility - being humble about someone else's cultureCH reduces cultural conflictCH acts as a buffer to conflict & repairs damage in relationshipsCH fosters cross-cultural communicatio

Culture & Courage

Culture (again) influences how people see courage.Asian cultures might think it courageous to decide to keep a personal opinion quiet in service of harmony, but Western cultures might view courage as speaking up at all costs.The amount needed on a daily basis differs broadly

What defines culture?

Culture and identity matter greatly in all aspects of psychologyWhat defines culture?Your book says that culture is a "common heritage or a set of beliefs, norms, and values"More broadly definitions usually consider how culture is transferred/ perpetuated, but let's use the book's for simplicity's sakeThe effects of culture must be considered broadly to encompass a person's many identitiesThink intersectionality here!

Decisional vs. Emotional Forgiveness

DecisionalChanges behaviorImproves interactions EmotionalMay change behaviorWill change motivationFeel fewer negative emotionsMaybe feel more positive motionsMay improve interactions Unforgiveness is the experience of negative thoughts, emotions, motivations, and behaviors that occur as a result of interpersonal hurts. Unforgiveness can be stressful.Forgiveness can be conceptualized as an emotion-focused coping strategy to deal with the stress from unforgiveness. Benefits of ForgivenessHealthier relationshipsImproved mental healthLess anxiety, stress and hostilityLower blood pressureFewer symptoms of depressionA stronger immune systemImproved heart healthImproved self-esteemFacilitates relationship repair

Research Paradigms: Environmental

Deficit Model"Culturally Different Perspective"Theory: Differences (...deficits...)due to NOT to biology, BUT to environmental mechanisms (...that differ from majority culture...)"Denzel is from a Black neighborhood, so no wonder he won't do so well in school"Created: Focus on prejudice—caused stress that made it difficult for racial/ethnic minorities to excelCast minority group members as inferiorDid not address complexity of individual differences

Secondary Prevention (Psychotherapy)

Defined as attempting to eliminate, reduce, or contain the problem once it has appeared"Fixing the problem"For psychological purposes, think of secondary prevention in the vein of psychotherapy

What is forgiveness?

Defined: The process of replacing negative emotions toward a person who hurt you (e.g., anger, hate) with positive, other-oriented emotions (e.g., empathy, compassion). Like most constructs in positive psychology, most forgiveness theory and research has originated in the United States. The definition focuses on:What happens 'inside' the person who was hurt. The benefits for the self (e.g., emotional peace and well-being).This isn't necessarily a bad thing. We just need to be careful when applying this definition to different cultures. We did some research on how people from collectivistic cultures thought about and practiced forgiveness.2 main differences:Motivation to forgive focused on maintaining social harmonyForgiving more often focused on decisional forgiveness rather than emotional forgiveness Thus, forgiveness was a construct that played out cross-culturallyBUT it manifested in different ways and with different motivations

Hope at Work

Developing hope at work:Setting challenging "stretch" goalsContingency planningA contingency plan is a plan devised for an outcome other than in the usual (expected) planRe-goaling to avoid false hope

Optimism at Work

Developing optimism at work:Leniency for the pastAppreciation for the presentOpportunity seeking for the future

Developmental Psychology: Cognitive

Developmental Psychology: CognitiveCognitive DevelopmentalTHEORY: Development is the result of the individual's active participation in the developmental process in interaction with important environmental influencesSomewhat predeterminstVARIABLES: stage-related transformations and qualitative changes from one stage to anotherRESEARCH: Understanding how thinking and cognition develop in light of cultural conditions and demands

Marital Status and SWB

Different for people of all ages, incomes, and education levels, and it also varies across racial and ethnic backgrounds!!WESTERN married men and women > WESTERN unmarried men and womenMarital QUALITYHedonic Adaptation

Repair Attempts

During the course of an argument or conflict resolution - positive communication can still take place in the form of a repair attempt

Self-Efficacy: Developmental Perspective

Early efficacy beliefs depend on symbolic thought (e.g., creating models of their experiences).Understanding cause-effect relationships.Capacity for self-observation and self-reflection. Development of language leads to increase in symbolic thought. Influenced by the responsiveness of the environment to the child's attempts at manipulation and control. Efficacy exploration sense of agency efficacy

Definition

Forgiveness is not...PardoningCondoningExcusingJustifyingForgettingReconciling Prosocial change toward the person who hurt you:ThoughtsFeelingsMotivationsBehaviors

CULTIVATING ALTRUISM

Egotism-based: $$ and/or it feels good to help!Empathy-basedGetting to know others better who need help and are receiving helpLearning about shared connections we didn't realize we hadValues-basedPeople whose identity is built around being a "helper"Helping behavior is habit forming

ALTRUISM

Egotism: Everything we do, no matter how noble or beneficial to others, is ultimately motivated by self-benefit. Proponents of altruism believe that some people help with the ultimate goal of benefiting the person in need rather than the actor

TYPES OF ALTRUISM

Egotistical Reciprocity-based altruism - driven by likelihood of getting help in return Kin-based altruism - only toward family, spans ego to empathy, motives are mixed b/c of protection of genes Empathetic Care-based altruism - feelings of empathy for the recipient

Bad Work ?

Eliminating bad things in the workplace (e.g., low wages, poor working conditions, etc.) does not automatically lead to positive outcomes (e.g., job satisfaction, high levels of motivation, high levels of performance)So have to create Positive Work Factors

Moving Towards Emotion

Emotional ProcessingI realize that my feelings are valid and importantI take time to figure out what I'm really feelingI delve into my feelings to get a thorough understanding of themI acknowledge my emotions Emotional ExpressionI feel free to express my emotionsI take time to express my emotionsI allow myself to express my emotionsI let my feelings come out freely

Overcoming an Instant Gratification Bias

Empathize with your future self. Before making a decision between instant and delayed gratification, take a moment to think about your future mental state—if you opt for instant gratification, how will the future you feel? Precommitment. If you can set some of your most important decisions in stone now, you will be less likely to change your mind or go through the hassle of backtracking and undoing your preparations when you come face to face with the decision. What are some of your most important decisions going to be and what will you decide?Break down big goals into small, manageable chunks. Big goals are fun set and can be motivating, but they can also seem overwhelming or far off. Breaking these big goals into smaller pieces with rewards after each step makes you more committed and more likely to make the best decisions (Mani, 2017). Break a big goal into small chunks.

Optimism

Expecting good things to occur in one's life. Definition focuses on expectations for the future.

Three Key Features of SWB (Typically)

Experiencing positive emotionsDecreasing negative emotionsHigher life satisfaction

Expressive Writing

Experiments from Laura Pennebaker (1989)For the next 4 days, I would like for you to write about your deepest thoughts and feelings about the most traumatic experience of your life...Flow of consciousness writing Control group = nonemotional topic for same amount of time Immediate effects were not positive.CryingDeeply upset by experience Long-term effects (starting 2 weeks after the study was done) were linked with better health. Pennebaker ParadigmSystemic written disclosure of emotional upheaval, often across several timed sessionsWide-range of research topicsCancer diagnosisPrejudice related to sexual orientationEmotions dealing with job loss and loss of relationships (Chapter 15 of our book; Pennebaker, 1997) 3 main theories:InhibitionCognitive ProcessesSocial Dynamics"strategically working with emotions within a social context" (p. 182)"Putting upsetting experiences into words allows people to stop inhibiting their thoughts and feelings, to begin to organize their thoughts and perhaps find meaning in their traumas, and to reintegrate their social networks" (Niederhoffer & Pennebaker, 2002, p. 581, as cited on p. 182)

Explicit Theories of Wisdom

Explicit - focuses on behavioral manifestations of wisdom.Often intertwined with life-span theories (Erikson) and cognitive development (Piaget)Emphasizes application of pragmatic knowledge (meaningful solutions)Includes reflective thinking and integration of opposing points of view or dual use of logic and subjective processing (dialectical) Sternberg's Balance Theory"Knowing how" rather than "knowing what" - practical knowledge - is used in balancing self and other interests within the environmental context to achieve a common good."~ High level of moral decision makingForming a judgment when there are competing interests that lack of clear resolution Berlin wisdom paradigm (Baltes)Wisdom = "ways and means of planning, managing, and understanding a good life.""Wisdom is an expertise in conduct and meaning in life Baltes: 5 criteria that characterize wisdom1.Factual knowledge (know what)2.Procedural knowledge (know how to)3.Life-span contextualism (work, play, love)4.Relativism of values (weighs priorities of multiple POV's)5.Recognition & management of uncertainty (decision-making flexibility)

Secure attachment associated with positive outcomes:

Exploration and academic motivation.Career exploration and decision making.Positive adult relationships, especially those with a romantic partnerEffective parenting.Positive relationships with people from different cultural groups. Shorter and less intense grieving experiencesMore physical energyHigher level of well-beingGreater buffer against stress related to stigmatization, discrimination, and the -isms

Positive Communication & Intimacy

Fallacy of Change - expecting other people to change as it suits usWe feel our happiness depends on other people, and their unwillingness or inability to change, keeps us from being happyInstead, how can we communicate positively about the original source of the relationship and the new/on-going source of conflict?

Styles of Communicating

Fast paced vs. slow pacedOpen vs. reservedDirect vs. IndirectSkill and sensitivity vs. ...

Emotion

Feeling state resulting from the appraisal of an external object as salient to our own well-being; always has an object

Factors that affect activity restriction:

Financial resourcesPersonality factors (e.g., coping strategies, help-seeking, acceptance).Social support resources

Primary Prevention: Making It Work

Five Suggestions (Heller et al., 2000)Targeted population should be taught about the targeted risky behaviorProgram should be attractive/ motivational Program should teach problem-solving skills/ teach resistance to back-slidingProgram should change norms and social structures that reinforce risky behaviorProgram should gather data to evaluate its accomplishments Active IngredientsInclude parents and other people in their social networkFocus on interpersonal interactionsIntegrative cognitive-behavioral interventions

Mindfulness

Flexible state of mind characterized by:Openness to novelty.Sensitivity to context.Engagement with the present moment. Drawing novel distinctions requires:Overcoming desire to reduce uncertainty in daily lifeOverriding tendency to engage in automatic behaviorEngaging less frequently in evaluations of self, others, situations The opposite of mindfulness is mindlessness:Behavior is governed by rule and routines.Happens through repetition, our thoughts, feelings, and behavior become 'second nature.'Become 'locked in' to a certain understanding.

Altruistic Gift of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is an altruistic gift, not something that you have to do, or something that the offender necessarily deserves.Motivate altruism:Humility in realizing that you have also offended.Contrition for your own wrongdoings.Gratitude for having been forgiven in the past. Think about times when you offended and were forgiven.Think through the event, the acts, and the consequences.Focus on what happened when forgiveness was granted for the wrong. How did you feel?Question: Given these feelings, would you like to forgive...

Flow

Full involvement in the present moment. Complete absorption in what one does.Intentional attentional process Studies "autotelic" activity—activity that is rewarding in and of itself, regardless of extrinsic rewards.

Demographics and SWB

GenderDiscussion: What do you think? Are men or women happier? Cisgender or transgender? Pretty similar.Women reported higher levels of both positive and negative affect than men.No research on transgender individuals (that I know of)

EMPATHY AND CULTURE

GenderWomen > Men, across all age rangesCultural and social gender norms may require more altruism of womenDate: Women value it moreMarriage: Women and Men value it the sameCollectivistic vs Individualistic: Duty vs ChoiceRecession ("strife") drives volunteerism

Primary Prevention: What Prevents It?

General belief of "uniqueness": that good things happen to us, bad things happen to other peopleStats disprove this universally: everyone will have bad experiencesGeneral tendency to remain passive and to believe that "things will work out"Helped by reality that programs are costly and payoff may not be seen for years (or safety net might not be needed)

Mood

General, free-floating feelings that last longer than an emotion; associated with expectations of future positive or negative affectLong-term, can be self-reported and observed

Emotion-Focused Coping

Goal is balanced emotional expression in which emotions are recognized, understood, and communicated appropriatelyHow does it work?HabituationCompetenceAmygdala Hippocampus and Frontal CortexDifferent cultures may see emotional expression differently (Chiang, 2012)Different types of coping

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

Goal to improve self-awareness, allowing one to make more informed and deliberate choices. Mindfulness is positively associated with well-being. Mindfulness approaches help foster self-determination and self-awareness.

Protective Factors: Within the Child

Good cognitive abilities, including problem-solving and attentional skills Easy temperament in infancy, adaptable personality later in development Positive self-perceptions; self-efficacy Faith and a sense of meaning in life A positive outlook on life Good self-regulation for self-control of attention, arousal, and impulses Talents valued by self and society General appeal or attractiveness to others

CULTIVATING GRATITUDE

Gratitude Journal - record of what they are thankful forMeditationWhat did I receive?What did I give?What troubles and difficulties did I cause to others?Lower in positive affect Greater increases in gratitudeTimes of strife

Positive Communication & Gratitude

Gratitude lists, journals, and walks are usually interventions for individuals.What are some possible ways we could incorporate gratitude in communication with others? Communicating gratitude at work:Employees would be encouraged to give thanks to their peers on a normal basis.Change "water cooler" talk into an interaction that lifts moods, invigorates people, and motivates workers Communicating gratitude in relationships:Creates a mindset that combats negativityFocuses on growth and resolution in times of difficulty and conflict

GRATITUDE AND WELL-BEING

Gratitude might directly enhance positive affect Gratitude might direct one's focus to good things that one has and away from things they lack.This prevents unpleasant emotions associated with upward social comparison and envy.. Gratitude might enhance one's social relationships. People view grateful people as more likable.Gratitude promotes prosocial behavior. Gratitude might enhance adaptive coping.Focusing on positive consequences from a difficult experience might help a person make sense of a stressful event. Gratitude might increase the accessibility of positive memories. Improvements in subjective well-being from gratitude intervention were maintained at 1 month follow-up but not at 6 month follow-up. May need to develop a regular practice of gratitude to see long-range increases in happiness

Harlow

Harlow Monkey StudyWe have an innate propensity to develop and maintain attachments (lasting emotional bonds).Designed by evolution to protect the species from external threats and predation.

ALTRUISM

Helping to benefit another person. Motivational state with the ultimate goal of increasing another's welfare.Textbook versus Dictionary"the belief in or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others Driven by egotism or empathyOther possible sources according to Batson et al., 2011:Collectivism - motivation to benefit a particular group above oneselfPrinciplism - goal to uphold a universal moral principle, such as justice

Job Dissatisfaction

Impacted byCompany policiesSupervisionRelationship with bossWork conditionsSalaryRelationship with peers

Implicit Theories of Wisdom

Implicit (implied but not plainly expressed) wisdom theory suggests:We all know traits that are associated with a wise person (with high similarity)We have some understanding by 1st gradeThese traits include cognitive, emotional, and reflective abilitiesCultural contexts heavily influence thisBalance of cognitive vs affective

Emotional Life Enhancement Strategies

Improve three domainsLove Work Play LoveFeeling words when interacting with friends and familyNew goals for important relationships; how do we differ and how can we make that a source of improvement WorkAcknowledge emotion at work. Be nonconfrontational, but bring up the role emotion playsEmotional Intelligence at work seminarsPlayBecome an emotional story tellerLearn and practice meditation skills that allow us to engage with emotion more deeply

Cultural Humility: An Answer?

In a multicultural world where power imbalances exist, cultural humility is a process of openness, self-awareness, being egoless, and incorporating self-reflection and critique after willingly interacting with diverse individuals."

Religion and Spirituality

In the past several years, the view of psychology toward religion and spirituality has begun to change and become more positive. Religion and spirituality are "cultural facts."In 1995, majority of Americans:believed in God (90%)engaged in prayer (90%)said that religion is 'very important' or 'fairly important' to them (84%)In 2016:Believed in God (56%)Believed in God/higher power/spiritual force (90%)Engaged in prayer with the power of their choice (75%)

Demographics and SWB

Income is positively related to SWBuntil you cross the poverty lineAlmost no relationship at higher income level

Researching Psychology and Culture

Individualistic nations happier than collectivistic nations.Wealthier nations happier than poorer nations.

Bowlby: Secure Base - Safe Haven

Infant attachment system is responsive and reactive to caregiving (or lack thereof). When infants experience fear, illness, discomfort, fatigue, or other distressing emotions, the attachment system is activated. Motivates search for the attachment or caregiving figure When infant's bids for care and comfort are satisfied by primary caregivers, the infant's attachment system returns to baseline. Child is able to then explore or venture out from the attachment figure, until there is another experience of threat or distress. This "back and forth" helps the infant develop:Self-regulationProgressive exploration and environmental mastery

Empathize with the Offender

Invitation to empathize as an experiment.QuestionsWhat do you think the person might have been feeling when he said those hurtful things to you?If the person were here right now explaining to me what happened, what do you think that person would say?Describe event as if running a movie through your head, narrated by the other person. Pressures: What were the situational pressures that made the person behave the way she did?Past: What were the background factors contributing to the person acting the way she did?Personality: What were the events in the person's life that led to the person having the personality that she does?Provocations: What were your own provocative behaviors?Plans: What were the person's good intentions Explore feelings of sympathy, compassion, or love for the offender.Empty chair technique.Write letter about event from offender's point of view.Write letter of apology from offender's point of view.Sometimes empathy may be impossible, especially in cases of severe betrayal or heinous hurts. In these cases, sympathy is a legitimate goal.

Capitalization

Involves partners sharing positive information with each other (e.g., good and bad things from their day).HOW the partner responds can increase (or decrease) satisfaction Partner A shares something positive with Partner B.Partner B responds:#1: "hmm, that's nice."#2: "That's wonderful! It's b/c you've done so much hard work!"Partner A feels a greater sense of intimacy with Partner Bafter an enthused, active response.

Good Work

Job satisfaction correlates with overall happiness at 0.40 (Diener & Lucas, 1999)Reciprocal relationship: Life WorkSo gainful employment is important to consider!

Gottman: A Culture of Appreciation

John Gottman - "love doctor" who predicts couple's relationship success with 91% accuracy (p. 356)Love lab - 15 minute convo is observed while they monitor the couple's blood pressure, EKGs, etc.Magic Ratio was 5:1 - 5 positives for 1 negative predicted success.4 Don't's (aka "4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse"): Criticism, Defensiveness, Contempt, and Stonewalling 4 Do's: Complaint, Appreciation, Accept responsibility, Self-soothe

PYD: What it isn't

Know more about what it isn't than what it isNot just status-quo sportsNot colorblind or genderblindInvalidation Don't trust those that don't appear to be in touch with realityNot just focus on negatives

Becoming More Optimistic: Learned

Learned OptimismExternal Attribution: role of other people and environments in producing outcomevariable Attribution: outcome unlikely to happen againSpecific Attribution: constrain outcome to one performance areaPessimismInternal AttributionStable AttributionGlobal Attribution

Primary Prevention

Lessen or eliminate the psychological problems before they appear"Stop the bad before it happens"Can occur at individual, community, even governmental levels Targeted for different age groupsExamples?ACALaws against thingsFree education

Measurement Issues Related to Cultural Context

Majority StatusCultural EquivalenceConceptual (Construct) EquivalenceLinguistic EquivalenceMetric Equivalence

Courage

Many conceptualizations..."remain steadfast""being fully aware and accepting the threat""grace under pressure""oppose the pressures exerted on them""perseverance in the face of fear""remember what is worth prizing & what is worth fearing" VIA-Strengths (Peterson and Seligman)Courage =valor (facing danger)+ authenticity (sincere representation) + zest (vitality in the face of challenge) + perseverance (start and finish O'Bryne et al.Physical courage - maintenance of societal good with physical behaviors in the pursuit of socially valued goals (firefighter)Moral courage - expression of authenticity in face of oppression, discomfort, or disapproval (Rosa Parks)Vital courage - perseverance through a disease, disability, or stressor when the outcome is ambiguous (heart transplant) Courageous behavior follows the identification of a threat - after which - there is a shift away from defining the problem as an insurmountable obstacle.

Aging Well

Many people have negative views toward older individuals:SickCognitively ineptIsolatedFinancial drain on societyDepressed by circumstances

Affect

Most basic element of feeling; immediate physiological response to a stimulus (vs. object); used in appraisal of an event as painful or pleasurableShort-term, can change minute by minuteUsually self-reported, but can be observed

SELF-BENEFITS OF ALTRUISM

Material rewards.Public praise.Escape public censure.Feel good about ourselves for being kind or caring.Escape guilt or shame we might feel if we did not help.Do not want to lose friendship.We expect that a favor will be reciprocated. Alleviate our own distress (from seeing someone else in pain). 3 Big Classes:Public praise, self-praise, $$$Avoid punishment for failing to helpLessen personal distress at seeing someone else suffer

Developmental psychology examines people's experiences across the lifespan.

Maturational and Biological Psychoanalytic Behavioral Cognitive Developmental

Developmental Psychology: Biological

Maturational and BiologicalTHEORY: Sequence and content of development are determined mostly by biological factors and the evolutionary history of the speciesPredeterministic (Tabula NOT Rasa)VARIABLE: biological systemsRESEARCH: the importance of biological determinants in researchChild rearing

Meaningful Work and Well-Being

Meaningful work is associated with psychological and job benefits:Overall psychological adjustment and well-beingWork centrality/importanceJob satisfactionWork unit cohesion and team functioningFewer days of missed work

Revenge

Most humans have an innate drive to respond to hurts with... another hurt.This can be adaptive.Why? Prevents free-loadingEstablishes consequencesPrevents it happening againSocialization But this tendency for revenge has consequences.

Agency

Motivational component.Perceived ability and determination to use pathways to reach desired goals. Can you/Will you do this?

Moving Away From Emotion

Movement away from stressful encounter.Mental disengagementAvoidance

Placing Culture in Positive Psychology

My culture is not better than yours translates into my definition of "happiness" or "love" is not better than yoursOur psychological research should keep in mind that we are all operating from a biased viewpoint.Think of the Kelzie Beebe Scale of HappinessCulture (and bias) should be kept in mind whenever you're working with anything, and positive psychology is no different! For example, forgiveness is touted as a strength cross-culturally...

Hold on to the Forgiveness

Natural to experience doubt about forgiveness.You are not perfect, so it is unrealistic to never experience unforgiveness again.Tasks:Immediate anger or fear is not always lingering unforgiveness.Reduce negative feelings when they occur.Interrupt negative rumination.Think more positively toward offender. Exercises:Stove analogy. Negative feelings as protection.Controlling negative emotions.Self-soothingDeep breathingImageryInterrupt rumination.Distraction or different activityThink more positively about offender.ImagerySafe positive activities with offender

Theories of SWB Overview

Need TheoriesGoal Theories Process/ Activity TheoriesBiological/Personality Predisposition Theories

How to Learn Hope

No hereditary contributions, entirely learnedUndermined by:Insecure attachmentsTrauma (but high hopers persevere better through it)

Qualities of Mindfulness

NonjudgingNonstrivingAcceptancePatienceTrustOpennessLetting goGentlenessGenerosityEmpathyGratitude

Attachment

Not just important for infants.Interactional patterns developed during this early period become a 'map' for how the person thinks about and behaves in relationships.

Inhibition

Not talking about emotional problems is unhealthy.Holding back or inhibiting one's thoughts, emotions, or behaviors takes psychological work.Inhibition acts as a stressor that can lead to health problems. Similar to Freud's theories that talking about your deepest feelings and thoughts was cathartic and helpful. However, just letting out pent-up emotions doesn't seem to be enough. Expressive writing interventions also include the role of thought and insight.

Drain societal resources

Older adults vary in regard to health, financial security, and willingness to accept public support.Senior citizen benefits depend in part on social status and past work experiences, favoring high income earners with a continuous work history (e.g., white, middle-class males). Raise retirement age to 70?Health of older adults is an important factor.

Positive Youth Development

On-going process in which all youth are engaged and investedInteract with positive agents to meet their basic needs AND cultivate assetsMomentum Created: small goals big goals competencies to facilitate transition into adulthood and continued growthSpark (passion) Thriving (process)USUALLY overshadowed by efforts to decrease problems Rewarding bondingPromoting competenciesEncouraging self-determinationFostering spiritualityNurturing a clear and positive identityBuilding beliefs in the futureRecognizing positive behaviorProviding opportunities for prosocial developmentEstablishing prosocial norms

Conservation

Once individuals find the Sacred, they strive to "hold on" to it Social involvement with religious institutions.Systems of belief.Traditional religious practices (e.g., prayer, Bible reading, watching religious TV).Spiritual coping (e.g., spiritual support, purification rituals, spiritual meaning making).

Career Consolidation

Once social identity is developed, an individual is tasked with finding contentment, compensation, competence, and commitment This is a process, not necessarily a destinationCareer adaptability - ability to deal with job transitions, layoffs, etc, is also extremely important to consolidation

Humility Measures

One way to avoid the caveats of humility measures is to avoid self-reportOther-reports are personality judgments we make about othersUsually more accurate than self-reportExamples of Other-reportCultural Humility Scale (CHS)Relational Humility Scale (RHS)

Optimism and Subjective Well-Being

Optimists expect good outcomes, even when things are difficult.Leads to positive emotions.Pessimists expect bad outcomes.Leads to negative emotions.

Religion and Spirituality

Other broad types of spirituality differ in regard to what the individual considers Sacred:Humanistic spirituality: connection to humankind.Nature spirituality: connection to the environment.Transcendent spirituality: connection to the whole of creation or universe.

EMPATHY

Other-oriented emotional response elicited by an emotion congruent with the perceived welfare of someone else.Other-oriented in the sense that they involve feeling based on how another is feeling. Congruent refers to magnitude of the emotion rather than specific content of the emotion. NOTE: Empathy (match; understand) versus Sympathy (feel bad for them; don't necessarily understand) Many psychologists think empathy is a primary source of altruismEmpathy comes about when we:Perceive another person as in need ANDAdopt the other person's perspective ORValue the other person's welfare Based in our pre-frontal cortex...SO? Empathy-Altruism Hypothesis says that higher levels of empathy for a person in need is related to higher levels of altruism.

Discovery

Our first encounters with the Sacred usually happen in childhood."I'd like to find God! But He wouldn't just be there, waiting for some spaceship to land. He's not a person, you know! He's a spirit. He's like the fog and the mist. Maybe He's like something—something we've never seen here. So how can we know? You can't imagine Him, because He's so different—you've never seen anything like Him... I should remember that God is God, and we're us. I guess I'm trying to get from me, from us, to Him with my ideas when I'm looking up at the sky!"9-year-old boy

Self-Efficacy

Parents can facilitate the development of efficacy beliefs by:Being responsive to the child's actions.Encouraging and enabling the child to explore and master his or her environment. Parents can facilitate the development of efficacy beliefs by:Being responsive to the child's actions.Encouraging and enabling the child to explore and master his or her environment.

Self-Expansion Model

People seek to increase their capacity and efficacy to achieve their goals (i.e., expand the self)Intimate relationships are a common way to achieve self-expansion.Partners incorporate the other's resources, perspectives, and identities into how they define themselves.Expand who they are as individuals capacity efficacy

Individual Differences

People who are not naturally emotionally open or likely to share their feelings benefited the most from the intervention.

Recall the Hurt

People who are struggling with unforgiveness generally recall the hurt in a resentful, bitter, hostile, hateful way.Nurture the grudge.Hateful fantasies about the offender.Plot ways to get even.Ruminate about the hurt. Key is to recall the hurt more objectively or compassionately.Take an even more extreme position; you then may correct misconception and focus on compassion rather than judgment.Highlight feelings of empathy or pity.Describe hurtful event from a different perspective:News reporterOffender

Pathways

Perceived ability to generate routes connecting the present and the future. Hopeful individuals perceive that they can generate at least one workable route to the desired goal. Generating multiple pathways is important when you encounter barriers to your goal.

Flow Conditions

Perceived challenge or opportunities for action, that stretch but not overmatch existing skills.Clear proximal goals and immediate feedback about the progress being made.

Managing Emotions

Physical exercise Listening to music Social interaction Cognitive self-management (e.g., giving oneself a 'pep talk') Pleasant distractions (e.g., errands, hobbies, fun activities, shopping, reading, writing) Less effective (and sometimes counterproductive strategies):Passive mood management (e.g., TV, caffeine, food, sleep) Less effective (and sometimes counterproductive strategies):Direct tension reduction (e.g., drugs, alcohol, sex) Less effective (and sometimes counterproductive strategies):Spending time alone Less effective (and sometimes counterproductive strategies):Avoiding the person or thing that caused a bad mood Most successful strategies involve: Expenditure of energyActive mood management techniques that combine:RelaxationStress managementCognitive effortExercise

Physical Health and SWB

Physical health is positively related to SWB.Self-reported health is more strongly related to SWB than objective health ratings.Perceptions are important.

Pessimism and Health-Defeating Behaviors

Pessimists are less persistent and more likely to give up. Avoidance copingHealth-damaging behaviorSuicide

Emotional Coping: Benefits

Positive Interpersonal FunctioningQualitySensitivityPerceived parental supportResilienceWell-beingMindfulnessLeadership skillsModerating anger and aggression

Enhancing Positive Affect

Positive affect is more related to action than thought.Easier to induce positive affect by doing rather than thinking. Quite culturally specific Prioritize close relationships Exercise and physical activity Strive after goals- especially ones engage your skills, are focused beyond your self, and aren't achievement oriented Get enough sleep.

Protective Factors: Within the Family

Positive attachment relationships Authoritative parenting (high on warmth, structure/monitoring, and expectations) Positive family climate with low discord between parents ORGANIZED HOME ENVIRONMENT Postsecondary education of parents Parents involved in child's education Socioeconomic advantages

Positive Communication

Positive communication is attentive to what is right, rather than overemphasizing what is wrong.We can fall into the trap of looking at problems, deficits, and dark points Positive communication is:"Not the absence of negative verbal and nonverbal communication, but rather the presence of positive, enhancing, and facilitative talk and gestures."Can be positive communication about negative things Positive communication is:"Not about naïvely attending to only good things (i.e., being overly optimistic or avoiding negativity), but applying communication that allows us to thrive." •Based on Positive Intention•Initiative - or simply, active involvement•Equal, without monopolization•Communication adaptation - people speaking adapt to each other's age, gender, social status, and cultural identity•Constructive - creates something: action, idea, mood, or feeling•Acceptance•Affirmation•Agreement - even if agreement is about negative things•Assertive - pursue one's own best interests without denying the person's rights•very culturally bound, would not be present in non-American conceptualizations of Positive Communication Effective•Gets the message through to the receiver•Achieving satisfaction of all parties involved (even if negative message!...so...really about being REWARDING)•Expresses emotion, but does not have to be emotional•Supportive•Comforting•Empathic listening•Nurturing•Negotiation•Use of humor•Social support - expressions of sympathy, consolation, reassurance, condolences, praise, compliment, encouragement

Positive Communication Interventions

Positive cross-cultural dialoguesUsing humor in health-care settingsPositivity in end-of-life conversationsThe need for fun and play in romantic partnershipsBringing intimacy in communication

Positive Emotions

Positive emotions are often used as indicators of well-being. But research has shown that they can actually do important things for us as well.

Broaden and Build Model of Positive Emotions

Positive emotions:Broaden people's momentary thought-action repertoires.Increase likelihood of behaving positively toward other peopleInduce playfulness so many positive outcomes!!!Impact the process of making changeGenerate resources (e.g., energy, creativity)Improve cognitive function Negative emotions:Narrow a person's momentary thought-action repertoires.Call to mind an urge to act in a specific way.

Mindfulness at Work

Positive engagement ~ Flow State

Purposeful Positive Relationship Behaviors

Positive factors that contribute to positive relationships:Shared activities and self-expansion.Social support.Capitalization.Sex and physical intimacy.

Socioemotional Selectivity Theory

Posits that, compared to younger adults, older adults are more able to focus less on negative emotions, to engage more deeply with emotional content, and to savor the positive in lifeOlder adults attend to positive emotions more quickly and remember positive material more quickly than negative material in experimentsNOTE: Conflicting evidence for this effectSeems to occur when cognitive resources are available Low pressure/non-automatic situations "Don't sweat the same stuff."Savor the positivePersevere in emotional tasks when don't or can't in cognitive tasksTime in waningSeems to generalize across culturesCan be used for messaging and motivating

Sternberg's Love Triangle

Predictive in US samplesBut contains constructs totally nonexistent in other cultures

Risk Factors

Premature birth Divorce Motherhood in unwed teenagers Parental illness or psychopathology Poverty Homelessness TRAUMA OF WAR OR NATURAL DISASTERS

Mindfulness and Positive Evaluation

Problems with encouraging people to 'be more positive.'If some things are positive, other things are negative.Accepting positive evaluations (e.g., compliments) may set us up for trouble if those compliments go away.Associated with downward social comparison.Keep evaluation tied to events, ideas, and people, and promote mindlessness.

Developmental Psychology: Psychoanalytic

PsychoanalyticTHEORY: Humans are conflicted beings, and individual differences as well as normal growth result from the resolution of those conflictsVARIABLES: the effects of instincts on needs and the way instincts are satisfiedRESEARCH: Personality development and relationship between culture and behavior

Why is Self-Efficacy Important?

Psychological Well-BeingA sense of control over our behavior, environment, and thoughts/feelings is important for happiness and well-being. Self-efficacy, DepressionProtective role Physical HealthStrategies for preventing health problems, enhancing health, and recovery from illness/injury involve changing behavior.Self-efficacy beliefs affect people's ability to start healthy behaviors, stop unhealthy behaviors, and maintain behavioral changes. PsychotherapyTries to enhance self-efficacy for behavioral or cognitive skills.Arranging experiences to increase the person's sense of efficacy for specific behaviors in problematic or challenging situations. PsychotherapyShouldn't just work on solving specific problems, but should provide the person with skills and efficacy for solving problems themselves. Many psychotherapeutic interventions are based on the 5 sources of self-efficacy.

Secondary Prevention and Culture

Psychotherapy research and practice still has considerable ground to cover to adequately and appropriately match the needs of historically minoritized identitiesPsychotherapy can be just as effective for people who hold these identities if there are better counselor-client matches, counselors train and act with more cultural humility and awareness of their own limitations/identities, and if counselors work within the natural help-seeking behaviors of these culturesChildren: build hope through age-appropriate methodsOlder Adults: "depression analogous to common cold" BUT depression isn't actually "normal" to aging process so much needed point of interventionStigma against mental health treatment

Mechanisms: Work Context

PurposePerceiving your job as moving toward a specific goal improves meaning Self-Concordance Theory: people do well when they pursue goal-directed activity that aligns with their interests and values. Construal Level Theory:Purposes are broad and abstract, and sometimes difficult to make concrete. Linking work activities to purpose can make one's purposes more tangible.

Social Dynamics

Putting our experiences into a narrative allows us to have a story that is understandable and able to be communicated. Secrets are generally bad for us.Secrets encourage obsessive preoccupation and rumination about the event. Person who doesn't share his or her story can become more socially isolated. Sharing our story lets our friends know how we are doing, which allows them to help or support us.

REACH (Worthington model)

Recall the hurtEmpathize with the person who hurt youAltruistic gift of forgivenessCommit to the forgivenessHold on to the forgiveness

Interpersonal vs Intrapersonal Forgiveness

Recognition - that self-forgiveness is justifiedResponsibility - "owning" transgressions that they feel they committedExpression - active expression of emotions related to transgressionRecreating - create new self-image that acknowledges the past, but looks forward

Benefits of Mindfulness

Reduction in chronic pain, stress, and anxiety (Kabat-Zinn & Skillings, 1989) further improvements OVER 3 YEARSDecrease tendency to respond automatically to stimuli (Wang et al., 2012)Decrease depression and PTSD symptomsIncreased attachment security through better parentingDecreased relationship dysfunctionIncreased self-acceptance and reaction to stigmaCoping with -isms

Mindfulness and Regret

Regret happens when we are:Unhappy.Forget there is a difference between our perspective at time 1 (when we took an action) and time 2 (when we evaluate the action)Counterfactual thinking: generating alternatives that are different than what happenedHelps "could have been" become "should have been" Action Counterfactual thinking Regret Mindful perspective: behavior made sense at the time given the circumstances (otherwise would have behaved differently!!)Mindfulness ActionMindful people know why they did what they decided to do and why they didn't do something else.

Possible Mechanisms

Regulation of individual lifestyles and health behaviors. Social integration and support. Provide a sense of meaning and purpose. Offers approach coping strategies as a way to deal with stress.

Relational Humility (RH)

Relational Humility is the personality judgment about another person's humilityRH is linked to better quality relationships, longer marriages, more interpersonal satisfaction

Religion and SWB

Religiousness is positively related to SWB.Stronger relationship in poorer countries than richer countries.

Self-Efficacy: CULTURE

Research: Women more self-efficacy in language arts, men in math"Interestingly, other research has found that biological sex may not..."Self-fulfilling prophecies, stereotype threat, gender rolesIndividualistic vs CollectivisticRacismCultural Self-efficacyCollective Self-efficacy

Social Support

Responsiveness to another's needs.Acts that communicate caring.Positively related to relationship satisfaction and stability Invisible social support: support partners are not aware is given.Visible social support: support that partners are aware of. Invisible support provides partners with the benefit of help without causing them to lose confidence or question their abilities.

Promoting Resilience

Risk-focused strategies aim to reduce the exposure of children to hazardous experiencesPrenatal care to prevent premature birthsDecrease incidence of post-partum depressionAvoid multiple foster care placementsPrevent homeless episodes through policy or assistance Asset-focused strategies aim to increase the amount, access, and quality of resources children need. Provide a tutor.Build a recreation center with programs for children.Literacy or job programs for parents.Programs to foster parenting skills.Increased training and resources for teachers. Process-focused strategies aim to mobilize the fundamental protective systems for development. Foster secure attachment between parents and children through parent sensitivity training. Nurture brain development through early nutrition and early childhood programsEncourage prosocial friensdshipsSupport cultural traditions that provide opportunities to bond with prosocial adultsNurture mentoring relationships for children through organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Self-Expansion in Relationships

Self-expansion happens a lot at the beginning of a relationship, when partners are learning a lot about each other.This can't be maintained.Opportunities for self-expansion decrease because partners get to the point where they already know a lot about each otherSolution: Find ways to restore energy and excitement.Create situations where partners can reveal new aspects of themselves to one another, creating new opportunities for understanding, validation, and care.

Positive Schooling

School reform efforts do not usually focus on positive constructs such as subjective well-being. Most focus on cognitive outcomes such as academic achievement(e.g., testing in NCLB). School satisfaction (SS): a student's judgment of the positivity of his or her school experiences. SS related to:High GPAsGreater sense of agency/motivationFewer psychological problemsFewer adolescent problem behaviors Student engagementAcademic progress Students are often not very satisfied with their school experience Almost 25% of students in high school report not being satisfied with school 9% say their experiences in school are terrible SS is negatively associated with:DepressionAnxietyExternal locus of control SS is positively associated with:Involvement in extracurricular activitiesSocial competencePositive non-school events (e.g., hobbies, dating, spending time with family) SS is negatively associated with:Participating in high-risk behaviors (e.g., alcohol and drugs)Interpersonal difficulties Teachers who provide a high degree of clarity about classroom rules and structures promote SS Choice and autonomy about learning is related to more SS Praise for appropriate behaviors is related to more SS Class structures that are overly controlling, or give more attention to misbehaviors than good behaviors, are related to lower SS Teachers who promote positive peer interactions can increase SS Schools that encourage students to participate in school activities (e.g., sports, student government) can increase SS

Positive Schooling Strategies

Self-Determination TheoryTries to increase students' authentic motivation motivation that is self-initiated and self-regulated Engaged LearningFull involvement in learning process promotes academic performance and content mastery Environments that support student autonomy, competence, and relatedness help promote engaged learning Strengths-Based EducationCapitalizing on areas of greatest talent leads to greater success than spending an equal amount of time/effort to bring up areas of weakness. Develop a sense of community in the classroom by connecting to students in ways that enhance their learning and strengths Spark curiosity by creating meaningful assignments that provide clear expectations, choices, and an optimal level of challenge Increase students' academic self-efficacy by providing feedback that is timely, frequent, and constructive

Basics of Communication

Sender ENCODES based on:•Facts - What I inform about (data, facts, statements)•Self-revealing - What I reveal about myself •Relationship - What I think about you (info about how we get along)•Appeal - What I want to make you do (an attempt to influence the receiver)Receiver DECODES based on:•Facts•Self-revealing•Relationship•Appeal

Age and Emotion

Short answer: Seems so.Long answer: Let's talk about the SocioemotionalSelectivity Theory Proposed by Laura Carstensen (1998)

Transformation

Spiritual methods can help people deal with struggle and change. For example, religious rites of transition can help people deal with the loss of a loved one. Spiritual conversion can help individuals incorporate a sense of the Sacred into themselves, resulting in a change in an individual's self-definition, view of world, and purpose.

Becoming More Optimistic: Dispositional

Stable tendency to believe that good rather than bad things will happenHow do you create this?Early childhood experiences (that foster trust and secure attachments to parental figures)Unidimensional vs Mutltidimensional?Neuroticism?Cultural

Mapping Problem Interrelations

Step 1: Identify challenges & obstaclesWhat are specific challenges that are getting in the way of your happiness or your ideal life?What factors caused or contributed to these challenges in the past?What factors maintain these challenges or keep them going now? Step 2:Take a look at the challenges and obstacles that were identified in Step 1.Using pen and paper, use keywords to describe each challenge and draw a circle around each challenge.Optionally, draw bigger circles for greater challenges. Take a look at the all the challenges represented by the different circles and try to identify possible relationships between them.How do they influence each other?Is there a causal relationship?If so, what is it?Mapping Problem Interrelations

VIA Classification of Virtues & Strengths

Strength-based approach to diagnosis & treatment

Positive Adaptation

Success at meeting developmental tasks, which are age-related standards of behaviorToddlers: walk, talk, obey parentsChildren: learn at school, get along with other children, follow rules of classroom, home, and communityOlder children: graduate high school, gain economic independence, abide by law, have friends/romantic relationships, contribute to society Most researchers focus on external adaptation:Academic achievementStaying in schoolGraduatingConductPeer acceptance and friendshipInvolvement in age-appropriate activities Positive AdaptationWhat about internal adaptation?Positive psychological well-being vs. emotional distress and problems.

Commit to the Forgiveness

Tangible exercises to express commitment:Certificate of forgiveness.Writing a letter of forgiveness. Write in black ink a brief account of offense on hand. Then wash off as much of the ink as possible, symbolizing forgiveness.

Listening to Understand

Technology•Disconnect with emotions and body language when we use technology to communicate•Lose all non-verbals and verbal tone•Imagine being in someone's presence and having a conversation with someone with your eyes closed...then take away even more

The Wise Man of the Gulf

The "good life" is a product of our lived experiences and our worldview These shape what behaviors are seen as desirable and undesirable, which then defines our desired outcomes for lifeThus, it is important to remember that our own goal for happiness may not coincide with another's The "good life" is in the eye of the beholder Therefore, there is no single end all be all answer for happiness. Thus, let's answer the question. Are there universal constructs? We may just be measuring our version of whatever characteristic we are studying. Other cultural groups may have different definitions, manifestations, and values placed on on that construct.

The Right Intervention

The Right Intervention For You...does it feel natural?do you enjoy the activity?do you value doing it (or the results it produces)?would you feel guilty if you would not engage in the activity?are there situational factors that will motivate you to do something?

Sources of Meaningful Work

The Self:People often choose occupations that fit and reinforce their values and strengthsIntrinsic motivation for work leads to positive emotionsBeliefs about the role/function of work in life Others:Social relationships at work can increase congruence between work and selfConnect work to broader mission of organizationIdentification with organization as a whole People outside organization (e.g., work providing a better quality of life for family) Work Context:Level of skill, variety, task identity, autonomy, and task significanceWork tasks that have purpose and make a positive impact on othersCongruence between individual's values and company's values Spirituality:See work as serving a greater purpose beyond themselvesIdentify a sacred calling for their work (e.g., being called to a vocation, doing God's will through work)

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to perceive, appraise, and express emotion accurately and adaptively. Four Branch Model of EI (Salovey and Mayer, 1990)Perceiving EmotionsUsing Emotions to Facilitate ThoughtUnderstanding Emotion Managing Emotions

Hope

The perception that one's goals can be achieved. Goals: the mental targets that guide human action sequences. 2 main components of hope:PathwaysAgency

Aging Well

The population is getting older.Life expectancy was 47 years in 1900; today it is 78.93 years.Fastest growing segment of population is 85 and older. First wave of baby boomers reached retirement age in 2010.

Sanctification

The process of viewing objects in one's life as sacred:Time and space (e.g., the Sabbath, churches).Events and transitions (e.g., birth, marriage, death).Materials (e.g., wine, crucifix). People (e.g., saints, cult leaders). Roles (e.g., spouse, parent, employee).

Positive psychology

The science and applications related to the study of psychological strengths and positive emotions

Religion and Spirituality

The search for the Sacred involves 3 processes:DiscoveryConservationTransformation

Generativity

Think of this as giving to the next generation of adultsLike mentorship in a way!As people age, there is typically a greater emphasis on social goals rather than finding meaning in achievement goals Contributes to longer life and less impairment in daily life

Secondary Enhancement

Thoughts and actions taken with the intent of building on already positive foundations"Make life the best possible" These tend to take place after primary enhancement has taken place Examples:Witnessing awe-inspiring "best of the best feats" Finding great pleasure in the artsCollective Efforts - working with others to enact monumental changeOlympics Qualification NOT Required

"Well-being"

Three types of attitudes (mindsets) and experiences that bring about positive outcomes (meaning, life satisfaction, joy)EmotionalPsychologicalSocial "Well-being"~ but really ≠ Happiness

Love

Today romantic love is viewed as an important basis for marriage. Remaining in love is viewed as necessary for continuing the marriage. However, this conceptualization may only be ~300 years old - and based on cultural forces that prompted development of sense of selfLink between love and marriage is stronger in Western cultures than Eastern cultures. Love is an important factor in well-being and happiness.People in love were significantly happier than those not in love. Married people report more happiness than those who never married, divorced, or separated.CAVEAT: Marriage is related to positive health and psychological outcomes only if the marriage is happy and non-distressed.

Self-Efficacy vs Self-Confidence

Trait vs State?Bandura says situationally specific"My self-efficacy to make a 3-point shot"Vs Self-Confidence

Identity

Typically developed during adolescence and early adulthoodWe become our own person as opposed to a reflection of our caregivers' beliefsWhat happens if we don't develop our own identity?We may struggle to find meaningful engagement with other people and our work

Self-Efficacy

What I believe I can do(aka: outcome expectancies)What am I capable of doing(aka: efficacy expectancies)Line connected back to Locke, Hume, James Ryle: willfulness, volition, sense of personal controlSocial Cognitive Theory: humans actively shape their lives rather than passively reactively to environmental forces Efficacy beliefs are important factors in:The behaviors individuals choose to engage inHow much they persevere in the face of obstacles and challenges Psychological adjustmentPsychological problemsPhysical healthBehavior change strategies

Mindfulness and Evaluation

We are often mindless to the fact that we have accepted value judgments that we have attached to various things. We find something pleasing or displeasing because we choose to see it that way.These judgments are in our control.A big part of mindfulness involves letting go of our evaluations of people, things, etc.Things "out there" are not self-evidently good or bad.Potholes make cars slow down.A tax collector could be someone's loving wife or husband.Divorce could be the best outcome for a child living in a stressful household. Our use of value judgments says more about 'us' than about 'the world.'We judge and evaluate in order to do the 'good' or 'right' thing. Then we associate the feelings we get from this with happiness. Evaluation is central to how we make sense of the world, but most of the time our evaluation is mindless.Mindful approach: there are advantages and disadvantages to anything we might considereach disadvantage is simultaneously an advantage from a different perspective (and vice versa). 3 perspectives on 'bad' things:Bad things are intolerable.Bad things happen, but if we just hold on, they will pass (dominant view).Bad things are context dependent—shift the context, and the evaluation changes (mindful view). Constant evaluation causes us to:Get through the "bad" times.Hesitate to decide because of the "negative" consequences.Feel better by comparing ourselves with those "worse off."Suffer guilt and regret because of the "negative" consequences we experience.Lie because we try to hide the "negative" aspects of our behavior from others. Culture tells us there is one yardstick to measure outcomes, ourselves, and others. Might there be other yardsticks?

Mindlessness

We go on 'automatic pilot.' We like certainty and we like controlWe like rules and routines because they reduce uncertainty and help us feel like we are in controlWhen information is presented by an authority figure or presented in absolute language, we generally just accept it. Sometimes we mindlessly learn what we should love, hate, fear, respect, etc. and our evaluations are done for us...et VOILA But we confuse the stability of our mindsets with the stability of how things actually are. In reality, many things ARE uncertain.Might be better to accept uncertainty and change as the norm

Implicit Theories

What's a wise person like? What attributes does a wise person possess?School children say:1.Clever, astute (cognitive)2.Think of others (friendly, helpful)3.Older appearance (grey beard)4.Real-world abilities (good advice, mentor)Experts say: "Wisdom is uniquely human, a form of advanced cognitive and emotional development that is experience driven; a personal quality (albeit rare) that can be learned, increases with age, can be measured, and is not likely to be enhanced by medication."

Deciding to Be Courageous

When does someone decide to be courageous?Psychological Research from WWII1.social responsibility (if not me...then who?)2.empathic concern3.risk taking4.altruistic moral reasoning

Optimism and Coping

When facing difficulty, optimists continue trying.Generally approach copers. Pessimists try to escape adversity by wishful thinking or temporary distractions that don't help solve the problem. Generally avoidance copers.

Cognitive Processes

When individuals experience trauma, they become disconnected from their core self or identity We have a need for meaning and completion of events—it gives us a sense of control or predictability in our lives. Sometimes it is hard to find meaning in the face of traumatic events.. We make sense of our lives by putting them in story-like format.Through language, we can give structure to our experiences.

VIA Classification of Virtues & Strengths

Wisdom & Knowledge - cognitive strengthsCourage - emotional strengthHumanity - interpersonal strengthJustice - civic strengthTemperance - strengths that protectTranscendence - strengths that forge connections to meaning

Benefits of Emotional Approach

Women's adjustment to breast cancer diagnosis (Stanton et al., 2000)3 month period of emotion-focused coping interventionLower psychological distress, fewer medical appts for pain and ailmentsUndergraduates dealing with parental illness (Stanton et al., 2000)Showed the benefits of matching sessions to approach tendencies Emotional expression matched with emotional expression sessionMediating chronic racism (Outten et al., 2009)Emotion-focused coping options for marginalized groupsSelf-esteem and life satisfaction Strength of racial identity as major factor (form of coping)?

Meaningful Work

Work that is positive and highly significant for the person engaged in it. Discussion: What kinds of things do you need to have meaningful work?

So... what do positive schools look like?

Work with individual differences in personality, abilities, and interestsMaximize goodness of fit between school experiences and student needs Facilitate supportive teacher and peer relationships

Psychotherapy? Does it Work?

Yes, in that there is consistent evidence that psychotherapy lessens the severity or frequency of psychological difficultiesPeople who engage in therapy services are, on average, 33% better off in terms of symptom severityWhat is the most important consistent factor when it comes to making therapy work?What is the most effective form of therapy?

Becoming Courageous

Young children: riskAdolescents: psychological component, emotional experience including fearExamples of not being courageous~"Broaden and Build": mini-situations that seem surmountableMastery, competence, and accomplishment GROWTH"Courageous Mindset" perception of risk and experience of fear affected by social forces, positive states and traitsMood - Needed? Helpful? Anger?

what is humility?

not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less

Character strengths

psychological processes & mechanisms that define virtues

Key concept to keep in mind here: Ethnocentrism

the emotional attitude that one's own race, nation, or culture is superior to all others