POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (modules 1 and 2)

Martin Seligman

"Psychology is not just the study of weakness and damage; it is also the study of strength and virtue." Treatment is not just fixing what is broken; it is nurturing what is best within us".

Physical Resources

(cardiovascular health, coordination)

intellectual resources

(problem solving, being open to learning)

psychological resources

(resilience, optimism, sense of identity and goal orientation)

social resources

(we can maintain relationships and create new ones)

Oxytocin

- "love hormone" - is associated with social bonding, trust and emotional support within couples and is also released during breastfeeding

moods

- 'free floating or objectless, more long- lasting and occupy the background consciousness' - , tend to be unfocused and enduring. - general feeling that can influence your thoughts, behaviors, and actions. - less intense and do not necessarily depend on an event or trigger. It is how you feel over time.

emotions

- 'psychological state defined by subjective feelings but also characteristic patterns of physiological arousal - sensations in the body - a conscious mental state with recognizable quality of feeling

dopamine

- (the reward system) When exposed to a stimulus which is rewarding, the brain responds by releasing an increased amount of __________, the main neurotransmitter associated with rewards and pleasure - this is the key neurotransmitter involved in the pleasure centre. Limited levels of dopamine can subdue levels of motivation whereas high levels of dopamine can lead to mania

William James

- Founder of American Psychology - came the first significant development in the search for well-being - trained as a medical doctor at Harvard University - His chapter, 'The Emotions', is most relevant for positive psychology to acknowledge. - emotions come after we have physically acted out. - established the connection between emotions and expressions.

Divine Command Theory (the early hebrews)

- Happiness is found by living in accord with the commands or rules set down by a Supreme Being -this theory holds that if one follows the commands, there will be rewards, and conversely, if one doesn't follow the commands, there will be punishments. - true happiness was related to a religious piety based on submission to God's supreme authority and a rejection of self- centered hedonistic behaviors.

social and cultural factors

- How we experience our emotional lives is also influenced by the social situation we are in at the time. - differences in the way people express these emotions depending on their cultural background

Socrates

- Know Thyself- the search for truth was centered on an exploration of the unchanging truths of the human psyche. - true happiness could be achieved only through self-knowledge and that only his examination of one's universal soul was true wisdom

broadening effect

- Our minds tend to open up - or broaden - and we are able to think 'outside the box'. - bird's-eye view of our situation that helps generate alternative solutions to the tasks at hand. - We also become more creative, with positive emotions being found to enhance verbal creativity tasks.

Computed Tomography Scan (CT-scan) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

- Two medical procedures that can help us access the activities of our brain when we are experiencing positive or negative affect. - procedures allow us to see the pathway of actions in the brain when we are engaged in activities that produce both positive and negative affect.

building effect

- We build personal resources Intellectual resources Physical resources Social resources Psychological resources

Life regulation qualities

- allow us to regulate our day-to-day behavior so that we can accomplish our goals while helping to benefit the people and institutions that we encounter along the way. - sense of individuality or autonomy, a high degree of healthy self-control, and presence of wisdom as a guide to behavior.

endorphins

- also said to increase pleasure and decrease the experience of pain. - Increased of this are partially involved in the "runners high" that can accompany physical exercise. - Levels of this also increase as much as 200% during sexual intercourse

humanistic psychology

- backlash to the predominant psychological theories of psychoanalysis, behaviorism and conditioning. - emphasizes the study of the whole person. - main drive was to was to focus on mental health, specifically positive attributes such as happiness, contentment, ecstasy, kindness, caring, sharing and generosity. - life as a process, with all humans beholding an innate drive for growth and fulfilment of potentials.

positive emotions

- can help us live a satisfying and productive life. - help us to fight terrible social and personal costs of pressing social problems - contribute to positive outcomes in life (physically healthier, more resistant to illness, and even live longer than others.

positive emotions and adaptive behaviors

- can help us live a satisfying and productive life. - help us to fight terrible social and personal costs of pressing social problems like the anxiety and fear we are all experiencing due to the pandemic, criminal behavior, drug abuse, or the treatment of serious psychological disorders like depression.

group or community level

- development, creation, and maintenance of positive institutions. - Addresses the development of civic virtues, the creation of healthy families and the study of healthy work environments, and positive communities.

good life

- factors that contribute most to a well-lived and fulfilling life. - includes qualities that enrich our lives, make life worth living, and foster strong character. By using your signature strengths every day to produce authentic happiness and abundant gratification

humanists

- felt that humans had choice and responsibility for their own destiny.

hedonism

- focuses on pleasure as the basic component of the good life. - the belief that the pursuit of well-being is fundamentally the pursuit of individual sensual pleasures and avoidance of harm, pain, and suffering.

struggling

- high well-being and high mental illness - someone who is generally doing well in life but is currently experiencing significant distress about some issue

Aristotle

- his greatest contribution to philosophy is arguably his work on morality, virtue and what it means to live a good life - virtue theory of happiness which ( cultivation and development of certain virtues lead a person toward the greatest well-being and, therefore, toward the good life) - concluded that highest good for all humanity was indeed eudaimonia (or happiness). - argued that although pleasure may arise from engaging with activities that are virtuous, it is not the sole aim of humanity

amygdala

- increase in this can predict higher levels of negative affect - the storehouse of emotional memories

Conscientiousness

- individuals who score high on this tend to have high levels of grit. they are industrious, diligent, efficient and reliable. - Low scorers tend to be inattentive, idle, unsystematic and sometimes unreliable.

Agreeableness

- individuals who score high tend to be pleasant, compassionate and sympathetic to others' needs. - Low scorers tend to be untrusting, suspicious, critical and slightly hard nosed.

The reward system

- is responsible for inducing feelings of pleasure. - group of structures which are activated whenever we experience something that is rewarding

Subjective level

- positive subjective states or positive emotions/ experiences s - happiness, joy, satisfaction with life, relaxation, love, intimacy, contentment, and constructive thoughts - (optimism and hope).

Individual level

- study of positive individual traits - manifestations of courage, persistence, honesty, or wisdom. - study of the personal qualities that are necessary for being a 'good person', such as human strengths and virtues,

Nucleus accumbens

- very important player in the reward system of the brain. - Part of the limbic system - 'the pleasure centre - holds the highest concentration of dopamine neurotransmitters'. - Addictive drugs (for example, cocaine) target this area.

Depression

- was ten times higher in 2009 than it was in 1960, with the mean age today being 14.5 - was found to be among the top five illnesses contributing to disability in life adjusted years. - is becoming as prevalent as the common cold in the country, affecting around 3.3 million Filipinos.

behavioral factors

-How we act influences how we feel. -This factor also includes what we do in response to an event.

Utilitarianism

-argued that the right act or policy from government is that which will cause 'the greatest good for the greatest number of people', also known as the 'greatest happiness principle', or the principle of utility. - was the first sector that attempted to measure happiness - influences some areas of positive psychology today, such as subjective wellbeing and the pleasurable life

reference value

-goal we set - Accepted standard; the value you are making comparison with

prefrontal cortex

-home to emotions and emotional regulation - also responsible for working memory - enable the generation of goals and pathways to achieve them - monitors daily experiences in relation to long-term goals, sometimes initiating delayed gratification. -

Openness to experience

-individuals who score high on this tend to be original and artistic. - Low scorers tend to be more conformist and uncreative.

Neuroticism

-individuals who score high on this tend to experience high levels of anxiety, insecurity and can be emotionally volatile. - Low scorers tend to be more tranquil, steady, and composed.

Extraversion

-individuals who score high tend to be sociable, talkative and join in when there is something collective going on. - Low scorers tend to be classically considered as more reserved, quiet, shy and prefer to be alone.

High social well-being

-when people have positive attitudes toward others, believe that social change is possible, try to make a contribution to society, believe that social world is understandable, and feel a part of a larger social community. -further measured with the following five dimensions: social acceptance, social actualization, social contribution, social coherence, and social integration.

Daniel Goleman

He defined EI as 'the ability to adaptively perceive, understand, regulate, and harness emotions in the self and others'

positive psychology

It asks, "What is the nature of the efficiently functioning human being, successfully applying evolved adaptations and learned skills?

positive psychology

It is a scientific study of optimal human functioning which aims to discover and promote factors that allow individuals, communities, and societies to thrive and flourish.

positive psychology

It is a scientific study of ordinary human strengths and virtues

nurturing environment/ Enriching environments later on in life

Scientists found that _______________ have significant changes to the circuitry of the PFC and amygdala (emotion and emotion regulation areas).

five year old daughter

Seligman's epiphany in his rose garden starts of because of his __________

mental or cognitive factor

The way we interpret or appraise and give meaning to an event affect how we feel

eight

World Health Organization report that ______ in every 100,000 Filipinos commit suicide.

affective style

a broad range of individual differences in different parameters of emotional reactivity which include: - threshold to respond - the magnitude of the response -the rise time to the peak in the response -recovery function of the response -the duration of the response

Positive connections to others

ability to love, the presence of altruistic concerns, the ability to forgive, and the presence of spiritual connections to help create a sense of deeper meaning and purpose in life

emotional intelligence

ability to monitor one's own and others' feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use this information to guide one's thinking and action.

Epicureanism

asserts that happiness is best achieved by withdrawing from the world of politics to cultivate a quiet existence of simple pleasures.

Neurotransmitters, hormones

biological factors that Every time we experience an emotion we can observe changes in our body which are brought by the release of certain chemicals like ____________ and ___________

mental disorder

came only second to cardiovascular disease.

scientific methods

can also be applied in any cultural setting to discover what values tend to enhance the quality of life for everyone in a community.

emotional suppression

can be detrimental to our wellbeing, thus attempts to become more aware of emotions are important

past

centering on wellbeing, contentment and satisfaction

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that relay information between nerve cells

future

concepts including optimism and hope

John Davidson

conducted significant research to determine which parts of the brain are involved in positive emotions.

affectivity

defined as the extent to which an individual experiences positive/negative moods

John Mayer, Peter Salovey, and David Caruso

developed the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso EQ Model,5 a 141- item, task-based emotional intelligence test (Ability Model)

Ability model of emotional intelligence

emotional intelligence is a set of competencies or mental skills that include four stages

understanding emotions

emotions are highly complex - one may experience mixed emotions at the same time and it can also change over time. When trying to develop this area, ask yourself: Why are you feeling this? What do these emotions mean? What has caused that for you? Where is that going to go?'

positive attenuation

essential in protecting against depressive symptoms.

negative affect

extent to which someone experiences feelings such as sadness or fear.

possitive affect

extent to which someone experiences joy, contentment,

victimologists, pathologizers

fixations on pathology led psychologists to become ________ and _________ which means that they forgot that people make choices and have responsibility.

disease model

for many years, Psychology used the ________ due to the fact that psychologists focused more on treating psychologically impaired soldiers who were victims of two world wars

High psychological well-being

found when people feel competent, autonomous and self-accepting; have a purpose in life; exhibit personal growth; and enjoy positive relationships with others.

percieving emotions using emotions understanding emotions managing emotions

four stages of emotional intelligence

feelings

generated from our thoughts about those emotions. this is how we interpret emotions and let them sink in

Duchene smile

has been regarded as an objective measure of genuine happiness/positive emotions.

Philippines

has one of the highest cases of depression in Southeast Asia, affecting more than three million of its people

Resilient individuals

have a unique ability to maintain and regulate positive emotions.

complete mental health

high emotional well- being, high psychological well-being , and high social well-being along with low mental illness.

flourishing

high well being, low mental illness

Ventral tegmental area (VTA)

in collaboration with the substantia nigra, it is the key area of the dopamine system

True

instead of viewing humans as proactive, creative, self-determined beings, psychologists viewed humans as passive individuals subjected to external forces (t or f)

greeks

introduced the fundamental idea that the good life and the proper path to happiness could be discerned through logic and rational analysis.

flourishing

is defined as 'a state of positive mental health; to thrive, to prosper and to fare well in endeavors free of mental illness, filled with emotional vitality and function positively in private and social realms'

High emotional well-being

is present when people are happy and satisfied with their lives.

positive psychology

is the scientific study of positive human functioning and flourishing at a number of levels

negative emotions

it is vital to self-understanding and personal growth.

floundering

low on well-being, high on mental illness symptoms

languishing

low well being and low mental illness

Behavioral Activation System (BAS)

more sensitive and responsive to incentives, making people more extraverted and impulsive

behavioral inhibition system (BIS)

more sensitive and responsive to threats - arousing anxiety and neurosis

avoidance system

negative affect

Anandamide

neurotransmitters that has been called the "bliss molecule" because it produces the calming effect when binding to cannabinoid receptors

approach system

positive affect

past, present, future

positive psychology concentrates on positive experiences at three time points:

Dysphoric and non-dysphoric individuals

react just the same to emotions; however, it appears that there is a difference in the ability to maintain and regulate these emotions rather than in the ability to react in the first place

managing emotions

refers to the ability to manage, or self-regulate, your emotions. Highly emotionally intelligent individuals would recognize that there is a time and place for certain emotions and manage them accordingly.

percieving emotions

refers to the ability to recognize emotions either in yourself or in others. Questions to ask yourself include: How do you feel? How do others feel? By recognizing these subtle emotional cues, individuals are better equipped to deal with social circumstances.

using emotions

refers to the ability to use emotions to facilitate your mood. Questions to help develop this include: How does your mood influence thinking? How is it affecting your decision-making?

positive individual traits

sense of integrity, ability to play and be creative, presence of virtues such as courage and humility

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

the active ingredient in marijuana.

Plato

the good life that involves looking beyond sensory experiences toward a deeper meaning to life.

Inspiration in a Bed of Roses (epiphany in his rose garden)

the story of Seligman's epiphany that sets the beginning of the movement of positive psychology.

undoing effect

theory states that 'positivity can quell or undo cardiovascular after- effects of negativity

positive and negative emotions

these emotions are relatively independent.

orbital frontal cortex

this is the area of the brain where decisions are made.

the pleasure system

this recognizes what the person is doing, seeing or listening to is good.

positive connections to others positive individual traits life regulation qualities

three elements of good life

subjective, individual, group or community level

three nodes/dimensions of the subject area:

1. Cure mental illness 2. Enhance the lives of the normal population 3. Study geniuses

three tasks of psychology prior to world war 2

discrepancy loop

trying to minimize the distance between where we are and where we want to be

prefrontal cortex amygdala

two key components in the brain in relation to the experience of positive emotions

present

which focuses on concepts such as happiness and flow experiences

Jeremy Bentham and carried on by John Stuart Mill

who created utilitarianism