Does Positive Psychology
Have Value In The Real
World?
Dr John Parkinson
School of Psychology
Bangor University
Tonight’s Aims
• What is Positive Psychology?
• What is Happiness?
• What are the Effects of Positivity?
• Is Happiness Achievable?
What is Positive
Psychology?
Positive Psychology and
Wellbeing
• “Positive mental health (wellbeing) is more
than the absence of clinically defined
mental disorder. The WHO definition of
mental health as a ‘state of wellbeing in
which the individual realises his or her
abilities, copes with the normal stresses of
life, works productively and fruitfully, and
makes a contribution to his or her
community’ (WHO, 2001, page 1),”
Positive Psychology
1.Emphasis on positive (not negative)
2.The pursuit of happiness
3.A population approach
4.Humanistic approach – we are
resourceful
5.Prevent and prosper
What is Happiness?
Perspectives on Happiness
US Declaration of Independence:
Life, liberty and the pursuit of
Happiness
Aristippus (4th C BC):
The goal of life is to maximise the
totality of one’s ‘pleasures’
Bentham (and other Utilitarians):
The best action (for a government or
an individual) which procures the
greatest happiness for the greatest
numbers
Not Everyone Sees A Happy
• Freud:
World
• “One feels inclined to say that the intention
that man should be happy is not included in
the plan of Creation”
•
•
•
•
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Larkin:
Man hands on misery to man
It deepens like a coastal shelf
Get out as early as you can
And don’t have kids yourself.
Two Types of ‘Happiness’
• pleasure, enjoyment, emotion, fun
• AFFECT
Happiness the Second
• gratification, contentment, meaning,
reflection
• COGNITION
•fulfilment and meaning
•momentary rewards
Time
Happiness is (1) how you feel and (2) how you
interpret that in the greater context of your
life
Trait Positivity
• Is happiness inherited or learnt?
• Lykken (1996)
• Genes
~50%
• Learning,
life experiences, situational factors
~50%
• Set-point of happiness (like weight)?
Attitude, control, hardiness, experience
What are the psychological and
physical effects of positive mood/
happiness?
Stress -> Illness
Cohen et al.,
1991
Resilience -> Health
Trait Positive Emotional Style (Vigor and wellbeing)
Participants quarantined and exposed – tracked
for 5 days
Controlled for stress levels, previous antibody
levels etc.
Cohen et al.,
2006
• Intuitively
– relaxed,
generous...
Effects
of sociable,
Emotion
• Also appears to make us more openminded, optimistic and creative
• Compare effects of positive and negative
emotions:
• E.g. Fear
- focuses thought-action
repertoires
•
•
- context of win-lose thinking...
- self-protective and inward-
looking
Effects of Happiness
•Broaden and Build theory (Isen, 2000,
Fredrickson, 2002)
• ‘Expansive’ thought-action repertoires
• Creates a context of win-win interactions...
• Engenders outward looking attitudes,
optimism and creativity
• Adaptive value is in affiliation, problemsolving (coping), goal-planning and growth
Happiness, Altruism, Reasoning
•
(Isen 1970, Isen and Levin 1972)
•
•
•
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Participants discovered coins in payphone change box (positive mood
induction)
Shortly afterwards, participants met a stooge who had dropped papers or were
struggling to carry books
Coin-finders compared to controls were significantly more likely to help out
•
Positive emotion engenders altruism
(Estrada et al., 1997)
•
•
Doctors given treats (e.g. chocolate) just prior to being asked to make
diagnosis (they were not allowed to eat the treats)
They exhibited better decision-making and diagnosis skills
•
Positive emotion engenders superior reasoning
Happiness and Creativity
• (Fredrickson 2000)
• - Positive mood induction (watching a
funny film)
•
- Increases problem solving skills and
increases ability to
think of new ideas
• Positive emotion increases creativity
• (Frijda,
1994)
Happiness
& Attachment
• Joy promotes playfulness
• Play has an adaptive function in promoting
social interaction and attachment as well as
building resources
• Positive emotion increases social interaction
and attachment
Attributional (or Explanatory) Style
•‘We are disturbed not by
events, but by the views
which we take of them.’
•Epictetus
•Interpretation
•
•
- of the past
(memory bias)
present
•
(mood)
- of the
• - of the future
Distorted Thinking
Depression or Job Satisfaction in
University Employees
Mark and Smith, 2011
Attributional Training and Job Satisfaction
Proudfoot et al., 2009
Summary
•Positive Attributional Style & Optimism
• - Is adaptive, motivating, engenders selfconfidence
- Is learnt and can be changed
1. Better academic achievement (e.g. college
grades)
2. Better sport performance (both individual and
team sports)
3. Happier family life (positive interactions and
long-term marital satisfaction)
4. Better coping strategies to loss and life events
(re-appraise loss in positive terms, distraction not
•
•
•
•
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What would a positive psychology
intervention look like?
Positive Psychology Interventions
• Positive memory recall - 3 good things
• Gratitude letters
• Using inner strengths
• Confidence statements
• Future goal setting - best possible self
• Optimistic thinking - attributional training
• Communication and socialising
• Positive Psychology <---> Psychotherapy
Promoting Positive Thought
Routines
1. Selection of ‘pos psy’
or ‘cognitive’ exercise (8
weeks)
Optimistic thinking (best possible self)
Appreciation (gratitude)
Control (Compile a list of activities completed)
2. Amount of effort engaged
Positive Change Requies
Effort
and a Motivation to Change
Lyubomirsky 2011
How to Deliver an
Intervention
• Online vs In-person
• Peer testimonial
• Best possible self (4 weeks: social, health,
academic, career)
Best Possible Self
Considering a Positive Future
Gains achieved through both:
person
In
Online
Peer testimonial also increased gains
Hope
Future goal achievement
The possibility of change
Personal choice and autonomy
Effect Size Moderators
• Depression Status
• Self-selection
• Administration format (individual, group,
self)
• Administration duration (legacy, effort)
• Age
• ‘Shotgun’ approach
• Culture
Does Positive Psychology have Value
in the Real World?
- As a field of study, it
explores the positive potential
of humanity (research-led,
evidence-based)
- As a practical guide, it
provides tools to improve
immediate affect and longer
term attitudes
Thank you