Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/seligman2.jpg)
Martin Seligman (1942- )
American psychologist (pictured right).
Founder of positive psychology based on what makes you happy and successful (see point
1)
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/maslow4.jpg)
Who influenced him?
Humanistic psychologists like:![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/rogers2.jpg)
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/fromm3.jpg)
His most famous books are…
Authentic Happiness (2003)
Flourish (2011)
These discuss the principles of positive psychology.
What did he say about positive psychology and success?
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/happinesssmall.jpg)
1. Positive psychology
This describes how to achieve happiness and well-being and has three pillars:
- positive emotions (like happiness, serenity, satisfaction and optimism) - see point
2.
- positive traits (your virtues and abilities) - see point 3.
- positive institutions (like democratic government and strong families that support
the positive emotions and traits).
2. How to be happy
a) savouring and sharing
- the awareness and sharing of past and present pleasures.
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/happy.jpg)
b) relationships
Nurture your family and friendships, and do things for others.
c) use your strengths
(see point 3).
d) purpose
Do ,and believe, in something worthwhile, creative and absorbing.
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/positive-thinking.jpg)
e) self-support
- congratulate yourself on your achievements.
- keep a gratitude diary (daily writing down three things that went well and why).
f) peace of mind
This is achieved through:
- quiet reflection.
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/stress-reflect.jpg)
- spiritual meaning (e.g. from religion).
Seligman summarized these causes of peace and happiness in his PERMA theory:
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/lovegive.jpg)
Positive emotions
(happiness, serenity, satisfaction and optimism).
Engagement
(involvement in a positive experience)
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/lovenotmoney.jpg)
Relationships
(being loved).
Meaning
(doing something worthwhile for others).
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/successdaretobegreat.jpg)
Accomplishment
(achieving something, however small, from determination, self-discipline and creativity).
Money doesn't contribute much to happiness!
3. Fully exploit your virtues and abilities
Seligman calls these your “signature strengths” and divides them into six categories:
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/wisdom4.jpg)
a) wisdom and knowledge
- love of learning, curiosity and creativity.
- perspective from experience.
- emotional experience (getting on with others).
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/courage.jpg)
b) courage
- physical and moral courage.
c) humanity and love
- allowing yourself to be loved.
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/justice.jpg)
d) justice
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/selfdiscipline.jpg)
e) temperance
f) transcendence (or spirituality)
- spiritual fulfilment.
![Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success Martin Seligman - Positive Psychology and Success](images/stress-work-life%20balance.jpg)
- appreciation of beauty and excellence.
- forgiveness and gratitude (counting your blessings).
Key quote on
economics
The aim of wealth should not be to blindly produce a higher GDP but to produce
more well-being.
Key quotes on happiness
Other people are the best antidote to the downs of life.
The aim of positive psychology is to catalyze a change in psychology from a preoccupation only with repairing
the worst things in life to also building the best qualities in life.
Key quote on love
Optimism helps love
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