29 Facts About Positive psychology

Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living, focusing on both individual and societal well-being.

Positive psychology began as a new domain of psychology in 1998 when Martin Seligman chose it as the theme for his term as president of the American Psychological Association.

Positive psychology focuses on eudaimonia, an Ancient Greek term for "the good life" and the concept for reflection on the factors that contribute the most to a well-lived and fulfilling life.

Positive psychology is concerned with eudaimonia, a Greek word meaning "good spirit".

Positive psychology has placed a significant emphasis on fostering positive self-esteem and self-image.

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Basic premise of positive psychology is that human beings are often driven by the future more than the past.

Positive psychology psychologists seek to encourage acceptance of one's past, excitement and optimism about one's future experiences, and a sense of contentment and well-being in the present.

Positive psychology emotions are concerned with being content with one's past, being happy in the present and having hope for the future.

Positive psychology grew as an important field of study within psychology in 1998 when Martin Seligman chose it as the theme for his term as president of the American Psychological Association.

Positive psychology urged psychologists to continue the earlier missions of psychology of nurturing talent and improving normal life.

In June 2009, the First World Congress on Positive Psychology took place at the University of Pennsylvania.

Field of positive psychology today is most advanced in the United States and Western Europe.

The field of psychology predating the use of the term positive psychology has seen researchers who focused primarily on topics that would now be included under the umbrella of positive psychology.

The historical roots of positive psychology are found in the teachings of Aristotle, whose Nicomachean Ethics teach the cultivation of moral virtue as the means of attaining happiness and well-being, which he referred to as eudaimonia.

Positive psychology is a global area of study, with various national indices tracking citizens' happiness ratings.

Quantitative methods in positive psychology include p-technique factor analysis, dynamic factor analysis, interindividual differences and structural equation modeling, spectral analysis and item response models, dynamic systems analysis, latent growth analysis, latent-class models, hierarchical linear modeling, measurement invariance, experimental methods, behavior genetics, and integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches.

Positive psychology argues that there is an "overemphasis" on quantitative methods and suggests implementing qualitative methods, such as semi-structured interviews, observations, fieldwork, creative artwork, and focus groups.

Positive psychology writes that usage of qualitative methods will further promote the "flourishing of positive psychology" and encourages such practice.

Positive psychology has influenced a variety of other academic fields of study and scholarship.

Just as positive psychology focuses on exploring optimal individual psychological states rather than pathological ones, organizational scholarship focuses attention on the generative dynamics in organizations that lead to the development of human strength, foster resiliency in employees, enable healing and restoration, and cultivate extraordinary individual and organizational performance.

Study of positive psychology has been translated into various popular media outlets, including books and films, and has been an influencing factor in the wellness industry.

Positive psychology has been criticized in many different aspects from its conception continuing into the present day.

Positive psychology illusions are the cognitive processes individuals engage in when self-aggrandizing or self-enhancing.

Positive psychology pointed to a body of research showing high positivity correlates with positive illusion, which effectively distorts reality.

In 2003, Ian Sample, writing for The Guardian, noted that, "Positive psychology psychologists stand accused of burying their heads in the sand and ignoring that depressed, even merely unhappy people, have real problems that need dealing with.

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Martin Jack has maintained that positive psychology is not unique in its optimistic approach to looking at optimal emotional well-being, stating that other forms of psychology, such as counseling and educational psychology, are interested in positive human fulfillment.

Barbara S Held, a professor at Bowdoin College, argued that while positive psychology makes contributions to the field of psychology, it has its faults.

Positive psychology's raised issues with the simplistic approach taken by some psychologists in the application of positive psychology.

Positive psychology holds that giving more detail and insight into the positive is not bad, but not at the expense of the negative aspect because the two are inseparable.