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What is Positive Psychology? And why do we have to learn it?

What is Positive Psychology? And why do we have to learn it? . After WWII, most resources and research in psychology were directed to helping treat mental illness . This was good because we learned lots about why people get mental illnesses, and how to diagnose and treat them. .

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What is Positive Psychology? And why do we have to learn it?

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  1. What is Positive Psychology? And why do we have to learn it?

  2. After WWII, most resources and research in psychology were directed to helping treat mental illness

  3. This was good because we learned lots about why people get mental illnesses, and how to diagnose and treat them. • But psychologists didn’t investigate how we can help people actually feel and be happier

  4. Martin Seligman is a psychologist • He thought that if we knew how to help mentally ill people get better, we should be able to help everyone feel happier, regardless of their mental state. • Positive psychology is the science of happiness • It is all about trying to identify and develop ways to actively promote and maintain happiness

  5. Can happiness be scientifically defined and measured?

  6. The Nun Study • 178 nuns • Took their vows in 1909 • Studied over the next 100 years • Looking for a connection between “happiness” and longevity (living a long time • Why are Nuns good subjects for a longevity study? They all have similar lifestyles and live in the same environment, eat the same foods etc. This minimises the amount that those factors influence longevity.

  7. What did they do? • the nuns wrote a written reflection on the day they took their vows. • Scientists measured how much positive emotion was expressed in each piece of writing. The results: scientists compared the happiest 25% of nuns with the least happy 25%... 90% of the happy nuns lived to 85 This is just one of many studies showing the benefits of happiness! CWC wellbeing lessons are grounded in all this research 35% of the unhappy nuns lived to 85 54% of the happy nuns lived to 95 11% of the unhappy nuns lived to 95

  8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXXm696UbKY Are some people naturally more happy than others? Can we change this about ourselves?

  9. Psychologists have found that there are three paths to happiness: The Pleasant Life The Good Life The Meaningful Life Increasing pleasure and positive emotion Psychologists have also found that these things can be learned. CWC wellbeing lessons will teach you how to do all three. Finding your signature strengths, and using them Using your strengths to do something you find meaningful

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