Positive Psychology UNIT 17
17.1 Positive Psychology: Goals and Scope
• Positive psychology emerged to address the neglect of positive aspects in
psychology, focusing on strengths, talents, and resilience. It aims to study
what makes life meaningful and fulfilling.
• The field shifted from an illness-oriented focus to a strengths-based model,
emphasizing "What is right in people?" instead of "What is wrong in
people?"
• Positive psychology has a three-point focus:
1. Individual level: Building positive traits and character strengths.
2. Community/Society level: Creating positive institutions and caring
communities.
3. Nation level: Fostering positive cultures and governance
It has evolved through different waves, each focusing on various dimensions of
positive experiences.
1. First Wave of Positive Psychology: This initial phase concentrated solely
on positive aspects, such as happiness and strengths. It aimed to identify
what makes life fulfilling without considering the negative aspects of
human experience. However, this approach had limitations as it didn't
account for the complexity of human emotions and experiences.
2. Second Wave of Positive Psychology: Recognizing the shortcomings of
the first wave, the second wave introduced a more balanced perspective. It
emphasizes the dynamic interplay between positive and negative
experiences, acknowledging that both are essential for understanding
human functioning. This wave encourages a more nuanced view of
happiness, where challenges and adversities are seen as integral to
personal growth.
3. Third Wave of Positive Psychology: This wave shifts the focus from the
individual to the sociocultural context. It advocates for an interdisciplinary
approach, considering how societal factors influence individual well-
being. This perspective highlights the importance of community and
relationships in fostering happiness, moving beyond the individualistic
views prevalent in earlier waves.
Corey Keyes Dual Continuum Model
The Corey Keyes Dual Continuum Model provides a comprehensive framework
for understanding mental health by combining two key dimensions: mental illness
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and mental health. The model emphasizes the importance of studying both
aspects to gain a holistic view of psychological well-being.
Image Explanation:
The model is visualized as a two-dimensional continuum:
1. Horizontal Axis (Mental Illness):
o Ranges from serious mental illness on the left to no symptoms of
mental illness on the right.
o Represents the presence or absence of diagnosable mental
disorders.
2. Vertical Axis (Mental Health):
o Ranges from poor mental health (languishing) at the bottom to
optimal mental health (flourishing) at the top.
o Reflects the subjective sense of well-being and thriving.
The intersection of these axes divides the continuum into four quadrants:
1. Optimal Mental Health with Mental Illness: Individuals here experience
flourishing despite having a mental illness. They have developed coping
strategies, resilience, and support systems.
2. Optimal Mental Health without Mental Illness: This quadrant represents
individuals who are thriving and do not have any mental illness symptoms.
3. Poor Mental Health with Mental Illness: Individuals here experience both
serious mental illness and languishing mental health, making this the most
challenging quadrant.
4. Poor Mental Health without Mental Illness: These individuals lack a
mental illness diagnosis but still experience low levels of well-being,
meaning they are languishing.
Textual Explanation:
Corey Keyes' model challenges the traditional view of mental health as merely the
absence of mental illness. It highlights that mental well-being and mental illness
are not mutually exclusive and can co-exist. This approach encourages a more
nuanced understanding of human psychological states.
Keyes' model aligns with the thesis-antithesis-synthesis framework:
• The thesis refers to psychology's earlier exclusive focus on mental illness.
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• The antithesis emerged with the field of positive psychology, emphasizing
positive emotions, traits, and strengths, sometimes to the exclusion of
negative experiences.
• The synthesis, seen in the second wave of positive psychology, integrates
both the positive and negative aspects of human life. It recognizes that
suffering, negative emotions, and distress contribute to resilience,
meaning, and well-being.
Relevance:
• The model underscores that achieving mental health requires addressing
both mental illness and well-being.
• It advocates for a balanced perspective, studying the spectrum of human
experiences, both positive and negative.
• This dual approach enables a more holistic understanding and supports
strategies to promote flourishing while managing mental illness effectively.
17.2 Trends in Research in Positive Psychology
1. Positive Psychology 2 (PP2): Focusing on the Negative Side
o Positive Psychology initially emphasized human strengths and
positive attributes, contrasting the deficit-focused pathological
model.
o PP2 integrates both positive and negative aspects of life,
emphasizing the role of suffering, negative emotions, and
challenges in achieving sustainable well-being.
o Core principles (Lomas, 2016):
▪ Appraisal: Contextual evaluation of emotions as positive or
negative.
▪ Co-valence: Coexistence of positive and negative elements
in experiences.
▪ Complementarity: Positive and negative aspects
complement each other.
▪ Evolution: Holistic synthesis of positive and negative
aspects for comprehensive understanding.
2. Creating Positive Environments and Culture Across Settings
o Importance of socio-cultural environments in fostering positivity,
resilience, and well-being.
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o Examples include:
▪ Happiness Curriculum in Delhi schools to promote well-
being.
▪ CASEL’s focus on socio-emotional skill development in
children.
o Studies highlight the role of religious, spiritual, and cultural
practices in individual and community well-being.
3. Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs):
o Evidence-based interventions such as mindfulness, gratitude, and
resilience are being applied in various settings.
o Research explores the efficacy of these interventions across diverse
demographics and socio-cultural contexts.
o Increased focus on technology-based PPIs, especially during the
pandemic, with studies examining their effectiveness and ethical
considerations.
4. Research on Neurobiological Correlates:
o The emerging field of Positive Neuroscience studies how brain and
nervous system mechanisms influence flourishing and well-being.
o For example, research has identified neural correlates of emotion
regulation, especially in enhancing positive emotions.
These trends reflect a shift towards a more integrated, inclusive, and evidence-
based approach in understanding and promoting well-being.
17.3 Future Directions in Positive Psychology
1. Positive Psychology 3 (PP3): A Systemic Approach
o PP3 shifts focus from individual well-being to understanding
individuals in their sociocultural contexts.
o It emphasizes a systemic, interdisciplinary, and multicultural
approach, moving beyond psychology to include various
disciplines.
o PP1 focused on “positivity,” PP2 on “polarity,” and PP3 on
“complexity,” highlighting interconnected dynamics for well-being.
2. Inclusive Perspective on Positivity and Negativity
o Positive psychology must integrate both positive and negative
aspects of human existence for a balanced approach.
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o It can learn from Eastern philosophies like Yin-Yang, which stress
harmony between opposites, and Hinduism’s focus on balance and
unity (e.g., "Ardhnariswar").
3. Indian Perspective on Well-Being
o Indian psychology emphasizes equanimity (e.g., Sthitapragya),
collective happiness (Sarvodaya), and interconnectedness
(Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam).
o It considers spiritual, cultural, and ecological dimensions,
contrasting with the Western focus on individualism.
o Research in Indian contexts (e.g., Sat-Chit-Ananda Scale, Sukha-
Dukha Scale) contributes to an integrated view of well-being.
4. Policy Implications of Well-Being Research
o Positive psychology research should inform public policies to
prioritize well-being alongside economic indicators, as seen in
Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness model.
5. Building Positive Communities and Societies
o Focus on the individual’s ecological context (inspired by
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory) to understand how societal
systems influence well-being.
o Greater research is needed to explore socio-cultural dynamics for
fostering community flourishing.
6. Post-Disciplinary Well-Being Research
o Moving beyond PP3, future research will adopt inter-, multi-, and
trans-disciplinary approaches, integrating bio-psycho-social-
spiritual-ecological aspects of well-being.
o A meta-theoretical framework is essential to unify diverse research
across disciplines, promoting both individual and planetary well-
being.
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