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APPLIED POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Recognising and developing character strengths and virtues.

robert.boardman@aue.salvationarmy.org ian.heininger@aue.salvationarmy.org (02) 9542 5699 www.reconnect.salvos.org.au

Positive Psychology: Overview


We see what we look for and we miss much of what we are not looking for even though it is there... Our experience of the world is heavily influenced by where we place our attention.
Stavros and Torres

Seligman: An epiphany
Seligman resolved to change. His purpose in life was not to correct his daughters shortcomings. Instead, raising her to nurture the strength she displayed (social intelligence). Can psychological science be about identifying and nurturing strengths?

Positive Psychology: Overview


Psychology as a discipline should be as concerned with: strength as with weakness building the best things in life as in repairing the worst making the lives of normal people fulfilling as with healing pathology
Seligman, 2007

Negative versus positive topics in psychology journal articles 1887 to 2001


9,760 on anger 65,531 on anxiety 79,154 on depression 20,868 on fear 207,110 on treatment 1,021 on joy 4,129 on life satisfaction 3,522 on happiness 781 on courage 31,019 on prevention

Slide courtesy of David Myers

Virtues and Character Strengths


Seligmans positive psychology anti DSM

Character strengths: dominant conceptualisations

The VIA Classification of Strengths and Virtues


24 strengths organised into 6 virtues Strengths enable the achievement of virtues Strengths are distinguished from talents (talents are more innate, non-moral and can be wasted)
www.positivepsychology.org online test measuring 24 strengths

Character strengths: dominant conceptualisations The Clifton StrengthsFinder


34 themes of talent Talent as the basis of strengths Strengths are produced when talents are refined with knowledge and skills
www.strengthsfinder.com -34 human talents/strengths

Character strengths: dominant conceptualisations The Personality Strengths Project


Over 50 strengths, organised into 7 categories A strength is a natural capacity for behaving, thinking, or feeling in a way that allows optimal functioning and performance in the pursuit of valued outcomes (Linley & Harrington, 2006).
www.personalitystrengths.com online questionnaire

Are all Strengths Equal?


The key 5 most closely related to Life Satisfaction
Gratitude, Optimism, Zest, Curiosity, Ability to love and be loved
www.viacharacter.org

Are the strengths spread evenly?


The five most common signature strengths and their frequencies as such are: 1. Curiosity 43% 2. Love 37% 3. Fairness 37% 4. Judgment & Open-Mindedness 34% 5. Kindness 32% Close behind this top five are: 6. Love of Learning 31% 7. Creativity 29% 8. Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence 28% 9. Honesty 26% 10. Humor 26% The least common signature strengths are: Self-Regulation 5% Social Intelligence 6% Modesty & Humility 8% Zest 8% Prudence 10% Perspective 10%

The scope of Positive Psychology


Positive psychology addresses:
PAST- the study of contentment with the past PRESENT- happiness in the present FUTURE -hope for the future

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs

Goals hierarchies
Questions to move up to the next level (chunking up):
What difference would that make?
Why would that make a difference? How would this make a difference? Would that make a difference for everyone or just your situation? If all these things were leading to something what would that be? How does this fit with the bigger picture? Why would that be important? What effect would this have? What are you actually trying to achieve here? What is it you really want? Whats the benefit in that? If this happened how would it feel?

Goals hierarchies
Questions to move up to the next level (chunking down):
What/How/When/Who specifically?
What are examples of this? What would be the first step towards that? How would you do that? What would have to happen? If you had how would you know? What would it look like if you? What is a good way of doing that? How could that need/goal be satisfied? What are some ways you could?

Be Happy?
What is the highest of all goals achievable by actions?...both the general run of man and people of superior refinement say it is happinessbut with regard to what happiness is, they differ.
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book 1, Chapter 4

Authentic Happiness
The 3 happy lives The pleasant life - positive emotion & the skills to amplify it
pleasure, enjoying life, hobbies, relationships, etc..

The good life - engagement, absorption, flow


Confidence and satisfaction accomplishing tasks

The meaningful life using your strengths in the service of something greater than yourself
contributing to something bigger
(Martin Seligman, 2003)

Positive Psychology Techniques

Using signature strengths in a new way

Online inventory then use 1 in different way everyday for a week

Three good things in life

Three things that went well each day along with their causes

Gratitude Visit

Write a letter of gratitude and then deliver it.

You at your best

Write about a time at your best, review once a day for a week

Seligman, Stein, Park, & Peterson 2005

More Techniques

Exercises to increase positive feelings, engagement, & meaning:


performing acts of kindness Plan pleasurable activities with savoring counting ones blessings- blessings journal using talents and/or signature strengths in novel ways 3 doors that closed and 3 doors that then opened find a challenging hobby
performing secret good deeds

writing ones own legacy working for a valued institution

Useful Resources
www.google.com www.positivepsychology.org www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu www.viacharacter.org/ Or check our website (but not yet): www.reconnect.salvos.org.au

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