positive psychology keynote

Positive Psychology

School Psychologists Association of WAAnnual Conference

September 2011

Dr Suzy GreenClinical & Coaching Psychologist

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY INSTITUTECPU, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

info@positivepsychologyinstitute.com

Welcome back…

A year ago:An introduction to Positive Psychology…

This morning:Revising and renewing interest!

This afternoon:Reflecting on PP for yourself & your schoolCommitting to action!

Where I’m coming from…

As a Clinical PsychologistTreatment and prevention of clinical disorders

As a Coaching PsychologistPromotion of mental health, mental fitness and psychological well-being

As a Scientist-PractitionerScience, Research and practice

Introducing PPI…

About PPI…Our vision:

To significantly improve well-being within the global community

Our mission:

To research, practice and promote the science of optimal human functioning to enhance the well-being of individuals, communities, educational institutions, organisations and governments.

Our structure:

Individual, Educational, Organisational

Positive Introductions!Turn to the person next to you…Tell a story about a time in your role as a School Psychologist that showed YOU at your very BEST!

•Take turns. •Don’t allow modesty to stifle the truth! •As a listener, listen appreciatively. •Respond in a way that builds on what has been said.

Review of Positive Psychology?

Review of Positive Psychology

What is Positive Psychology?

•Positive Psychology is a strengths-based psychology that works to promote optimal functioning across the full range of human functioning, from disorder and distress to health & fulfilment (Linley & Joseph, 2004)

•It is the science of optimal functioning (Gable & Haidt, 2005)

Applied Positive Psychology?

•Application of positive psychology research for the facilitation of optimal functioning;•Includes evidence-based coaching!•Individual, Group, Organisation, Community & Society Levels!

Review of Positive Psychology

4 Main Imperatives:

1.Rise to life’s challenges, making the most of setbacks & adversities;2.Engage and relate to others;3.Find fulfilment in creativity & productivity;4.Look beyond oneself and help others to find lasting meaning, satisfaction and wisdom in life.

Keyes & Haidt, 2004

Review of Positive Psychology?

• Founded on the belief that individuals want to lead meaningful & fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within ourselves & to enhance our experiences of love and work.

History of Positive Psychology

• Rogers (1951) The fully functioning person• Jahoda (1958) Mental Health • Allport (1961) Mature Individuality• Erikson (1963) Stages of Development• Maslow (1954-1971) Self Actualisation• Vaillant (1977) Positive Defenses & Exceptional

Performance• Deci & Ryan (1985) Self Determination Theory • Csikszentmihalyi (1990) Flow – Optimal

Experience• Ryff & Singer (1996) Psychological Well-Being• Seligman (1991-2006) Learned Helplessness,

Optimism, Authentic Happiness

Fundamental Values & Assumptions

• Implicit within Positive Psychology is the idea that human beings have the potential for ‘good’ and that we are motivated to pursue a ‘good life’…

• (Linley & Joseph, 2006)

Fundamental Values & Assumptions

Involves a shift in mindset:• Growth-mindset, rather than fixed mindset• Solution-focused, rather than problem-focused• Strengths-based, rather than weakness-based

The scientific study of Well-Being?

What is Well-Being?

“Well-being refers to positive and sustainable characteristics which enable individuals and organisations to thrive and flourish”

Institute of Well-Being, Cambridge University

2 approaches

• Subjective Well-Being• Psychological Well-Being

Key Constructs• Character Strengths• Happiness, Meaning & Purpose• Positive Emotions & Psychological Well-Being• Positive Leadership• Citizenship• Forgiveness• Gratitude• Creativity• Wisdom• Hope• & many others…..

Proactivity, not Reactivity!

Self-Actualisation!

Feeling Good & Doing Good!

PP Theories

• Authentic Happiness/PERMA • Self-Determination Theory• Hope Theory• Broaden & Build Theory• Any others?

Authentic Happiness Theory

Seligman (2003)

• 3 Roads to the Good Life….• The Pleasurable Life• The Engaged Life• The Meaningful Life

How well are you travelling?

Approaches to Happinesswww.authentichappiness.org

PERMA

• Positive Emotions• Engagement• Relationships• Meaning• Accomplishment

• Self Determination Theory is a developmental theory of motivation and personality;

• One of the most widely researched theories in psychology;

• Identifies reasons why people pursue their goals!

• Identifies three psychological needs: autonomy, competence & relatedness ……

SDT

SDT Example: 4 Reasons Why You May Pursue your Goals …

Autonomous (internally motivated reasons)

Intrinsic Identified“I really enjoy it” “I value it, meaning”________________________________________________

Controlled (externally motivated reasons)

Introjected Extrinsic“I should do it” “I’ll be penalised, guilt! or receive recognition”

Self-Determination Theory

• Self-Concordant or Authentic Goals

• Research shows that those pursuing self-concordant or authentic goals have greater goal attainment and well-being

Hope Theory (Snyder, 1991)

• Hope reflects an individual’s perceptions of their capacity to:

1. Clearly conceptualise goals;

2. Develop the specific strategies to reach those goals (pathways)

3. Initiate & sustain the motivation for using those strategies (agency).

Hope Theory (Snyder, 1991)

• Can be trait or state, general or specific.• Variability between individuals in levels of hope

ie HIGH vs LOW HOPERS!• High Hopers do better at school, athletics, have

better health, problem-solving ability and are better adjusted psychologically.)

Broaden & Build Theory of Emotion (Frederickson, 1998, 2000)

• Asserts that positive emotions evolved as psychological adaptations that increased our human ancestor’s odds of survival and reproduction.

• Negative emotions narrow people’s behavioural urges towards specific actions

• However positive emotions widen the array of thoughts and actions

Broaden & Build Theory

• The benefits of broadened mindsets build a variety of personal resources, like social connections, coping strategies, environmental knowledge.

• Reserves that we can later draw on to manage threats (mental health prevention).

Positive EmotionsProfessor Barbara Fredrickson

Joy

Gratitude

Serenity

Interest

Hope

Pride

Amusement

Inspiration

Awe

Love

Triangle or Squares?

What is Positive Education?

• Applied Positive Psychology in Education• Positive Education utilises the research base

from the field of Positive Psychology to enhance the optimal functioning of students, teachers, staff and the whole school

• Involves the application of PP research on topics such as wisdom, mental fitness, virtues & strengths, mindfulness, flow, positive emotions, purpose and meaning + much more….

What is Positive Education?•Seligman defines it as….”education for both traditional skills and for happiness”

•Positive Psychology Institute incorporates evidence-based coaching as a methodology that “enhances the transfer of education and training in Positive Psychology into everyday practice”

•Over 20 years of research shows that personally meaningful goal-striving is highly correlated with well-being!•Upcoming Harvard Research: PPI vs EB Coaching?

Positive EducationClarification Point

• The terms “happiness” and “well-being” are still being used interchangeably

• Seligman states happiness is “too worn and weary a term to be of much scientific use”

• Fredrickson says it is “semantically messy”• We need to clarify for those in education

interested in PP that it is for “optimal functioning”

Positive EducationPP provides:

• Scientific underpinning of “well-being”

• Strengths-Based Assessment & Development

• Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs)

• Research on a wide range of Positive Psychology constructs!

• Underlying Values, Assumptions & Theories

Positive EducationWhy do we need it?

•For reduction of mental illness; poor mental health can impede academic & social success•For increasing well-being and optimal functioning; better learning & more creative thinking•For creating virtuous citizens and a virtuous society!

Positive EducationWhy do we need it?

•Schools have immense influence on the development of youth•The primary focus is on the acquisition of fundamental academic skills•PP can directly influence academic outcomes through the development of intrapersonal and interpersonal strengths (of students & staff!)•Many programs are focused on preventing pathology rather than building health eg The School Psychologist’s role is primarily reactive not proactive

Positive Education: A Snapshot• Growing interest globally!• Australia forging ahead!• Geelong Grammar, Knox Grammar – Strategic Positive

Education Programs - training in PP for staff, students & parents,, PP embedded into curriculum, co-curricular activities, policies and procedures.

• University of Sydney research has focused on “evidence-based coaching as an applied positive psychology” for enhancement of individual goal attainment & well-being

• Growing number of Australian schools adopting!

Positive Education: A Review

• Positive Psychology in Education Symposium

• Hosted by the Coaching Psychology Unit, University of Sydney, April, 2009 & 2011

• www.positivepsychologyaustralia.org

Australian schools adopting….

Example PP Initiatives• Celebrating Strengths – WWW - (Jenny Fox-Eades)• Figures of Eminence Night (St Caths)• Strengths Art on corridor walls (St Caths)• Mood Boosting music for bell (St Caths)• Strengths-Coaching (Wendy Ewen)• Gratitude (Diary, Café)• Kindness (RAOK, Friendship Tree)• Hope (Goal Setting/Coaching)• Mood-Boosts (music/videos; visual triggers)• Positive Relationships: Grandparents

Day/Harmony Policy

Positive EducationPPIs for Adolescents (Norrish PhD)

• Adolescents categorised as flourishing reported higher academic achievement & performance (Howell, 2009)

• Adolescents demonstrate a preference for the pleasure orientation to happiness (which has been demonstrated to have the weakest relationship with well-being).

• Very few adolescents referred to meaning in their qualitative responses.

• Norrish & Vella-Brodrick: Multi-component PPIs aimed at enhancing adolescent well-being

Positive EducationPP & CP: Complementary Approaches

•Optimal Functioning•Enhanced Performance•Enhanced Psychological Well-Being•Focus on Strengths & Solutions

Positive Psychology & Coaching Psychology?

• Positive Psychology: scientific research to better understand human flourishing

• Coaching Psychology: a framework for change to apply PP research to everyday life

• Complementary Partners in the creation of flourishing individuals, groups, organisations, communities!

Positive EducationWe need Training & Coaching!

PPI’s Educational Projects

PPI’s Educational Projects

PPI’s Educational ProjectsOTHERS…•Public Schools – Grants?•Professional Development Days•Senior Leadership Development – Training & Coaching•Student Workshops: Year 11 & Year 12 – Increasing Hope & Hardiness•Pos Ed Experts Panel & Team•Work with teachers, school psychologists, students & staff!

Positive EducationSeligman’s Suggestion

•Teaching Positive Psychology

•Embedding Positive Psychology

•Living Positive Psychology

Positive EducationTeaching Positive Psychology

• There is a place for stand-alone PP courses

• Not “happiness classes” if we want to be taken seriously!

• It’s about “mental fitness” or “optimal functioning” or “well-being”

• Training for teachers first, then students

• Include Parents!!

Positive EducationEmbedding Positive Psychology

•In the classroom; in curriculum; in music

•On the sports field

•In the staffroom

•In assemblies and festivals

Positive EducationLiving Positive Psychology

•WWW: What went well!

•Mindfulness in all schools! For students and for teachers!

•A shared language of strengths - VIA known to all - seeing the best in others!

•A coaching culture - bringing out the best in others!

Positive EducationIt’s for the students!

• Yes but more so for the teachers!• High rates of stress and burnout!• Teachers are role-models• If they’re not flourishing, what is the

impact on the students?

A Strategy?To create sustained change

• Training & Education for Teachers & Students - YES but we need more!

• A Positive Education Working Party committed to creating sustained change

• The creation of a Strategic Plan over 3-5 years which is an individualised, multi-initiative strategy across all levels of the school

Pre-programPre-programSetting the Setting the FrameworkFramework

Pre-programPre-programSetting the Setting the FrameworkFramework

Appreciative Appreciative Leadership Leadership

SummitSummit(share (share

Appreciative Appreciative Interview Interview

data)data)

Appreciative Appreciative Leadership Leadership

SummitSummit(share (share

Appreciative Appreciative Interview Interview

data)data)

AppreciativeAppreciativeInterviews: Interviews:

Identifying the Identifying the School’s Positive School’s Positive

CoreCore(School (School

Leadership Team)Leadership Team)

AppreciativeAppreciativeInterviews: Interviews:

Identifying the Identifying the School’s Positive School’s Positive

CoreCore(School (School

Leadership Team)Leadership Team)

Appreciative Appreciative InterviewInterview

Data AnalysisData Analysis

Appreciative Appreciative InterviewInterview

Data AnalysisData Analysis

Leadership Coaching (external 1-to-1 Leadership Coaching (external 1-to-1 coaching)coaching)

Leadership Coaching (external 1-to-1 Leadership Coaching (external 1-to-1 coaching)coaching)

Small Group Coaching Programs to support Small Group Coaching Programs to support Coaching Workshops (transfer of training & Coaching Workshops (transfer of training &

coaching supervision)coaching supervision)

Small Group Coaching Programs to support Small Group Coaching Programs to support Coaching Workshops (transfer of training & Coaching Workshops (transfer of training &

coaching supervision)coaching supervision)

Teacher as Teacher as CoachCoach

(Workshop - (Workshop - 2.5 days)2.5 days)

Teacher as Teacher as CoachCoach

(Workshop - (Workshop - 2.5 days)2.5 days)

Student as Student as Coach Coach

(Workshop - (Workshop - 2.5 days)2.5 days)

Student as Student as Coach Coach

(Workshop - (Workshop - 2.5 days)2.5 days)

Parent as Parent as CoachCoach

(series of (series of short evening short evening workshops)workshops)

Parent as Parent as CoachCoach

(series of (series of short evening short evening workshops)workshops)

Professional Professional Development Development Workshops Workshops for all Staff for all Staff (optional(optional)

Professional Professional Development Development Workshops Workshops for all Staff for all Staff (optional(optional)

Draft Strategic PlanDraft Strategic PlanPositive Education ProgramPositive Education Program

Positive Positive

Education Education SummitSummit

(One-Day - (One-Day - SydneySydney))

Positive Positive

Education Education SummitSummit

(One-Day - (One-Day - SydneySydney))

OutcomeOutcome: : Improved Improved

relationships relationships & school & school climateclimate

OutcomeOutcome: : Improved Improved

relationships relationships & school & school climateclimate

OutcomeOutcome: : EEnhanced nhanced

academic & academic & sporting sporting

performanceperformance

OutcomeOutcome: : EEnhanced nhanced

academic & academic & sporting sporting

performanceperformance

M1M1 M2M2 M3M3 M4M4 M6M6M5M5 M7M7 M8M8 M9M9 M12M12

OutcomeOutcome: : Optional Optional

functioning functioning of staff & of staff & studentsstudents

OutcomeOutcome: : Optional Optional

functioning functioning of staff & of staff & studentsstudents

Student Coaching (external 1-to-1 Student Coaching (external 1-to-1 coaching) coaching)

Student Coaching (external 1-to-1 Student Coaching (external 1-to-1 coaching) coaching)

Positive Positive Education Education Working Working

PartyParty

Positive Positive Education Education Working Working

PartyParty

Creation of a Positive Education StrategyCreation of a Positive Education StrategyCreation of a Positive Education StrategyCreation of a Positive Education Strategy

Explicit

• Explicit Instruction:• Specific timetabled courses on PP – where could

this happen in public education?• PP embedded into the curriculum eg PDHPE and

other subjects• Staff training in evidence-based coaching ie

holding coaching conversations

“The quality of the conversation determines the quality of the relationship…..and the quality of the relationship determines the quality of the organisation”, Cavanagh, 2008

Implicit

• Implicit Instruction:• Behaviours towards each other (mindfulness)• Use of language (solution focused & strengths-

based)• Focus on values & beliefs (made explicit and linked

to behaviours)• Our attitudes (positive and caring; focus on

strengths of character)• Quality of feedback (committed and caring)

Wish List…• All teachers trained in Evidence-Based Coaching

ie Teacher As Coach: peer & student • All school staff trained in PP: with ongoing PD• Senior Students trained in EB Coaching ie Student

as Coach, Peer Coaching• Student Coaching (goal-setting & striving)• Creation of a coaching culture (strengths-based &

solution focused)• Strengths Assessment of all students & staff• Positive Parenting Workshops/Parent as Coach• Leadership Coaching – individual & team

Wish List…• AI Summit – 4D Model of Change• PE Working Party & Champions• Mental health screening of students & staff• All students trained in PP – explicit & embedded

into curriculum• More School Psychologists – counselling &

coaching role!• Greater organisational psychology influence • Culture/Climate Measures – Staff/Student/Parent

surveys• More research on applied interventions

Positive EducationKey Questions for the SP?

• Should well-being be taught in schools?• Whose responsibility is it?• What is the role of the school psychologist in not

only reducing mental illness but in increasing well-being?

• How can a School Psychologist be best utilised in a school setting in the implementation of a strategic Positive Education Program?

• What are the strengths of a School Psychologist that need to be marshalled and maximised to be their best selves?

The Role of the SP?

The Role of the SP?• Where do you sit?• What would need to happen for you to be

spending more time in the promotion space?• How could you work more strategically with the

Leadership Team?• What would be happening if you felt truly valued

in your school?• If you were at your best, what would I notice if I

came to your school?

First stepsIntroducing PE at your school…

• Immerse yourself in the PP literature• Attend conferences & workshops• Talk to other schools• Engage experts and work

collaboratively• Training in PP and CP• Create a PP Working Party

(champions)• Make a start!=

Thank You

e: info@positivepsychologyinstitute.com