Download - Applied Positive Psychology
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APPLIED POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGYRecogn is ing and d eve lop ing cha ract e r s t r eng t hs and v i r t ues.
[email protected]@aue.salvationarmy.org
(02) 9542 5699www.reconnect.salvos.org.au
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Seligman: An epiphany
Seligman resolved to change.
His purpose in life was not to correct hisdaughters shortcomings.
Instead, raising her to nurture the
strength she displayed (socialintelligence).
Can psychological science be aboutidentifying and nurturing strengths?
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Positive Psychology: Overview
Psychology as a discipline should beas concerned with:
strength as with weakness
building the best things in life as inrepairing the worst
making the lives of normal peoplefulfilling as with healing pathology
Seligman, 2007
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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
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Virtues and Character Strengths
Seligmans positivepsychologyanti DSM
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Character strengths: dominant conceptualisations
The VIA Classification of Strengths andVirtues
24 strengths organised into 6 virtues
Strengths enable the achievement of virtues
Strengths are distinguished from talents(talents are more innate, non-moral and canbe wasted)
www.positivepsychology.org online test measuring 24strengths
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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
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The Personality Strengths Project
Over 50 strengths, organised into 7categories
A strength is a natural capacity for
behaving, thinking, or feeling in a waythat allows optimal functioning andperformance in the pursuit of valuedoutcomes (Linley & Harrington, 2006).
www.personalitystrengths.com onlinequestionnaire
Character strengths: dominant conceptualisations
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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
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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%
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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
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Maslows Hierarchy of Needs
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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?
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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?
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Be Happy?
What is the highest of all goalsachievable by actions?...both the generalrun of man and people of superiorrefinement say it is happinessbut with
regard to what happiness is, they differ.
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Book 1, Chapter 4
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Authentic Happiness
The 3 happy lives
The pleasant life - positive emotion & the skillsto 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)
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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
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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
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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