Does Positive Psychology Have Value In The Real World?

1. Does Positive Psychology Have Value In The Real World? • Dr John Parkinson • School of Psychology • Bangor University

2. Tonight’s Aims • What is Positive Psychology? • What is Happiness? • What are the Effects of Positivity? • Is Happiness Achievable?

3. What is Positive Psychology?

4. Positive Psychology and Wellbeing • “Positive mental health (wellbeing) is more than the absence of clinically defined mental disorder. The WHO definition of mental health as a ‘state of wellbeing in which the individual realises his or her abilities, copes with the normal stresses of life, works productively and fruitfully, and makes a contribution to his or her community’ (WHO, 2001, page 1),”

5. Positive Psychology • Emphasis on positive (not negative) • The pursuit of happiness • A population approach • Humanistic approach – we are resourceful • Prevent and prosper

6. What is Happiness?

7. Perspectives on Happiness US Declaration of Independence: Life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness Aristippus (4th C BC): The goal of life is to maximise the totality of one’s ‘pleasures’ Bentham (and other Utilitarians): The best action (for a government or an individual) which procures the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers

8. Not Everyone Sees A Happy World • Freud: • “One feels inclined to say that the intention that man should be happy is not included in the plan of Creation” • Larkin: • Man hands on misery to man • It deepens like a coastal shelf • Get out as early as you can • And don’t have kids yourself.

9. Two Types of ‘Happiness’ • pleasure, enjoyment, emotion, fun • AFFECT

10. Happiness the Second • gratification, contentment, meaning, reflection • COGNITION

11. Time • fulfilment and meaning • momentary rewards Happiness is (1) how you feel and (2) how you interpret that in the greater context of your life

12. Trait Positivity • Is happiness inherited or learnt? • Lykken (1996) • Genes ~50% • Learning, life experiences, situational factors ~50% • Set-point of happiness (like weight)? Attitude, control, hardiness, experience

13. What are the psychological and physical effects of positive mood/ happiness?

14. Stress -> Illness Cohen et al., 1991

15. Resilience -> Health Trait Positive Emotional Style (Vigor and well-being) Participants quarantined and exposed – tracked for 5 days Controlled for stress levels, previous antibody levels etc. Cohen et al., 2006

16. Effects of Emotion • What happens when we are happy? • Intuitively – relaxed, sociable, generous... • Also appears to make us more open-minded, optimistic and creative • Compare effects of positive and negative emotions: • E.g. Fear - focuses thought-action repertoires • - context of win-lose thinking... • - self-protective and inward-looking • -ve emotions have a clear adaptive focus and drive

17. Effects of Happiness • Broaden and Build theory (Isen, 2000, Fredrickson, 2002) • ‘Expansive’ thought-action repertoires • Creates a context of win-win interactions... • Engenders outward looking attitudes, optimism and creativity • Adaptive value is in affiliation, problem-solving (coping), goal-planning and growth

18. Happiness, Altruism, Reasoning • (Isen 1970, Isen and Levin 1972) • Participants discovered coins in payphone change box (positive mood induction) • Shortly afterwards, participants met a stooge who had dropped papers or were struggling to carry books • Coin-finders compared to controls were significantly more likely to help out • Positive emotion engenders altruism • (Estrada et al., 1997) • Doctors given treats (e.g. chocolate) just prior to being asked to make diagnosis (they were not allowed to eat the treats) • They exhibited better decision-making and diagnosis skills • Positive emotion engenders superior reasoning

19. Happiness and Creativity • (Fredrickson 2000) • - Positive mood induction (watching a funny film) • - Increases problem solving skills and increases ability to think of new ideas • Positive emotion increases creativity

20. Happiness & Attachment • (Frijda, 1994) • Joy promotes playfulness • Play has an adaptive function in promoting social interaction and attachment as well as building resources • Positive emotion increases social interaction and attachment

21. Attributional (or Explanatory) Style • ‘We are disturbed not by events, but by the views which we take of them.’ • Epictetus • Interpretation - of the past • (memory bias) • - of the present • (mood) • - of the future • (optimism and hope)

22. Distorted Thinking

23. Depression or Job Satisfaction inUniversity Employees Mark and Smith, 2011

24. Attributional Training and Job Satisfaction Proudfoot et al., 2009

25. Summary • Positive Attributional Style & Optimism • - Is adaptive, motivating, engenders self-confidence • - Is learnt and can be changed • 1. Better academic achievement (e.g. college grades) • 2. Better sport performance (both individual and team sports) • 3. Happier family life (positive interactions and long-term marital satisfaction) • 4. Better coping strategies to loss and life events (re-appraise loss in positive terms, distraction not denial) • (Gillham 2000; Seligman, 1988; 1998; Fincham, 2000; Nolen-Hoeksema, 2000)

26. What would a positive psychology intervention look like?

27. Positive Psychology Interventions • Positive memory recall - 3 good things • Gratitude letters • Using inner strengths • Confidence statements • Future goal setting - best possible self • Optimistic thinking - attributional training • Communication and socialising • Positive Psychology <---> Psychotherapy

28. Promoting Positive Thought Routines • 1. Selection of ‘pos psy’ or ‘cognitive’ exercise (8 weeks) • Optimistic thinking (best possible self) • Appreciation (gratitude) • Control (Compile a list of activities completed) • 2. Amount of effort engaged

29. Positive Change Requies Effortand a Motivation to Change Lyubomirsky 2011

30. How to Deliver an Intervention • Online vs In-person • Peer testimonial • Best possible self (4 weeks: social, health, academic, career)

31. Best Possible Self

32. Considering a Positive Future • Gains achieved through both: In person • Online • Peer testimonial also increased gains • Hope • Future goal achievement • The possibility of change • Personal choice and autonomy

34. Effect Size Moderators • Depression Status • Self-selection • Administration format (individual, group, self) • Administration duration (legacy, effort) • Age • ‘Shotgun’ approach • Culture

35. Does Positive Psychology have Value in the Real World? - As a field of study, it explores the positive potential of humanity (research-led, evidence-based) - As a practical guide, it provides tools to improve immediate affect and longer term attitudes

36. Thank you