Re: positive psychology

[Marie Helweg-Larsen]

Here is what Martin Seligman says at www.positivepsychology.org (under mission statement). It sounds like an issue of focus rather than denial/rejection of other causes. Positive Psychology.  To define, understand scientifically and help build fulfilling lives and thriving communities.  For most of the 20th Century, the field of psychology has focused largely on understanding and healing psychological ailments within a disease model.  The new field of Positive Psychology instead focuses on understanding and building the best things in life.  At the individual level, Positive Psychology is about character strengths, including the capacity for love and work, courage, compassion, resilience, hope, creativity, social skills, integrity, self-knowledge, impulse control, future-mindedness, and wisdom.  At the level of community, it is about the civic virtues and the institutions that nurture better citizenship, such as responsibility, civility, parenting, work ethic, leadership, volunteerism, and tolerance. DeVolder Carol L wrote: Hi, You all may have discussed this before and I wasn't paying attention, but I've been hearing a bit about "Positive Psychology" these days. At the risk of offending anyone, it seems kind of like a rehash of humanism to me. That being said, I'll be the first to admit that I know nothing about it, and as a behaviorist, I consider the F-word to be "feelings." Can anyone give me a brief run-down of its merits? I do believe in optimism and being positive, but I can't figure out what makes this approach new. According to one text I've looked at, a rejection of the disease model of mental illness is an important position. Thanks for any feedback or enlightenment, Carol Carol DeVolder, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology St. Ambrose University Davenport, Iowa  52803 phone: 563-333-6482 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]