School's In - what have I learnt after one week?

School's In - what have I learnt after one week?

My Masters in Applied Positive Psychology began on Monday 5th October and already I have challenged my assumptions and learned lots from the studies of others.

Here are my key takeaways from week 1 so far:

1) Positive Psychology isn't new. 

People often describe about PP as a new focus in the field, but in actual fact this isn't the case and it's absence from the mid 20th century onwards is simply an effect of the economic characteristics of that post-war era.

Prior to WWII Psychology had three central pillars:  

- cure mental illness; 

- make the lives of all people more productive and fulfilling; and 

- identify and nurture high talent 

(Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi 2000)

However, after the war and the traumas that were sustained, psychologists and psychotherapists realised that there was more money to be made in researching and treating mental illness.  This lead to the focus on helping people without psychosis to lead more fulfilling lives, and nurturing genius to be almost entirely forgotten.

Maybe it is the relative economic wealth and the lack of significant global wars that lead to these areas being picked up again around 2000.

2) We can control more of our own happiness than we may realise.Sonja Lyubomirsky in her book The How Of Happiness (2007) outlines how her research concluded that 50% of our happiness, or subjective well-being, is determined by genetics; 10% is determined by situation (marital status, wealth etc) which leaves 40% that can be influenced by our own attitude, activities and attention.

This means that contrary to popular belief, we actually have enormous potential to influence our own happiness if we take the decision to be proactive and not blame or look for external intervention.  The power is in our own hands!

3) Eudaemonic well being vs Hedonic well being

Hedonic Well-Being = the pursuit of pleasure

Eudaemonic Well-Being = the pursuit of happiness

http://www.positivepsychology.org.uk/pp-theory/eudaimonia/34-the-concept-of-eudaimonic-well-being.html

Aristotle originated the idea of eudemonia as an alternatiove to the pursuit of pleasure to give life meaning.  He believed that a living a virtuous and meaningful life was more satisfying.  This is reinforced today with "Purpose" being seen as a key driver of engagement in most workplaces, and that most millenials cite Social Responsibility being a key factor that they look for in employers.