In your opinion, will the positive psychology movement have a more lasting influence on the field than the humanistic psychology movement did? Why or why not?
The notion that the psychology must include the study of dark as well as the light aspect of the human nature, that is, the sorrow, guilt, anger, psychopathic nature along with the happiness, joy, bliss and other positive aspects, was reframed by the president of the American Psychology Association (APA), Martin Seligman, in the year 1998. He said studying the psychopathic nature and the neurotic disorders in the humans is not sufficient.
The psychologists are left blind to the different aspect of the human nature, thereby, reducing the chances growth and blissfulness in the humans. By studying the positive aspects, the psychologists could use this therapy in treating their patients. He called for an idea that was similar to Maslow’s idea of self- actualization. This was called as the positive psychology. This idea was readily accepted by other psychologists.
The books and the journals became full of the terms, such as, positive attitude, positive way of life and others, in the year 2001. The topics covered excellence, optimal functioning of the human mind and happiness. In today’s date the positive psychology text book covers the topics, such as, the science behind happiness, subjective well-being, leisure, and love satisfaction of life, hope theory, optimism, emotional creativity, peak performance and others.
According to few psychologists, the level of happiness in the individuals is affected by both the favorable as well as the unfavorable situations. However, their happiness level reverts back to normal after the transient effect. For example, even if a person has won a million dollar lottery, his level of happiness would revert back to normal after some time. The happiness is also related to age.
According to a new study, the aged individuals are happier as compared to their young age, exception being the weak aged individuals. It has also been shown that married people are happier as compared to the unmarried individuals and have less desire to control other’s lives and have a subjective well-being. The happiness, in turn increases the longevity of the individuals.
There is a dilemma associated with the happiness, whether the happy people are likely to be successful or the successful people are likely to be happier. However, according to a new study, the happiness plays a prominent role, followed by other positive behaviors. Hence, the positive psychology has played a major role in shaping the attitude of humans and will do the same in the future also.