What is positive psychology?
The culturally perceived criteria for happiness stems from the hypothesized perspective of individual fulfillment for the collective agreement of the definition of happiness. In other words, if an individual is seen to have "good food to eat, a safe place to live, good friends, good health, and a family filled with love... (Friedman & Schustack, 2016)" then they have a good quality of life and should be considered happy. These six factors emerge in many different cultures as the definition of living a good life. However, for a psychologist, this does not always mean the individual is leading a happy life. Thus, the search for the definition of personal or individual happiness has lead Edward Diener to coin the term subjective well-being (as cited in Friedman & Schustack, 2016, p. 222).
The question arose, "What makes an individual happy if it isn't wealth, space and freedom?"
The driving question in the pursuit of subjective well-being and happiness has led to modern psychology shifting from the engrained focus on the black and white or evil versus good behavior to exploring positive forces of life, a movement that is now named Positive Psychology (Friedman & Schustack, 2016).
Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the positive functioning and their influence on behavior and how it translates to self-measured joy. It can be considered a branch of psychology that focuses on typical individuals from a well-being perspective and will account for their strengths, morals, and virtues (Friedman & Schustack, 2016; Sheldon & King, 2001). Rollo May, an existential psychologist, believed that such superficial things only bring temporary joy and true fulfillment and happiness comes from an individual using their talents to pursue and ultimately reach personal goals and accomplishments, regardless of cultural influence on those goals (as cited in Friedman & Schustack, 2016, p. 223).
It is important to note the increasing attention to self-help and preventing unhealthy personalities from developing while remaining engaged in stubborn dilemmas such as the American Paradox.
This is a paradox that questions the heart of Positive Psychology. There are higher divorce rates, suicides, depression, teenage criminals, abusive families and moral degradation. However, we have more technology, more freedom, more disillusionment, more sexual partners, sexual diseases, and more therapist. Myers and a few other behavioral psychologists suggest "altruism, fidelity, family, community and spirituality" are the counter keys to this dilemma and to finding and maintaining joy and happiness.
How does the approach of Positive Psychology differ from previous methods?
Many psychological and therapeutic approaches look into the etiology of dysfunctional individuals and deviant behavior. The central idea is that people have mental illnesses and the purpose of pathology is to cure them of this illness. Positive psychology approaches, in contrast, examines people's behavior to create happier and more fulfilled lives.
References
Friedman, H. S., & Schustack, M. W. (2016). Trait Aspects of Personality. In Personality: Classic theories and modern research (6th ed.). (pp. 178-204). Pearson.
Sheldon, K. M., & King, L. (2001, March). Why positive psychology is necessary. American Psychologist, 56(3), 216-217. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0003-066X.56.3.216
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