Frequently Asked Questions:
Question 1: Does positive psychology depart from or reject the rest of psychology?
Answer 1: Not at all. Since World War II, addressing psychological problems has been a primary focus of psychology, leading to effective treatments for numerous disorders once deemed incurable (Barrett & Ollendick, 2004; Evans et al., 2005; Hibbs & Jensen, 1996; Kazdin & Weisz, 2003; Nathan & Gorman, 1998, 2002; Seligman, 1994).
Question 2: Does positive psychology solely focus on making people happy?
Answer 2: “Happiness” is commonly defined as a state of well-being or a pleasant experience, but this notion of happiness is only a small part of positive psychology. Positive psychology is the scientific study of strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive. According to Seligman (2002), positive psychology has three central concerns: positive emotions, positive individual traits, and positive institutions.
Question 3: Is Positive Psychology the same as positive thinking?
Answer 3: There are three key differences between positive psychology and positive thinking.
Firstly, positive psychology is grounded in empirical, reproducible scientific research. In contrast, positive thinking often promotes a simplistic notion of maintaining a positive mindset at all times and in all situations.
Secondly, while positive psychology acknowledges the benefits of positive thinking, it also recognizes that there are moments when negative or realistic thinking is more appropriate. Studies indicate that optimism is linked to better health, performance, longevity, and social success (Seligman, 1991; Lyubomirsky, King & Diener, 2005). However, in certain contexts, negative thinking can lead to greater accuracy, which can be critical (Alloy, Abramson, & Chiara, 2000). For instance, we wouldn’t want a pilot or air traffic controller to adopt an overly optimistic outlook when deciding whether to take off during a storm.
Thirdly, many specialists in positive psychology have dedicated decades to studying the “negative” aspects of human experience, such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. Positive psychology does not aim to replace traditional psychology; rather, it seeks to complement its hard-won achievements.
Question 4: Does positive psychology discover anything surprising? Isn’t it just stuff my mother knows?
Answer 4: Answer 4: While some findings in positive psychology may seem to align with common sense, the field does provide valuable insights into what constitutes a good life. It’s easy to label findings as obvious after the evidence has been gathered. The role of science is to empirically validate or challenge our assumptions about common wisdom.