Psychology 457/557

The Psychology of Happiness

Thursdays 12:15 - 3:00; Psych 317B; Fall, 2008
Professor: Robert B. Bechtel,Office: Psych 517; phone: 621-7430; bechtel@email.arizona.edu
Office hours: M,W, 8:00-11:00
Texts: Flow by Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi (1991); Pursuit of Happiness by David Myers (1992)
Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman (2002), and The How of Happiness by Sonja
Lyubomirsky (2008)
Date Assignment Discussion
Aug 28 none Definitions
Sept 04 Myers, Chs. 1-4 (15-86) SWB & satisfaction
11 Myers, Chs. 5-8 (87-154) Is Flow Happiness?
18 Myers, Chs. 9-10 +Epilogue Love, marriage and all that
25 Seligman, Part I (1-121) Positive Emotion
Oct 02 Seligman, Part II (125-161) Strengths
09 Seligman, Part 3 (165-269) The Mansions of Life
16 Csikszent, Chs. 1-3 (1-70) What is unhappiness?
23 Csikszent, Chs. 4-6 (71-142) Autoletics
30 Csikszent Chs. 7-10 (143-240) The joy of work
Nov 06 Lyubomirsky Chs.1-3 (13-79) Personal happiness
13 Lyubomirsky Chs. 4-9 (83-250) Happy activities
20 Lyubomirsky Ch. 10 (257-304) Sustainability
27 Thanksgiving
Dec 04 What I got out of this course Listening & talking

Final Exam is Thursday, , 11:00-1:00

1. Students will write a one page summary and reflection on what they feel was the most
important point made in each assignment. These will be kept in a three ring binder and handed
in at the end of the semester. These summaries can be changed as a result of discussion if the
change is noted.
2. Discussions will center around each students report on an experience recalled from each of
the five books, making five experiences in all.
3. Special research assignments will be handed out in each class and reported on for the
following class. Each student is expected to do one special assignment as a research project.
Graduate students will do a term paper on a book similar to the texts. The book will be agreed
upon by discussion with the professor.

One page summaries=10 points each total=120
Research project=50 points total=50
Personal experiences=20 points each total=80
Grand total for writing=250
Graduate student paper=100
Tests=50 for the midterm, 100 for the final: Total points=400 for 457; 500 for 557

Course Description

The course introduces the new movement of Positive Psychology, founded by Martin
Seligman and others. Assignments are from five of the most prominent researchers in the field
and each student must write an experience related to each of these five. In addition, a literature
search must be written up based on a topic related to assignments. By listening to the
experiences of others and reading of the research done in this field, the student will be exposed
to the new positive outlook in psychology and asked how he/she relates to it.

Weekly summary. For each weeks assignment the student will write a one page
summary emphasizing what is seen as the most important point (or points). These will be typed
on 3 hole paper and kept in a notebook to be handed in at the end of classes. Summaries maybe
revised after listening to class discussions. Summaries will be graded by how clearly the points
are stated.

Research. Each student will do a multi-paged research report based on a topic that comes
up in discussion and that seems to need further work to reach an understanding. Research will
be done from looking up the papers on Psych Info and then synthesizing the results for the class.
There will be one research report per student. Students will rate each other on research reports.

Experiences are the heart of class discussions. Each student will report on an experience
which illustrates or is contrary to a concept of happiness assigned in the readings. Examples
would be a particularly joyful work experience (flow), enjoying an optimistic friend (Seligman),
or an exciting learning experience. Experiences will be graded by how closely the experience
ties in with theory.

The graduate student paper will be written and presented in class from a book chosen by
the student and approved by the professor. The paper will be graded by how well it synthesizes
the theme of the book.