Positive Psychology Everything old is new again.

Brian Plummer - District Guidance Officer The scientific study of human behaviour under the title of psychology is a relatively n ew discipline. However, humans have been observing their own behaviour throughout histo ry. Our thoughts on human nature have been greatly influenced for example by the observations of the ancient philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle. This long tradition of studying ourselves perhaps explains why many people read the latest discoveries from psychology and feel that they have intuitively known them all along. As with the old saying everything old is new again the new science of psychology is not so much a discovery but a refinement of what we already know about optimal human behaviour and functioning. For example, the ancient Greeks knew that moral virtue was an important aspect of what influenced people s behaviour and choices. Yet the behaviourist psychology of the early 19 th century which has influenced much of our understandings about learning focused only on observable behaviour and would not deal with unobservable hypothetical constructs such as the mind . Behaviourism Behaviourism tried to strip away anything which was not strictly observable in an attempt to promote psychology as a science which could be studied in just the same way as the natural sciences such as physics. It produced psychological principles that have proven to be robust such as a behaviour followed by a reinforcer is more likely to re-occur than one not followed by a reinforcer . Furthermore, positive reinforcement (giving good things) works better than negative reinforcement (taking away bad things) and better than punishment. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy These principles have continued to work particularly well in areas such as training animals. However, the psychological principal of learned helplessness was also discovered where an animal or human subjected to unpleasant or harmful circumstances can con tinue to behave helplessly even when the circumstances have changed and they could potentially help themselves. Humans can aggravate learned helplessness through unhelpful thoughts which also influence the way they behave. Thoughts can also explain why some children become chronically badly behaved (along with a bad attitude) even when it is in their best interests to give it up, come on board or toe the line. Other children become psychologically ill with anxiety or depression and victims to their own dysfunctional thoughts. Modern psychology acknowledges the reality and importance of thoughts and has resulted in many cognitive therapies. Most commonly Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) combines the principles of behaviourism with a recognition that thou ghts can act as stimuli just like a ringing bell. Similarly, thoughts can also act as reinforcers such as when we allow ourselves self-praise or banish unrealistic negative thoughts.

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Psychotherapy and Self-Knowledge Most modern approaches to treating pe ople who are psychologically unwell use a combination of approaches including behaviourist, cognitive and psychotherapeutic. Psychotherapy recognises the significance of the subconscious which can account for some deep seated motivations for behaviour which are buried in denial or self-delusion. This may involve exploring issues such as a person s level of self-understanding and how other peopl e perceive them. Often people also consciously attempt to deceive the world by presenting only parts of themselves to others in order to be judged favourably.

Self-Disclosure
What I hide from others. What I don t yet know about What I show others.

Self- Knowledge

What I know about myself.

That part of me which people see

For this reason another aspect of psychological treatment often comes from studies which demonstrate the significance of social contact and the influence of peers and interactions with each other. Humans live in groups and the impact of this cannot be ignored. We have a need to belong and be accepted. This works best if we can be accepted for who we are rather than who we pretend to be but this is often a difficult lesson for young people to learn (and some older people too). Psychologically Effective Communities Developing communities which work well together will promote better psychological wellbeing for individuals. They need to encourage acceptance and tolerance of diversity so that individuals can live openly and authentically. Communities need to find ways to accommodate people from different cultures, religions, sexual orientations and with different types of skills and strengths. They work best when communities provide opportunities for individuals to use their natural strengths (whatever they may be).

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Medicine & Neuroscience A final area of influence in both the understanding and treatment of psychological difficulties comes from the medical science. We are biological organisms and therefore respond to factors which influence our biological f unctioning. This includes diet, exercise and medications as well as our genetic make-up and predispositions to certain types of behaviours. Significant recent advances in our understandings have come from studies in neuroscience which have demonstrated that cells that fire together wire together . It has been demonstrated that our brains actually change in structure as a result of repeated behaviours such as rehearsal or practice. This means that they can also change as a result of enforced behaviours such as those which may result from chronic abuse. The good news is that this is a dynamic process which promises that a degree of repair can happen after both physical and psychological trauma to the brain. Positive Psychology suggests that about 50% of our h appiness is related to our genetic set point , about 10% is related to our life circumstances and that 40% is related to factors within our control. Interconnectedness Scientific study of highly complex human behaviour has necessarily used models to simplify the reality of human behaviour so that we can study specific aspects of human functioning. It has been a process which separates disciplines which have become increa singly specialised. Positive psychology seeks to recognise the interconnectedness of a wide body of research which can in a practical and comprehensive way answer the questions about how best to live our lives. Life wasn t meant to be easy Over millions of years of evolution people have struggled to find strategies to survive and live a happy life. According to Daniel Siegel (psychiatrist and researcher in interpersonal neurobiology) the fundamental strategies which have emerged are: Creating separations - forming boundaries between our selves and the world and between one mental state and another, Maintaining stability - trying to keep physical and mental systems in a healthy balance and Approaching opportunities and avoiding threats - in order to gain things that promote life and escape things that don t.

However, Siegel also points out that mother nature works against these strategies in that: Everything is connected, Everything keeps changing and Routines become boring and many threats are unavoidable (eg: ageing, death).

Siegel alludes to something that deep down we all know to be true. Life does involve pain and suffering or as we ve been told in Australia Life wasn t meant to be easy .

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Eastern philosophy s contribution If we expand our list of observers of the world beyond ourselves, psychologists, psychiatrists, teachers, parents and the classical western philosophers to also include Eastern philosophers then the statement Life wasn t meant to be easy becomes easier to understand. The French scientist and now Buddhist monk Mathieu Ricard wrote: If I have more than I can possibly need and I am still not ha ppy, happiness is impossible. The fact is that without inner peace and wisdom we have nothing we need to be happy . Buddhism accepts that suffering is part of life and that we cannot control the inevitabilities of life. The cause of suffering is seen to be our attachment to or cravings for transient things. This is similar to Siegel s view that we suffer from clinging onto strategies which a re in the end against the nature of the way nature works. According to the eastern view suffering is eased by attaching oneself to higher ideals and working to improve oneself as a means to inner peace and happiness. The positive psychology equivalent of this may be learned optimism even in tough times. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Positive Psychology has also been associated with a new form of therapy known as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). As the name implies this involves a level of a cceptance about the world and ourselves. It encourages us to: step back and observe our thoughts, accept them and watch them go by rather than get tangled up in them, develop a sense of what is important to us in our lives and take committed action to act according to these values.

What s different about Positive Psychology (PP)? 1) PP is the scientific study of the ingredients of a satisfying life. It applies both to healing those who are suffering psychological illness and to improving the wellbeing of others. It stresses that through self-development people can move from a life of enjoyment (Pleasant Life) to a life of engagement (Good Life) to a life of fulfilment (Meaningful Life). 2) Like traditional psychology PP uses scientific research methods but begins with a focus on what is right with you not what is wrong with you. It focuses on discovering and developing yourself and your character strengths. Traditional psychology uses the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a starting point. Positive psychology uses the Handbook of Character Strengths and Virtues .

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3) Traditional psychology was heavily influenced by the concept of learned helplessness . PP focuses on the flip side of thi s - learned optimism . In the same way that we can spiral into a state of giving up and always seeing the negative we can also learn to enhance our wellbeing through practices which help us to focus on the full half of the glass . 4) Traditional pop psychology uses a definition of happiness which promotes material wealth and sensual pleasure. PP focuses on a deeper sense of inner peace which derives from authentic living (where our behaviour is aligned with our values and ideals). The difference between pop psychology and positive psychology is its research basis. 5) PP brings with it some hard truths - such as the universe is a big place and our needs are insignificant by comparison. We are all interconnected and over -focusing on individual needs may reduce the capacity of the world to meet needs of everybody. In addition PP draws on a broader range of knowledge about how humans work. Research has been conducted into a range of practices which enhance wellbeing. These include: savouring, gratitude, mindfulness, character strengths, flow experiences, nurturing relationships, kindness, forgiveness and life purpose or meaning. PP holds that the 40% or so of our wellbeing which is related to our own actions may be significantly enhanced by engaging in these practices.

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