POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

Humanity has a choice to make. It is either materialistic affluence through economic prosperity ignoring the human needs and well being of the people. But such a course is more likely to lead to increased selfishness and alienation of the deprived from the affluent which would eventually plunge the society into chaos and despair. The other side is a balanced society with equal benefits, opportunities and overall well being of humanity. For achieving such a state, social and behavioral science can play an enormously important role towards the articulation of a good life for one and all irrespective of the religious, ethnic or cultural diversities. And this where the most crucial role of psychology becomes an essential requirement.

Psychology is a subject that conventionally has been dealing with mental illness with almost exclusive attention to pathology with a disease model of human functioning. The latter half of the 20^th century has seen the advent of the other side dealing with a fulfilled individual aiming at the positive side of the human psyche with a focus on human strength and virtue. Psychology per se is based on the subjective experience of individuals. On focusing on the positive side which is the topic of this article includes experience like well being, contentment and satisfaction  ( in the past ), hope and optimism ( for the future )  and happiness  & flow ( in the present ). These are the general aspects from the past, through the present to the future. At the individual level, the positive traits are capacity of love  & vocation, courage, interpersonal skills, aesthetic sensibilities, perseverance, forgiveness, future mindedness, compassion, empathy, spirituality, and wisdom. And at the group level, it would be about civic virtues and institutions that move the individual toward better citizenship, responsibility, nurturance, mentoring, altruism, tolerance and work ethic.

The two pioneers in this field of positive psychology have been   Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi of the USA. Both these psychologists have a personal narrative based on their close observation of human beings that has directed them towards this stream.  Martin Seligman  ( Prof of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania ) during his interaction with his daughter and her responses realized that raising children is vastly more than fixing what is wrong with them. It is about identifying and nurturing their strongest qualities and reinforcing them with what they are best at, so that they can best live out these strengths. This concept he developed and applied in general to all spectrum of the individual so that a person could lead a happy and purposeful life. Now, as per Seligman, three aspects lead to such a life as given in the below equation.

HAPPINESS   =  PLEASURE + ENGAGEMENT + MEANING .

 In the below video presentation he has elaborated upon  each of these three aspects in detail as to how these factors can ultimately lead to a life with lasting happiness.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi the Italian born American psychologist realized the need for positive psychology in Europe during World War II. He observed that the majority of the affected people were mentally embittered with shattered dreams & aspirations struggling to sustain themselves. Amid this gloom and despair without jobs, money or status they were reduced to empty shells. Yet there were a few who kept their integrity and purpose of life despite the surrounding chaos. Their serenity acted as a beacon that kept others from sinking into gloom and losing hope. And incidentally, these were not the most respected, educated or more skilled individuals. This is what set him to thinking as to what was the source of strength these people were drawing on. His video presentation below has elaborated on his concept of   "FLOW" as a major parameter that could act as the trigger to drive an individual. What it means to be in the “ FLOW ” is living in the present i.e . in the  “ HERE and NOW”  both physically and mentally without hangs ups of the past painful events or thinking of  an uncertain future. Because the present is the most powerful on which  an individual needs to concentrate his focus for achieving anything meaningful. And this can act as the driving spirit to sustain him under all circumstances.

 This he has elaborated in the below video presentation.

  And lastly much of the task in  present century will be to evolve science of human strength with a mission to understand and learn to foster these virtues in young people