What is Positive Psychology?

Positive psychology, the science of happiness and well-being, is a branch of science that contributes to individuals finding the meaning of life based on the health model as opposed to the disease model used by traditional psychology.

Positive psychology, the science of happiness and well-being, is a branch of science that contributes to individuals finding the meaning of life based on the health model as opposed to the disease model used by traditional psychology. It aims to determine the positive and negative factors of the events occurring in the individual or society on human psychology and to develop them with scientific methods.

Positive psychology does not mean focusing only on positive emotions or ignoring the negative. Because all these things are Polyannism. However, positive psychology is based on getting to the root of the problem, seeing all the positive or negative aspects of it and fighting against negativity. This method focuses on improving weaknesses and developing strengths in the process of reaching a solution in the face of problems.

World Health Organization and its Approach to Positive Psychology

The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This definition coincides with the health model based on positive psychology.

The World Health Organization's definition of health and the fact that a healthy person is not only defined as a person who has no problems and that psychology does not only focus on solving problems has led to the emergence of the concept of positive psychology, which focuses on human strengths in solving these problems. The concept of positive psychology is based on the reduction or elimination of problems by gaining behavioral skills that will protect and maintain the well-being of the individual in every field.

What is the difference between Traditional Psychology and Positive Psychology?

While traditional psychology organizes therapy programs for the feelings and thoughts of individuals in the process of diagnosis, treatment and improvement of mental disorders in human behavior; positive psychology aims to identify and develop the factors that will contribute to their success in every field by focusing on the individual's character strengths.

While traditional psychology, based on the illness model, aims to bring the individual from eight (-8) to zero (0), positive psychology aims to bring the individual from zero (0) to plus eight (+8).

Historical Development of Positive Psychology

Although many scientists have contributed to this field in the historical process, the founder of positive psychology is Martin Seligman and the time of its establishment is considered to be Seligman's presidency of the American Psychological Association in 1998.

The most important contribution to the emergence of the concept of positive psychology has been made by the humanistic psychology movement, which emphasizes personal meaning in line with the potential of the individual. Although the pioneers of the humanism movement were Abraham Maslow, Erich Fromm and Carl Rogers, Martin Seligman, who continued to work on the foundations of happiness and human nature with their focus on different focal points of psychology, ensured that positive psychology became a scientific method. Seligman created the PERMA model to better explain well-being in the process of finding happiness in individuals' lives. PERMA has a multidimensional holistic approach and consists of five stages. The name of the model is an abbreviation of the English initials of these five elements.

Martin Seligman PERMA Model

1. Positive Emotions
2. Engagement - flow (Engagement)
3. Positive relationships (Relationship)
4. The meaning of life (Meaning)
5. Achievement (Achievement)

Martin Seligman argues that these components do not produce well-being unless they are together. Each component has emerged to contribute to the development of the preceding component. Research has shown that each element of the Perm components leads to physical health, achievement satisfaction, and engagement in activities, while at the same time not only increasing well-being, but also reducing or even eliminating problems.

Positive Emotions: Focusing on emotions such as happiness, pleasure, and joy, it enables people to increase their skills and productivity in the mental process.

Connection-flow: It creates a psychological commitment effect between the goal and the flow by creating intrinsic motivation in the individual in line with the set goals.

Positive relationships: Being valued by others in bilateral and social relationships is an important part of mutual well-being and, in general, of the individual's sense of well-being.

The meaning of life: The search for meaning is one of the most basic human needs and the purpose of life is different for everyone. It is to ensure that the sense of belonging in line with the goals is reflected in behavioral patterns and creates changes.

Success: The phenomenon of gaining competence in a subject by providing self-motivation in the process of achieving goals.

Martin Seligman argues that when strengths are combined with facts, it is possible to achieve a good life. Perm components are a method developed to model and explain an individual's well-being. Proactively working on the components makes life more livable and helps the individual become stronger in the face of negative concerns.

To learn more about Positive Psychology, which is a common course for all Üsküdar students, please see our What is Positive Psychology? Why is it important? for more information.