Outline focus on good life + 1 other assumption (4+4)

• The good life

  One key assumption of the positive approach is the focus on the good life, which emphasises living a fulfilling and meaningful life rather than simply eliminating negative states. According to Seligman (2003), there are three types of lives: the pleasant life (seeking positive emotions), the good life (engagement in activities that absorb us), and the meaningful life (living with purpose beyond the self).

  Seligman argues we should strive for the good and meaningful life by developing our strengths and virtues such as courage, wisdom and love, which help us flourish and face challenges. These are expressed through positive connections with others, positive individual traits, and life regulation qualities, such as autonomy and self-control. Achieving the good life is seen as a key route to sustained well-being.
• Goodness and excellence

  Another key assumption is the authenticity of goodness and excellence, which asserts that positive traits like happiness, kindness and optimism are just as real and important in negative states like anxiety or depression. Seligman (2002) criticises traditional psychology for focusing too much on pathology, neglecting the study of what makes life worth living. Positive psychology suggests we all have signature strengths, such as humour or generosity, which can be nurtured to improve well-being. Therapies based on this assumption, like positive psychology interventions, aim to help individuals build on their strengths rather than simply treat their problems. This helps people develop resilience and prevent future mental illness, promoting a more balanced and empowering view of human potential.