CD: Relevance of Positive Psychology in Today's Society

• One reason why positive psychology is relevant in today's society is due to the benefits it can have in Education. Seligman (2009) believed a positive psychology curriculum (PPC) can be developed to promote skills and strengths that are valued. It should produce measurable improvements in students' wellbeing and behaviour leading to more engaged learning. Seligman randomly assigned 347 9th grade students to a PPC or non PPC class. He found that the PPC students were more cooperative and had better social skills.
• However, there is a lack of empirical evidence for most PP programmes. Spense and Short (2007) claimed evidence for PPC is based on small scale and short -term interventions so it should not be developed without further research. PPC would also mean other courses in school to be dropped. Schools have limited budgets and it will have to be ensured PPC will work for students from different socio-economic backgrounds. This is time consuming and may turn out ineffective.  
• PP is also suggested to be relevant in the workplace. Csikzentminhaly’s suggested that PP in the workplace allows his ‘flow’ theory to be applied. He claims people will enjoy having motivational challenges and using individuals' signature strengths can increase self-esteem. Mindfulness can also be implemented in the workplace to ‘lift the mood’ and allow people to feel comfortable and relaxed whilst working to avoid stress. Csikzentminhalys and LeFevre (1989) said if people admit to themselves work can be as enjoyable as leisure time work can be more effective and improve quality of lives.
• However, many people claim the idea ‘pick a job you like, you’ll never work a day in your life’ (Chinese Confucius 551 BC)  is not a new concept. So does PP tell us anything other than what we already know? Furthermore, in societies where people are poor, money is more important and triumphs happiness in the workplace, rendering PP irrelevant in many countries. 
• Pos Psych can also be considered relevant regarding health. Kubzansky and Thurston (2007) research followed 6000 men and women aged 25-74 for 20 years. They found that those participants with high ‘emotional vitality’ had a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, a sense of enthusiasm, engagement and the ability to face life stresses with emotional balances. This has resulted in advice regarding happiness and wellbeing often being given by medical practitioners in general checkups
• However, it is difficult to establish cause and effect when investigating health and happiness. Are people healthy because they are happy or happy because they are healthy? Although PP may make a significant impact it  cannot be taken seriously in the health sector because medical practitioners want evidence and trials of proof before properly implementing PP methods. 
• Positive psychology has its strengths and weaknesses and I believe it could work in some areas of society. Currently unhappiness and stress causes huge economic impacts to the UK economy around £118 million a year so perhaps an increase in positive psychology methods could improve this. However, it is unlikely for business and some schools to introduce positive psych practices as they simply do not have the budget.