relevance of positive psychology

• Positive psychology is the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive
• The main focus of positive psychology is to ensure that all people lead or flourish
• In 2014, the UK was considered the 7th happiest country in the world
• Positive psychology


  Relevant in today's society
• Positive psychology in education


  • Can promote skills and strengths that are used, including perseverance, engagement in learning and achievement
  • Can produce measurable improvements in students' well-being and behaviour
• Positive psychology curriculum


  • Penn Resiliency Program (PRP)
  • Students on this programme showed reduced symptoms of depression compared to a control group
• Positive psychology curricula do not antagonize the traditional goals of classroom learning but rather enhance them
• Positive psychology in work

  • Work can be the major source of our happiness
  • Experiences are most positive when both challenges and skills are high
  • People experience flow situations more at work than during leisure
• If workers admitted that work can be as or more enjoyable than most of their leisure time, they might work more effectively and improve the quality of their own lives
• Positive psychology in leisure and lifestyle

  • People can increase their experience of flow and the quality of their lives by being more conscious of and more active in their use of leisure time
• Positive psychology projects


  • Action for Happiness website
• Positive psychology in health

  • Those with high levels of emotional vitality have a reduced risk of coronary heart disease
  • Medical professionals might treat patients with advice about how to increase their happiness, along with other lifestyle advice
• There is a lack of rigorous evidence for the effectiveness of positive psychology interventions
• Positive psychology programs may not be taken seriously because they have difficulty in conducting research that draws clear cause and effect conclusions
• Positive psychology may only be available to a privileged part of society
• The debate on the relevance of positive psychology in today's society is ongoing