Pos psych

• Positive body


  Our body affects our emotions, feelings and experiences
• Positive psychology


  Conceptualizes authentic happiness as a mix of hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing
• Three distinct lifestyles


  • The pleasurable life
  • The engaged life
  • The meaningful life
• Pleasures


  Nice smells, tastes, sexual feelings
• Gratifications


  Activities (such as reading, or cooking) that require some forward planning
• Our bodies have the ability to induce feelings of pleasure, desire and positive emotions
• The body can assist in creating the engaged life (flow)
• The body has a tremendous power to induce the meaningful life
• Many in our society have forgotten how important it is to have physical bodily pleasures, which can also eventually lead to more eudaimonic achievements
• Five Components of a Positive Body

  • Interpersonal Touch
  • Human Sexual Behavior
  • Physical Activity and Wellbeing
  • Nutrition
  • Physical Pain
• Interpersonal Touch


  Massage therapy, clinical reflexology, hugging and so forth
• Massage therapy has the ability to enhance both physical and psychological functioning
• Massage therapy


  Reduces migraines, premenstrual symptoms, blood pressure, cortisol levels, and increases immune and neuro-endocrine functioning
• Psychological effects of massage therapy

  Significant reductions in depression, similar to the efficiency of traditional psychotherapy
• Theories that Explain Positive Effect of Massage Therapy

  • Gate control theory of pain reduction
  • Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system
  • Changes in body chemistry
  • Production of restorative sleep
  • Mechanical means
  • Interpersonal attention
• Clinical reflexology has several research bodies attempting to establish proper scientific evidence for the use of reflexology in promoting wellbeing
• Engaging in hugging behaviors, as well as kissing, with your partner can significantly reduce psychological distress and influence proteins that may promote health and wellbeing
• Human Sexual Behavior


  Beyond procreation, engaging in sexual activity feels good physically, emotionally and psychologically, although it is also associated with risk, shame, guilt and disease
• Engaging in sexual practices can have physical and psychological benefits for both genders
• Neurologically, there is a multitude of connections at work during sexual peak, releasing neurotransmitters and hormones
• Psychologically, sexual intercourse can enhance exposure to moments of intense joy, relaxation and ecstasy; increased self-esteem and confidence; feelings of love and connection to another; reduced anxiety and depression and enhanced overall quality of life
• People who have sex with someone they care about report much higher levels of wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem than those who engage in sexual practices with strangers
• Engagement in sexual practices can lead to self-development and growth
• Physical Activity and Wellbeing

  Physical activity enhances physical functioning, thereby reducing the risks of disease, and can also make us happier, more energized, confident and resilient
• Sexual behaviors


  When practiced safely and with a trusted partner, can have positive physiological and psychological effects for those involved
• Sexual behaviors


  Can lead to enhanced physical wellbeing, aside from the obvious gratification and ecstasy associated with orgasm (hedonic happiness)
• Sexual behaviors


  Can enable the development of the self, enhancing self-esteem and confidence as well as helping people to become more complete (eudaimonic happiness)
• Physical activity (PA) and positive psychology

  • One focuses on the building of happy, fully functioning people (positive psychology) and the other is a tried and tested avenue for creating such positive people (physical activity)
• Physical activity


  Enhances physical functioning, thereby reducing the risks of disease
• Physical activity


  Can make us happier, more energized, confident, self-regulated individuals and even make us smarter
• Illnesses that physical activity can reduce the risk of

  • Obesity
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Diabetes (type 2)
  • Osteoporosis
  • Some sleep disorders
  • High blood pressure
  • Certain cancers (colon, breast, rectal, lung, prostate, endometrial)
  • Premature death
• Epidemiological studies show that people who were previously sedentary but start exercising later on in life still live longer than those who never initiated exercise at all
• Psychological benefits of physical activity

  • Enhanced general wellbeing
  • Enhanced body image
  • Enhanced self-esteem
  • Enhanced self-perceptions
  • Improved general cognitive functioning among older adults
  • Reduced emotional distress
  • Reduced anxiety
  • Reduced depression
• Physical activity does not simply take away or minimize disease but enhances positive health within individuals
• 'Feel good factor' or the 'runner's high'


  A common response as to why people exercise and these intense positive emotions can be experienced in acute and chronic forms
• Physical activity


  Enhances levels of positive affectivity, thereby enabling individuals to build psychological, social, intellectual and physical resources
• For HIV patients, PA participation can reduce HIV progression as well as enhance CD4 T-cell counts
• Participating in yoga, as opposed to moderate activity, can hold some advantages such as restoring somatic control and increasing efficacy and hope in people with physical illness
• Engaging in community-run PA groups can build a strong identity and sense of cohesiveness
• Community PA programs can also access individuals who are socially excluded such as the elderly or people with mental illness and enable them to engage with other people in similar situations, during a productive activity