Question

What three ideas do Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi present in contrast to ‘psychology as pathology’? What are the implications of their ideas for social policy?

Answer 1

Seligman introduced "positive psychology" as a revolution along with Csikzentmihalyi. They presented a paper in 2000 on positive psychology. It was an approach to modern psychology. Positive psychology can be viewed as "fourth wave " in the evolution of psychology. Positive psychology stresses the importance of focus on the strength rather than the weakness. It has evolved over years, earlier the focus was on the darkest sides of human minds while ignoring the bright side.

The three ideas stated in positive psychology are,

1) pleasure and gratification:-Pleasure refers to the attainment of satisfaction through fulfillment of human needs such hunger, thirst, sleep, shelter. Gratification refers to the attainment of satisfaction while seeing the smile on our children's face, the contenment of the family and so on. The stimulation and motivation thus achieved is longlasting.Gratification lasts longer than pleasure.

2) embodiment of strength and virtues: focusing on the strength and working on the weakness helps to overcome frustration of failure.

3) meaning and purpose:-understanding the meaning working towards the goal. It keeps the individulas motivated.

Over the years psychololgy's emperical focus shifted to treating mental illness within a framework, but with the inroduction of positive psychology there developed a whole new perspect of looking onto a disease and majorly on the prevention factor. The implications of positive psychology on social policy were, developed a new way to cope with stress, for exmaple people who did not vent out their negative emotions were successful in dealing with the stress by coping it in a better or constructive way which helped them deal with the stress as well made them happy. It lead to the development of positive emotions which motivated and stimualted them to perform better, helped living on the brighter side.