Martin Seligman, one of the pioneers of positive psychology, explains that happiness does not always depend on our social status, religion or physical beauty. Happiness is, in fact, a unique combination of what he called “different forces,” such as the feeling of humanity, temperance, perseverance, and the ability to lead meaningful lives. Positive psychology is the field of psychology that studies the fundamentals of happiness and well-being, supported by human virtues and strengths.
To talk about Martin Seligman is to talk about a new era in psychology. It was in the 1990s that, as president of the American Association of Psychology (APA), he gave a talk to highlight something he considered important: psychology needed to take a new step. It was necessary to study, from a scientific point of view, everything that makes human beings happy. In this way, psychology could help people build a more fulfilling reality.
- “Life imposes the same setbacks and tragedies for both the optimist and the pessimist.
- But the optimist manages to face it more serenity.
- “Martin Seligman?.
To date, most psychological studies have focused on the treatment of mental illnesses and their treatments. In fact, Seligman himself is best known for his work on “learned impotence. “
However, as always at some point in our lives, something forces us to think deeply about ourselves. It happened to the father of positive psychology, and he tells us about his experience in the book “Optimistic Child”.
One morning, her 6-year-old daughter Nikki was playing in the garden. The girl screamed and ran back and forth, full of enthusiasm and vitality. However, he was so strong that his father, Martin Seligman, could not concentrate on his work. He couldn’t help it, ended up screaming and asking him to shut up.
After that, the girl, with an unusual maturity for her age, told her that she wanted to scream and cry, that, watering received, made her want to cry as when she was younger, however, she did not give up. I knew he was no longer a baby and would be controlled.
She also told him that just as she had learned to control her crying, he also had to control her moodiness. So, the two “would be a little more grown-up. “Your daughter’s little speech changed Martin Seligman’s life.
Martin Seligman was the pioneer of positive psychology, however, we can say that this term was coined at the time by Abraham Maslow, who formulated his theories in a very intuitive way and with virtually no empirical and methodological evidence, so he has left this interesting legacy in the hands of a new generation of psychologists who, since the 1990s , have been a reference in the field of the study of happiness.
These psychologists who have gathered Maslow’s testimony, such as Seligman himself, Ed Diener and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, have delved into the study of positive emotions from a scientific and rigorous point of view, investigating the processes, dynamics and situations that can most affect our health, performance and satisfaction with life in general. In addition, what Martin Seligman noted at the time is that these studies should aim to teach people to be happier.
Based on the notions of happiness raised by Confucius, Mencio and Aristotle, as well as modern theories about motivation, he concluded that happiness can be built by working in three very specific dimensions that are:
Maybe when I hear the term? A very hedonistic concept comes to mind, like a life oriented towards simple pleasure and without greater aspirations. This is not what Martin Seligman means to build happiness.
Enjoying a good life is not really as easy as one imagines, happiness is not always synonymous with wealth, power or social success, does it know how to reach our maximum human potential and develop it to feel more complete, freer, happier?
Martin Seligman created a human strength classification system with Dr. Christopher Peterson, an expert in the field of hope and optimism, whose purpose was to accurately determine the dimensions on which we must work on a daily basis to improve our potential. :
Curiosity and interest in the world. Love for knowledge and learning Judgment, critical thinking, open mind. Ingenuity, originality, practical intelligence. Perspective.
Bravery, perseverance and effort. Integrity, honesty, authenticity, vitality and passion
Love, attachment, ability to love and be loved. Kindness, kindness, generosity. Emotional, personal and social intelligence. Justice, citizenship, citizenship, loyalty, teamwork. Sense of justice, equality Leadership.
Ability to forgive, mercy. Modesty, humility. Caution, discretion, caution, self-control, self-regulation.
Appreciation of beauty and excellence, ability to be surprised, recognition, hope, optimism, projection of the future. Sense of humor Spirituality, faith, religious sense.
Psychology not only focuses on unhealthy behaviors, it also helps with education, work, marriage and even sport. Do psychologists work to help people develop strengths in all areas?Martin Seligman?
A meaningful life has an intimate connection to the top of Abraham Maslow’s pyramid, where we guide our own virtues and strengths to contribute to the happiness of others, we are certainly talking about altruism, this dimension that Martin Seligman defined as the exercise of benevolence. like the art of knowing how to overcome mere personal pleasure to put yourself at the service of your entourage.
In conclusion, positive psychology still has an important and inspiring place in our current society, however, it can be said that this approach is not without criticism, there is no shortage of contrary opinions to remind Seligman that reality is too complex to “integrate”. “. in this vision of happiness. Label it like? Positive – this involves understanding emotions such as sadness, anger or frustration as “negative” dynamics, denying their potential for transformation.
In any case, the figure of Martin Seligman is currently one of the most eminent in the world of psychology, and his latest book?Homo Prospectus? He proved it one more time.