A balanced psychology and a full life

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
Martin E P SeligmanTracy Steen

Abstract

Psychology since World War II has been largely devoted to repairing weakness and understanding suffering. Towards that end, we have made considerable gains. We have a classification of mental illness that allows international collaboration, and through this collaboration we have developed effective psychotherapeutic or pharmacological treatments for 14 major mental disorders. However, while building a strong science and practice of treating mental illness, we largely forgot about everyday well-being. Is the absence of mental illness and suffering sufficient to let individuals and communities flourish? Were all disabling conditions to disappear, what would make life worth living? Those committed to a science of positive psychology can draw on the effective research methods developed to understand and treat mental illness. Results from a new randomized, placebo-controlled study demonstrate that people are happier and less depressed three months after completing exercises targeting positive emotion. The ultimate goal of positive psychology is to make people happier by understanding and building positive emotion, gratification and meaning. Towards this end, we must supplement what we know about treating illness and repairing damage...Continue Reading

References


❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 7, 2004·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Felicia A Huppert, Nick Baylis
Dec 24, 2005·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Tony Delamothe
Mar 7, 2014·Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health·Yonghong ZhangYing Wang
Mar 17, 2009·Brain Research Reviews·Rüdiger J SeitzNina P Azari
Aug 20, 2009·Nursing & Health Sciences·Kristin Akerjordet, Elisabeth Severinsson
Jun 20, 2007·Perspectives in Psychiatric Care·Mary Ann La Torre
Mar 9, 2011·Occupational Therapy International·Claire Hayward, Jackie Taylor
Mar 30, 2016·Quality of Life Research : an International Journal of Quality of Life Aspects of Treatment, Care and Rehabilitation·Evi B KosterDiana M J Delnoij
Dec 4, 2013·Journal of Clinical Epidemiology·Ulrike Ravens-SiebererChristopher B Forrest
Apr 1, 2014·The Journal of Positive Psychology·Christopher W KahlerRichard A Brown
Apr 4, 2014·The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis·Nicole Ruysschaert
Dec 21, 2013·Clinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health : CP & EMH·Veruska SantosSergio Machado
Apr 7, 2009·Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics·Yoram Barak, Anat Achiron
Jul 13, 2019·Academic Medicine : Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges·David D BergLindsay N Warner
May 12, 2011·The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing·Harleah G BuckBarbara Riegel
Dec 16, 2010·The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry : the Official Journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry·Rüdiger J SeitzJürgen Zielasek
Jul 5, 2017·BMC Psychology·A W TaylorJ Licinio
Mar 29, 2020·The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis·Shirley McNeal
Feb 23, 2020·Nursing & Health Sciences·Wilai NapaPornsiri Phuagsachart
Feb 7, 2017·Journal of Smoking Cessation·Jeremy E DrehmerJonathan P Winickoff
Nov 15, 2016·Journal of Mental Health·Blake A AllanShelby Parker
Nov 24, 2020·Disability and Rehabilitation·Hikari AndoCarolyn A Young
Apr 16, 2021·Journal of Intellectual Disability Research : JIDR·B F MeralE Yilmaz
Nov 9, 2021·British Journal of Psychology·Bastien TrémolièreSerge Caparos

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

The American Psychologist
Martin E P SeligmanAcacia C Parks
The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Todd A HareAntonio Rangel
Psychological Bulletin
Ed Diener
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Carol D Ryff, Corey L M Keyes
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved