The Justification of Emphatic Therapy is Remarkably Strong - Article Example

Positive psychology Name Course Tutor Date Positive psychology Indeed, Psychology is the study of human behavior through analysis of attitudes and beliefs. However, Positive Psychology is a branch of psychology that undertakes to use psychological concepts and human thinking in order to help improve life. This branch of psychology was developed in the year 1998, by Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. The proponents of positive psychology argue that psychology can be used as a tool for bettering life through instilling positive thinking. According to Positive Pychologi8ve, a larger part of human happiness is directly linked to their attitude towards life. As a result, through positive psychology, the life of an individual can be made better in the process of psychological change. Proponents of positive psychology argue that the level of happiness in an individual is virtually something that they can control. In this regard, positive psychology aims at boosting the levels of happiness so as to live better lives. Proponents also look at happiness as the platform for dealing with various ailments such as high blood pressure and other disorders. They argue that most of these disorders can be reduced through positive thinking. As a result, positive psychology aims at increasing levels of happiness and helps reduce such ailments. Indeed, the field of psychology is fast changing. Since the early 1990’s, much of the work of psychology has shifted from assessment cure of mental health. Indeed, positive psychology has moved a step further in making this goal a reality by focusing on how psychology can be applied in the cure of mans suffering. Positive psychology is tremendously important as it does not stop at identifying human suffering but goes ahead in prescribing ways of ending the suffering. It is true that happiness comes from a psychological background (Ilona and Philip 129). One cannot be happy when they are anxious or when they have no hope for tomorrow. As such, positive psychology hopes to find ways of making humans happy and in the long run do away with the suffering. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, one of the chief developers of Positive Psychology argues that, in the past, psychology was wrongly used in a manner to suggest that various problems in the society could be avoided through psychological means. In his arguments, Csikszentmihalyi states that this concept o0f prevention would in many cases are extremely irrelevant. To him, some things are a reality that we cannot change. The only thing we can change is how a person perceives the wrong things that may have occurred. As a result, the concept of positive psychology seeks to explain that suffering exists, but even with suffering, one can still live beyond it and be successful and happy in life. This concept has transformed the modern society as there are unusually many issues that human face that are likely to result in pressure(Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi 7). However, positive psychology would help do away with that pressure by instilling a sense of hope in such a person. Positive Psychology was not developed to go against the other features of Psychology but was to complements that traditional psychological concept. According to Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, this concept is meant to pick up from where the contemporary psychology leaves so as to better the lives of individual. In essence, positive psychology is not just concerned about getting the facts by using the facts to make the society thrive (Linley, Joseph, Harrington and Wood 12). As a result, where the traditional concept of psychology states the facts, positive psychology seeks to use these facts in providing solutions to human suffering. From these arguments, positive psychology seeks to reiterate that human beings will always face a season of highs and lows. Positive psychology seeks to facilitate thriving environment by minimizing the effects of the low seasons. Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi have cited the suffering of the Veteran after the Way War II. Her argues that it was not just enough for psychologists to identify that most veterans suffered from mental illness but seek ways of using psychology for treatment. In this case, Csikszentmihalyi cites the two categories of veterans. Those veterans that suffered the wounds of the war and lived a happy life and those who suffered the wounds of the war and lived a miserable life as money and wealth had gone. This forms that background with which positive psychology can be analyzed. Csikszentmihalyi, however, a move ahead to clarify that positive psychology does not ignore the provisions of traditional psychological concepts (Lazarus 96). He argues that just sating the sate of existence is not enough, but proving solutions is what positive psychology seeks to do. Indeed, positive psychology has remained to be a relevant concept in the modern society. Indeed, as time passes by, more and more people are subjected to all kinds of experience that are extremely discouraging. With increased pressure on people, it is not just enough to explain the cause of pressure but to prescribe ways of reducing such Pressure. Indeed, while the rich or the affluent can buy anything they want, they may be able to buy happiness. This explains why positive psychology plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the highest level of happiness is achieved. In essence, positive psychology argues that there are more than wealth and material things that facilitate happiness. While lacking something may be a source of unhappiness, positive psychology aims to bring out ways of remaining happy even when facing periods of lacking. Positive Psychology is tremendously beneficial as it seeks to deal with all aspects of life. Human beings tend to seek for happiness and would always attach happiness to various things. Indeed, once these things are removed from them, the sense of happiness tends to fade away. These are the things that help attain the provisions of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. Positive psychology acknowledges that human beings would always cherish so much those things that are leading them to the highest level of satisfaction (Seligman 418). Positive psychology would always acknowledge that humans put much importance in reaching the highest point of achievement. As such, individuals would differently cherish things that are most valuable in life. However, positive psychology is instrumental as it deals with things that a person can afford and have with them at any time. To positive psychologist, virtues remain to be the epitome of happiness. Hope as a virtue is the greatest of them all as it gives a person the strength to pursue various things even in the midst of challenges. The foundation of positive psychology is extremely firm as it is entirely built on abstract characteristics that define human nature. As a person, one can lose everything, but they cannot lose their ability to think and make things work for them. It is these abstract ideals that, makes positive psychology exist. This explains what even in the midst of suffering; positive psychology aims to instill the sense of hope. While material things may be gone, the abstract ideals will remain. All a positive psychologist would want is to change the perspective with which the person that is undergoing challenges so as to look at the positives than the negatives (Linley, Joseph, Harrington and Wood 14). All that one had a belief in and cherished in life may be gone, but the self and ability to absorb the pressure is what makes one overcome the suffering. This explains why positive psychologists would always cite the negatives of one’s life and insist on how one can build up from the negatives. Building up is done through psychological change or change in the mind. Positive Psychology remains to be a strong pillar in the well being of the society. Indeed, the branch of [psychology acknowledges the need to live a fulfilling life and make outstanding achievements, regardless of our position at any one time. Happiness is indeed, all that human beings would want to achieve ion life. As such, positive psychology touches on all aspects of life and is critical for the development of the society as a whole. With an increase in the number of pressure-related diseases in the world, positive psychology would remain to be a pillar in mental illness. Works Cited Boniwell Ilona, Zimbardo Philip, Time to find the right balance, Psychologist; Mar 2003; 16, 3; ProQuest Central, pg. 129 Linley, Alex Joseph, Stephen Harrington, Susan Wood, ‘Positive Psychology: Past, present, and (possible) future', The Journal of Positive Psychology, vol. 1, no. 1, 2006, pp. 3–16 Martin Seligman, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Positive Psychology, An Introduction, American Psychologist, January 2000 Martin Seligman, Tracy Audrey, Nansook Park, Christopher Peterson, Positive Psychology Progress, Empirical Validation of Interventions, American Psychologist, July–August 2005 Vol. 60, No. 5, 410–421 Richard Lazarus, Does the Positive Psychology Movement Have Legs? Psychological Inquiry, 2003, Vol. 14, No. 2, 93–109 Read More