The History of Positive Psychology

The history of positive psychology is the study of what makes life worth living by focusing on well-being and happiness. Existing as a discipline since 2000, positive psychology was a topic of study for decades prior but only recently became a discipline within the field of psychology itself. It is surprising that it is a relatively new discipline for such a modern and well-known psychological discipline that focuses on positive experiences, traits, and institutions and aims to improve our quality of life.

Offering a new approach to positive behaviors and emotions, understanding positive psychology, starting with its history, can be vital in improving one’s well-being; and, as a leader, improving those around you. Positive psychology differs from the historical disciplines in psychology, wherein the primary focus is on mental health and illnesses rather than merely treating mental illness. Since the 1950s, psychology has been focused on mental illnesses, eventually leading to a new approach: positive psychology.

With the first positive psychology summit in 1999 and the first international conference in 2002, the discipline began its humble beginnings. The public recognized it in 2006 following a positive psychology course at Harvard University. And finally, in 2009, the first world congress for positive psychology took place at the University of Pennsylvania. Since positive psychology has advanced in the United States and Western Europe, and while new approaches to positive psychology are groundbreaking, studying human behavior is not new.

Positive psychology is influenced by notable humanistic psychologists Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Erich Fromm, who built the foundation of positive psychology and studied its effects on happiness. More recent studies include Seligman’s proposal of the PERMA theory of well-being, which includes: 1) positive emotions, 2) engagement, 3) relationships, 4) meaning, and 5) accomplishments. Each of the five elements contributes to well-being for its own sake and is defined and independently measured. Seligman’s PERMA + Vitality theory and other modern, similar theories are built off the history of positive psychology.

Since its inception, the discipline of positive psychology has had breakthroughs in studying human behavior, with theories such as Seligman’s PERMA+ Vitality or Character Strengths being significant parts of positive psychology today. Implementing positive psychology and its theories and applying them to your leadership practices can profoundly impact your leadership in a values-based environment, ultimately leading to a more successful organization.

References

Compton, William. Introduction to Positive Psychology. 1st ed., Cengage Learning, 2004.