Positive Psychology

i

Positive Psychology

Brittney Parker

PSY/220

John Scalise

May 25, 2012

Originally, psychology focuses on aiding the mentally ill and any other psychological issues in treatment. As for positive psychology is a field in which examines how ordinary, everyday people can become more fulfilled and happier, as well as the attempt to understand and establish the human strengths to improve what individuals thrive. In other terms, positive psychology isn’t meant for treating mental illness but to make a normal life more fulfilling for those who have difficulty in finding their inner contentment.

Positive psychology is based on central themes in which the method aims to assess the human strengths. We are who creates our world personally and socially. We as individuals have the most control of ourselves as well as our perceptions and actions throughout our lives. When we know we are capable of choice, change, and control, the more we are influenced to pursue our goals we have set for our present and future. Through the incremental theory, positive psychology contains the importance of human adjustment as a malleable cognitive characteristic that encourages the change in ways in our beliefs and behaviors, in which such actions lead to changing our environment.

It is up to us whether we choose to follow or direct our own path throughout our lives. Not only do we create our worlds, but we also have the tendency to go by another’s word, or rules. I believe that sometimes we choose to follow simply because one may not entirely know who they are, or what they want in their life. Maybe being the follower is more of their comfort zone rather than making their own decisions. It is a challenge to trust one’s self if one doesn’t even know themselves, or why they make their decisions. This could also relate to biological factors, past experiences, or present circumstances that mold our behavior.

Obtaining the knowledge of positive psychology helps the mind to think...