notes below

Original class announcement

The speakers

Carol spoke of her work with Positive Psychology which is based on the research of Martin Seligman

History of Positive Psycholoy
For the last 60 years there have been three areas of psychological research - how to improve the lives of ordinary people, the study of mental illness and the understanding of genius. The emphasis has been on the study of mental illness whilst downplaying positive personality traits. Strong character traits are not appreciated but instead described as psychological flaws

This deficit model shows up in other areas too. For instance education seems more about remedying weaknesses instead of building on strengths

In response there is now a strong drive to create a positive psychology, spearheaded by Martin Seligman

Research Based
Positive Psychology is based on empirical research. Some of its findings are

• Negative emotions are important. Because negative emotions, such as fear, help to keep us alive it has great survival value. Negative emotions are in our genes and hardwired in our brain
• And positive emotions have an important value too, for instance
  • If people are in a positive emotional state they are more likely to be able to build human relationships and to solve problems
  • What really cements a relationship is how we support each other through positive times

Of special interest to us coaches is that Positive Psychology aims to move psychology away from therapy towards coaching

Research in optimism and pessimism
A lot of work has now been done on comparing optimism and pessimism

• If something bad happens to a pessimist they believe that it will go on for a long time or for ever. And they believe that it will effect all parts of their lives. Whereas, if something bad happens to an optimist they believe it will only last a short time. And they believe that it will be limited to this part of their lives. For good things the opposite applies
• Being an optimist can add 7 years to your life
• Optimists are more likely to have good health after 50
• Optimists do better in life then their IQ tests suggest, because they don't give up as easily as a pessimist. When a pessimist hits adversity they are more likely to give up
• In sports it has been found that when receiving negative feedback, pessimists will do worst the next time, where as optimists do better

Research in Happiness
Carol mentioned Martin Seligman's latest book: "Authentic Happiness" as well as a book by Richard Layard, "Happiness: lessons from a new science", which shows that above a certain threshold a significant increase in income does not significantly increase happiness

Positive Psychology defines three types of happiness:

1. Pleasure, as promoted by consumerism, usually short-lived
2. An engaged life, called "flow" by author Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
3. A meaningful life, where you make a contribution to others by using your signature strength. Seligman's website, at www.authentichappiness.com, has a free online test to discover your signature strength

Positive Psychology offers a number of exercises for increasing happiness. Whilst the exercises may seem quite mundane to some, unlike many other exercises they are backed by scientific research

Throughout the ages the world religions have had a huge role in teaching techniques to combat negativism

The Centre for Confidence and Well-being and The Vanguard Programme
Carol Craig, Chief Executive of the Centre for Confidence and Well-being Project and author of "The Scot's Crisis of Confidence" is also the architect of the Vanguard programme, a combination of conference and distance learning, based on Positive Psychology. She believes that without the scientific rigour underpinning Positive Psychology the Centre for Confidence would not have been able to attract the 300 programme attendees, including some very senior policy makers. There will also be a major BBC television programme coming out early 2006 which was filmed at the Centre for Confidence

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