The Science of Well-Being: Tracing the Roots of Positive Psychology
Shifting our focus from what's wrong to what's right
In the landscape of human understanding, the pursuit of what makes life worth living has often taken a backseat to the alleviation of suffering. However, in the late 1990s a new path began to form leading to the birth and rise of the Positive Psychology movmenent. This new field, dedicated to the study of happiness, well-being, and human flourishing, has rapidly evolved, offering fresh insights into the ancient quest for a good life.
The Origins of Positive Psychology
The origin of Positive Psychology is most often credited to Martin Seligman, who, during his tenure as president of the American Psychological Association in 1998, brought the discipline into the spotlight. Seligman, alongside colleagues like Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, questioned why some people who went through traumatic experiences came out on the other side of the experience stronger and happier than before the experience. Through their work they recognized a critical gap in the psychological research landscape, which unt…
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