MOST Analysis

Mission Statement

‘Positive Psychology’ has become something of a buzz word in the past decade. The term is thrown around a lot, but most people don’t really know what it is, what it does or why they would want to have it in their lives. This module focuses on understanding positive psychology, its role in life and why you do – and don’t – want to have it. With a thorough exploration of themes such as optimism, gratitude, savoring, happiness, curiosity, courage, altruism and the meaning of life, this module is aimed at creating the perfect mix of positivity for your life.

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Objectives

01. Positive Psychology – look at what it is and why it is important for us to practice.
02. History of Positive Psychology – understand where the practice of positive psychology came from and the way it has shaped everyday life.
03. Assumptions of Positive Psychology – dive into the assumptions that are made about the practice of positive psychology.
04. Examples of Positive Psychology – look at the themes that run through the practice of positive psychology.
05. Positive Psychology Pillars – understand the key pillars that support the positive psychology movement.
06. The Role of Positive Emotions in Positive Psychology – look at the different ways that we can engage with the principles of positive psychology to change the way we experience our life.
07. Issues with Positive Psychology – understand the issues and concerns that arise when over-doing positive psychology.
08. Happiness – deep dive into the concept of happiness and the control we have over deliberately bringing joy into our everyday activities.
09. Humanist Psychology, Cognitive Psychology and Positive Psychology – explore the differences between these three forms of psychology to better understand the unique role that positive psychology brings.
10. Subjective Wellbeing – look at the ways that people experience and evaluate their lives and the specific activities they participate in.
11. Positive Psychology in Organizations – look at the role that positive psychology plays within an organization and the effect it has on the individuals within it.
12. Positive Psychology’s Influence on the Self – understand the significant influence that positive psychology can have on every individual.

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Strategies

01. Engage and elicit expectations for the program.
02. Understand the importance of strategic wellness planning and complete exercises that assist in embedding this knowledge.
03. Set aside time to study the information, tools and resources in the workshop.
04. Set aside time to meet with their team to discuss the elements of the workshop.
05. Identify, and make a list of, the key personnel needed to participate in health & wellness discussions.
06. Participants to complete the exercises as directed in each course manual.
07. Allocate time to consider the current effectiveness of any health & wellness program in place.
08. Without conducting any in-depth research, identify where strategy can play a role in adding depth and breadth to the existing health & wellness programs.
09. Identify elements where strategy can boost areas that are working well from existing health & wellness programs.
10. Identify the convincing rationale for creating a bespoke health & wellness program.
11. Create a clear narrative regarding the need to incorporate strategic elements in creating the framework for a health & wellness program.
12. Set aside time to identify, and write down, any additional commitment required to create a strategic plan for the health & wellness journey.

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Tasks

01. Set aside time to read through course manuals and make notes.
02. Allocate time to read the workshop’s preliminary analysis.
03. Identify the key personnel needed to create an effective health & wellness program.
04. Ensure relationships are built with key personnel through regular meetings, discussion and gathering ideas.
05. Schedule a meeting within the next 30 days for participants to meet and discuss workshop.
06. Participate in small groups during the workshop to share observations and reflections.
07. Determine and schedule the time needed to dedicate each workshop.
08. Demonstrate preparedness, commitment and personal presence at each workshop.
09. Prepare questions, seek feedback and create a plan for personal growth.
10. Each exercise in the workshop must be fully completed by the participants, and they must share the process and outcomes with the group.
11. Participants should identify and put into practise the adjustments presented throughout the workshop in order to finish their project.
12. Participants are asked to go over resources for ideas and choose at least one new tool from the list to use.

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Introduction

The fourth workshop in the Simplified Wellness Program – Positive Psychology – focuses on understanding the significant influence that positive psychology can have at the individual and the organizational level.

Although positive psychology has been defined in many ways and with many different words, the following is the generally accepted definition of the discipline:

‘Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living.’ (Peterson, 2008).

To expand on this succinct description, positive psychology is a scientific approach to studying human thoughts, feelings and behavior that:

• places an emphasis on strengths rather than weaknesses,
• builds on life’s positive aspects rather than repairs its negative ones, and
• takes average people’s lives and makes them “great” rather than just concentrating on getting those who are struggling to ‘normal’.

Wikipedia defines positive psychology as:

‘ … the scientific study of what makes life most worth living, focusing on both individual and societal well-being. It studies ‘positive subjective experience, positive individual traits, and positive institutions…it aims to improve quality of life.’

It is a field of study that has been growing steadily throughout the years as individuals and researchers look for common ground on better wellbeing.

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History

The field of psychology known as positive psychology, which is focused on the scientific study of happiness and the “good life”, first arose in the latter half of the 20th Century.

In order to challenge the dominance of psychopathology at the time and create a science of human flourishing, the field of psychology began to shift towards the study of optimal human functioning.

It is the area of psychology that places the most emphasis on the abilities, qualities and attributes that support effective functioning, and promotes the wellbeing of both individuals and communities.

Happiness, resiliency, wellbeing and states of flow and engagement are among the major issues. Martin Seligman, a former leader of the American Psychological Association, was its driving force.

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Current Position

A number of assessments of the area of positive psychology have made an effort to look at the research associated with it and determine empirically to what extent the worries about the field are valid. Reviews of recent literature show that there is a complicated narrative.

A thorough review of positive psychology literature that has been published since the movement’s foundation up until 2013 has produced some interesting results. An extensive examination and theme analysis showed that there are two main methods that characterize positive psychology research as it exists today.

One strategy is centered on the creation and evaluation of structures that foster virtues and enhance life quality. This strategy closely reflects the way the field’s creators conceived positive psychology and the goals they established for the research that would create positive psychology.

The second strategy employs the use of constructive concepts to facilitate overcoming hardship. Despite the fact that this was not what the early scholars emphasized, a sizable portion of current positive psychology research takes this tack.

According to an analysis of the global landscape of positive psychology research, 46% of studies use the first approach (which we refer to as the “positive” approach), 29% use the second approach (which we refer to as the “deficit” approach), and 25% combine the two approaches in the same study.

The evaluation of the metrics employed in positive psychology research articles starts to tell a similar tale. Nearly as frequently as ‘positive’ measures like those measuring character strengths, gratitude and resilience, pathology-focused scales measuring stress, anxiety and depression are cited and used.

More research has been done on the intricate relationship between coping with adversity and general wellbeing that affects and influences people, groups, communities and organizations.

When considered collectively, the reviews indicate that the field has responded to the criticisms and that research in positive psychology has grown more balanced, taking into account both the pleasant and unpleasant facts of human life.

On the other hand, social justice is not given much consideration in the field. With a focus on gender, race and ethnicity, reviews have sought to evaluate the extent to which positive psychology research addresses issues pertinent to underrepresented populations.

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Future Outlook

The goal of the area of positive psychology is to promote organized, methodical research and practice in developing, maintaining and upgrading a meaningful existence.

Its methodology has evolved over time to take a more holistic approach, contrasting and integrating both life-improving and life-depleting facets of human existence to foster greater knowledge and actual flourishing.

Like all psychology fields, there is still much work to be done in terms of contrasting and integrating various voices and needs, particularly those of those who are marginalized.

The second wave of positive psychology is expected to be better able to forward this objective.

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Executive Summary