PSYC 335 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Work Ethic, Abraham Maslow, Positive Psychology
Document Summary
Positive psychology: the scientific & applied approach to uncovering ppls strengths & promoting their positive functioning. Focuses on the question what is right about people? rather than what is wrong. Field of psychology often focuses on human weaknesses & mental illness & understanding & helping the ppl suffering, rather than strengths. Before wwii, psychology had 3 missions: curing mental illness, making the lives of all ppl more fulfilling, identifying & nurturing high talent. Both resulted in huge strides in understanding & giving therapy for mental illness. Also resulted in neglecting the other 2 goals of psych & focusing on victims. Human beings were seen as passive foci: stimuli came on & elicited responses or external reinforcements weakened or strengthened responses or conflicts from childhood pushed human beings around. Positive psyc focusing on psyc as not just about weakness & damage but also about strength & virtue.
