From a field focused on identifying, classifying and solving problems, positive psychology has emerged as a science devoted not to studying the bad, but encouraging the good.

What is the definition of positive psychology?

Positive psychology was founded by Marty Seligman in 1998. According to the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center, positive psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive:

Positive psychology has three central concerns: positive emotions, positive individual traits, and positive institutions. Understanding positive emotions entails the study of contentment with the past, happiness in the present, and hope for the future. Understanding positive individual traits consists of the study of the strengths and virtues, such as the capacity for love and work, courage, compassion, resilience, creativity, curiosity, integrity, self-knowledge, moderation, self-control, and wisdom. Understanding positive institutions entails the study of the strengths that foster better communities, such as justice, responsibility, civility, parenting, nurturance, work ethic, leadership, teamwork, purpose, and tolerance (Seligman, 2002).

Who is researching this?

In addition to the University of Pennsylvania’s Positive Psychology Center, a number of research centers and universities are focusing on positive psychology, including: