Philosophy of Happiness and the Role of Positive Psychology - Essay Example

Philosophy of Happiness and the Role of Positive Psychology in Promoting Happiness through Counselling and/or Coaching Name Institution Name Date Introduction Psychology is made of different theories, frameworks, ideologies and hypothesis. Psychology continues to evolve because of new areas of study and changing human requirements. An example of such an approach is the positive psychology. The aim of this paper is to analyses positive psychology and happiness. The paper starts with an overview of both happiness and positive psychology. The second part analysis the role of positive psychology in the promotion of happiness through counselling and the third and last part discusses the application of positive psychology techniques to the promotion of happiness. Overview of Happiness and Positive Psychology Happiness can be viewed from a different perspective, but the feeling of positive emotion is integral to the process of happiness. Having positive emotions is not only appropriate because of pleasantness but also advances the requirements of the individual and general development of the world (Park & Peterson, 2008). In addition, happiness or developing positive emotion enables greater achievement, better physical health, love, and build friendship. Happiness ensures the wrongs and the bad things are addressed through creating an environment of positive emotion. Positive psychology is a term used for grouping a number of themes focused on strengths, positive virtues, flow, flourishing, mental health and subjective experiences (Lyubomirsky, Sheldon & Schkade, 2005; Sheldon & Lyubomirsky, 2006). Positive psychology aims to capitalise on what is good rather than what is wrong. For example, many people ask “what is wrong?” and the aim of positive psychology is to encourage people to ask “what is right?” The objective of positive psychology is to assist in mitigating dysfunctional behaviours, cognitions, and emotions, which negates the requirements of happiness and positive orientation (Park & Peterson, 2008). In addition, understanding positive psychology equip individuals with the confidence and skills to address day to day challenges (Wood & Tarrier, 2010). Positive psychology maintains and fosters optimal state whereby an appropriate ratio of negative and positive experiences and state are present most of the time (Delle et al. 2011). The aim is not to analyse the weaknesses or negative side of a challenge rather to also view the positive angle. Therefore, positive psychology aims to champion happiness through concentrating on variables that encourage, champions and upholds happiness. Positive Psychology and Happiness Happiness is integral to the assumptions of positive psychology (Lyubomirsky, Sheldon & Schkade, 2005). The characteristics of happiness include the frequent positive affective state, which is more compared to the negative affective state (Duckworth, Steen & Seligman, 2005). In addition, happiness creates the perception that an individual is progressing appropriately towards life goals (Park & Peterson, 2008). However, it is a challenge to identify the factors that contribute to happiness meaning what makes one individual happy is different from what it makes another individual (Wood & Tarrier, 2010). The point of coherence in the studies and researches is that pursuit and attainment of pleasure may not translate to happiness. It is associated with the skewed nature in which individuals aim to own or have earthly belongings without considering the wider impact of happiness. Some environmental conditions or factors have been shown to be associated with happiness and include moral values, social relationships, family, health, labour market status, and individual income (Carr, 2004; Sheldon & Lyubomirsky, 2006). In understanding happiness, two theoretical perspectives are usually discussed and utilized to understand the reasons why individuals feel happy and good (Wood & Tarrier, 2010). These theoretical perspectives are eudemonic and hedonic approaches to happiness (Keyes, Shmotkin, & Ryff, 2002). The hedonic wellbeing is premised on the understanding decreased pain and increased pleasure results to happiness. It is because the hedonic concepts are based on the subjective wellbeing notion (Keyes, Shmotkin, & Ryff, 2002). The subjective wellbeing is based on or used to denote the good life or happy life. It incorporates affective component, which includes the low negative affect and high positive affect, and a cognitive component such as satisfaction with life (Lyubomirsky, Sheldon & Schkade, 2005). Proposals exist that when experiences of satisfaction and positive affect are high, the experiences of happiness also increases. Eudemonic wellbeing borrows heavily from other psychological theories such as Roger's concept of fully functioning persons and Maslow’s ideas of self-actualization (Park & Peterson, 2008). The eudemonic happiness is based on the understanding the happiness of an individual is associated with what they experience in life, the growth, the challenges and the purpose of life (Wood & Tarrier, 2010; Sheldon & Lyubomirsky, 2006). In understanding the eudemon well-being, self-determination theory plays an important role. The self-determination theory postulates happiness relates to the fulfilment of competence and autonomy areas (Lyubomirsky, Sheldon & Schkade, 2005). Through advancing the aspects of competence and autonomy, it results in subjective wellbeing, which is happiness (Delle et al. 2011). It is imperative to note the considerations are usually on the positive aspects, which balances with the aspects of positive psychology. Therefore, higher order meaning and life purpose are associated with the production of happiness. From the argument, it may present happiness does not result in seeking pleasure rather the individual development of virtues and strengths, which relies on aspects of positive psychology (Lyubomirsky, Sheldon & Schkade, 2005). Positive psychology analyses the aspects of happiness from eudemonic and hedonistic view, which defines happiness through the use of terms such as meaningful life, the good life and the pleasant life (Delle et al. 2011). The good life occurs from individual investing and cultivating their signature virtues and strengths into their leisure, work, and relationship (Wood & Tarrier, 2010). Hence, application of the best of self during challenging activities contributes to the feeling of competence, growth, and satisfaction, which brings happiness. Application of Positive Psychology Numerous ways exist in which positive psychological can be employed in counselling and can be used to complement widely accepted techniques such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy (Delle et al. 2011). For example, Solution Focused Therapy assists the patient to recognize through identifying what the individual is doing in their respective life, what happens better and what worked appropriately in the past (Lyubomirsky, Sheldon & Schkade, 2005). The aim of the Focus is advancing the solution rather than focus on the problem (Wood & Tarrier, 2010). In regards to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, the strategy is identification patterns that are not working appropriately and seeking the appropriate cognitive process to address the problem. Positive psychology enables identification of the opportunities that nurture, since the individual may have struggled and experienced unhappiness for long periods and hence recognizing opportunities of happiness, is difficult (Park & Peterson, 2008). It is important to nurture what is good and when instances of inappropriate things occur, the nurtured component can neutralize the wrong (Delle et al. 2011). In addition, integrating the techniques into therapy provides an opportunity to introduce techniques and ideas the patient can incorporate in the mitigation process (Lyubomirsky, Sheldon & Schkade, 2005). Moreover, positive psychology aims to advance good thinking and positive assistance whether from a friend or mental health professional, which enables the individual to address difficulties and challenges. Positive psychology can be used to advance the requirements and expectations of counselling including understanding the concept of control, learning optimism, and eliciting personal strengths. The aspect of control is based on what an individual can control and what an individual cannot control (Park & Peterson, 2008; Duckworth, Steen & Seligman, 2005). In addition, working on forgiveness and gratitude should be incorporate in the counselling environment (Lyubomirsky, Sheldon & Schkade, 2005). The counselling can employ positive psychology in encouraging the targeted individuals that the future will be good or better (Delle et al. 2011). The counsellor should have hope since without out, the client then may not see the importance of counselling and the expected outcome. Conclusion Happiness is the state of positive emotions while positive psychology is concentration on the positive matters of human requirements and development rather than concentrating on the negatives. Positive psychology influences happiness, but the needs and requirements of individuals are to be satisfied with daily to daily activities. Positive psychology is a grouping of themes that includes subjective experiences and state of mental health. Since happiness is important in advancing individuals requirements in a positive approach, it is possible to employ positive psychology in fulfilment of fundamentals associated with happiness. References Carr, A. (2004). Positive psychology: The Science of Happiness and Human Strength. New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN-13: 978-0415602365 Delle, F., A., Brdar, I., Freire, T., Vella-Brodrick, D., & Wissing, M. P. (2011). The eudaimonic and hedonic components of happiness: Qualitative and quantitative findings. Social Indicators Research, 100(2), 185-207. DOI 10.1007/s11205-010-9632-5. Duckworth, L.A., Steen, T. A., & Seligman, M. E. (2005). Positive psychology in clinical practice. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1, 629-651. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.1.102803.144154 Keyes, C. L., Shmotkin, D., & Ryff, C. D. (2002). Optimizing well-being: the empirical encounter of two traditions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82(6), 1007-1022. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.82.6.1007 Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 111-131. DOI: 10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.111 Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2008). Positive psychology and character strengths: Application to strengths-based school counseling. Professional School Counseling, 12(2), 85-92. DOI: 10.5330/PSC.n.2010-12.85 Sheldon, K. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2006). Achieving sustainable gains in happiness: Change your actions, not your circumstances. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7(1), 55-86. DOI 10.1007/s10902-005-0868-8 Wood, A. M., & Tarrier, N. (2010). Positive clinical psychology: A new vision and strategy for integrated research and practice. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(7), 819-829. DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2010.06.003 Read More