Question

What is positive psychology and why was there a need for this new movement in psychology according to Seligman?

Answer 1

Psychology was was field which dealt with concepts such as behaviorism, psychoanalysis and looked at mental illnesses and other shortcomings of humans. But after the world war II, psychologists saw how how people survived and went through struggles. Research was done on the aftermath of the world war II such as death of family members, sexual and physical abuse, head injuries etc.

As a response to this, the field of positive psychology developed, where positive aspects of humans would be studied. The pioneer of positive psychology was martin seligman. Positive psychology is the study of the factors and process that lead to optimum functioning of humans. Positive psychology has developed many practical strategies to enhance ones psychological well being.