The Master of Applied Positive Psychology course, MAPP, is of interest to a wide range of individuals of all ages who are looking to learn more about positive self-development as well as professionals working in the fields of coaching, education, healthcare, and therapy. Whilst most degree courses teach the theory of the subject, positive psychology is different in that students are encouraged to explore topics by applying them to their daily lives. This provides them with a unique insight into what the theory looks like in practical terms when applied in the real world in their own personal circumstances. It could be called learning from the inside out. Positive psychology is based upon evidence-based interventions which have been shown to work well for most of the people most of the time, and MAP students have ample opportunity to try them on for size. From the outset, they are able to develop new practical skills and knowledge that can improve their own lives at home, at work and in their relationships. Positive psychology topics include the science of hope, resilience, happiness, well-being, mindset, flourishing, positive emotions, gratitude, and the journey of change, amongst others, and also includes applied research skills and positive psychology and practice. More universities around the world are adding this degree course to their syllabus, although there are still only a handful of MAPP courses available. However, the provision of online learning makes the programme accessible to students worldwide. Applications can be accepted from people without a first degree if they have relevant work or life experience. One of these universities, Buckinghamshire New University UK, introduced the...
First of all, let’s clarify what positive psychology is not, as it’s commonly misunderstood. Smile, think happy thoughts, be positive and never give up. While there are benefits to those suggestions, we must be cautious of toxic positivity as it’s much more complex than that. Ultimately, Positive Psychology is a field of study that explores how people can live their best lives. While some people like to distinguish it from traditional Psychology, it actually encompasses all of the differing schools of thought. It has helped me see my past and future through a different lens, which has helped me to grow in endless ways. Since taking the time to reflect, I’ve felt less regretful when looking back on my life and much more hopeful when looking forward. I’d like to share some valuable lessons I’ve learned. Learning changes people One of the most memorable moments of my childhood was when my dad told me ‘You never stop learning’. I’ve always been a curious individual and one of the many questions I dwelled on during childhood was what makes people change? There are some people who seem like they never change, perhaps those who live with their parents for large parts of their lives or rarely venture outside of their hometown. On the other hand, there were people who I aspired to in school because they competed in national competitions and ventured abroad. While of course, some opportunities aren’t necessarily available to all, we not only learn from our own experiences but from other people’s too. People don’t need solutions Another thing I wondered about when growing up was...
I’d like to introduce you to Jo Sunshine, a very aptly named artist. In my opinion, she is a role model for what the theory of positive psychology looks like when applied to the everyday life of a person. Her spirit shines through her artwork and in her attitude to life, despite the challenges she has had to face and overcome. She demonstrates optimism, resilience, creativity, kindness and gratitude in almost everything she says and does. In 2006, Jo experienced a serious motorway accident that caused her to suffer a brain injury. Several operations saved her life but unfortunately, she lost her eyesight. Becoming blind was a traumatic event especially as prior to the accident she had enjoyed drawing and painting. After a long and slow recovery process, she was unable to drive or work and was forced to move from her rural location to Glasgow city where she could more easily access public transport and other services. To begin with, she was homeless, but she received a lot of support from The Big Issue organisation and became one of The Big Issue magazine vendors. Some years later Jo experimented by creating large murals on the walls of her flat and found it enjoyable to be reacquainted with her artistic skills. She soon ran out of wall space and then bought some good-quality wax crayons and started to draw on paper. Despite being totally blind in one eye, with only a misty blur in the other, Jo found that by using bold colours and big designs she could make out the shapes and she has been creating pictures daily...
Following on from my colleague Lisa Jones’ blog (January 2023), I want to consider further the recent paper by Carol Ryff (2022) “Positive Psychology: Looking back and looking forward.” From its inception, PP was intended to redress the historical focus on the negative and dysfunctional in psychology research and practice and seek what makes life vibrant and full. Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi (2000) suggested that the movement, if successful, could become redundant and be subsumed into “psychology as usual”. Has that happened? Is PP still needed and if so what is its role, function and direction within the wider field? The waves of PP The history of PP is often described in a number of “waves”. The first wave of PP focussed heavily on boosting the positive and was criticised for promoting “toxic positivity”. This largely was due to a misunderstanding of the true nature of PP (in my opinion), but on the plus side a wider focus on “what makes a good life” did seem to gain traction in research. The potential “Pollyanna” nature of first-wave PP was addressed with the development of the second wave or PP 2.0. (Ivtzan et al. 2016, Wong 2011). This considered the dialectics of life and reconnected PP with its neglected humanistic and existential roots. The focus was on a balance of positive and negative experiences in context and the complex interplay of all the shades of grey in between black and white which reflect the reality of human experience. The role of meaning, wisdom, purpose, values and growth as part of the “good” life came to the fore alongside strengths, positive...
For this post I wanted to reflect on a recent article by Carol Ryff ‘Positive Psychology: Looking Back and Looking Forward’ (2022) which is a timely and needed article about the state of research and the need to expand its focus into the inequalities, greed, and stupidity which drives the inequalities in society. It is so important to have challenges in research and practice to prevent naval gazing and myopic self-serving behaviours that occur when we are too inwardly focused. The article by Ryff made me think of all the areas of society which impact us every day yet we are not included as variables in research studies or discussed with clients in organisations or in the practitioners’ offices. My curiosity and quite frankly excitement at the fun of being a deviant (!!) led me to think about how we can become more deviant and take positive psychology into the next phase, and in doing so address these unspoken areas. I look at the practical ways we can be positively and productively deviant and suggest how Appreciative Inquiry might be one way to bring deviance into practice. This is not a fluffy post, but I hope it gives you food for thought and permission to use your courage to challenge the status quo and be positively deviant! Ryff’s article Carol Ryff is known for developing the Psychological Wellbeing model and measure (https://sparqtools.org/mobility-measure/psychological-wellbeing-scale/), and for her involvement in the longitudinal study of health and wellbeing called the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Study (https://www.midus.wisc.edu/). Ryff is a well-known name in positive psychology despite not considering herself a positive...
In part one, Transitioning into Motherhood, I explored my pregnancy journey. This blog – December 2022, marks the first anniversary of the death of my beloved cat Bella. She was part of our family for eleven wonderful years and this blog honours her memory. Bella entered our home in 2010. A cute kitten, full of energy and love. The decision to become a pet owner was due to my burnout experience months before. During my recovery, I knew I had to change my lifestyle. The classic I am a teacher and the system broke me. I wanted a reason, that when I returned home from work, I had something else to focus on rather than trying to use that time to complete a never-ending to do list, that I had no hope of ever fulfilling. Someone suggested having a cat. So, the journey of Bella and I began. How does Positive Psychology apply? If we take the PERMA model that underpins Positive Psychology, having pets really activates each component. Positive Emotions: The happiness, the laughter, the compassion and the love that exist between a pet and its owner is flourishing in its abundance. I am talking about owners who have unconditional love for their pets. The action of caring for your pet produces Oxytocin, the ‘love drug’ within the brain. All those cuddles produce a steady stream of Oxytocin, that helps combat stress and depression. Obviously, when they depart this world for the next, the loss is incredibly painful due to the fact you loved them so much. Positive Engagement: This component requires you to be present in...
