Positive Psychology Progress: Empirical Validation of Interventions.

Abstract

Positive psychology has flourished in the last 5 years. The authors review recent developments in the field, including books, meetings, courses, and conferences. They also discuss the newly created classification of character strengths and virtues, a positive complement to the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (e. g., American Psychiatric Association, 1994), and present some cross-cultural findings that suggest a surprising ubiquity of strengths and virtues. Finally, the authors focus on psychological interventions that increase individual happiness. In a 6-group, random-assignment, placebo-controlled Internet study, the authors tested 5 purported happiness interventions and 1 plausible control exercise. They found that 3 of the interventions lastingly increased happiness and decreased depressive symptoms. Positive interventions can supplement traditional interventions that relieve suffering and may someday be the practical legacy of positive psychology.

Beyond the hedonic treadmill: Revising the adaptation theory of well-being.

“…They found that when individuals performed several random acts of kindness on one day each week, their happiness improved. Seligman, Steen, Park, and Peterson (2005) reported a series of happiness interventions that were implemented via the Internet. They found that several of these interventions led to changes in happiness that persisted for at least six months.…”

Promoting personal resources and reducing exhaustion through positive work reflection among caregivers.

“…Several studies show that reflection about positive events leads to better well-being and less exhaustion (Bono et al, 2013;Chan, 2011;Seligman et al, 2006;Seligman et al, 2005).…”

“…In terms of interventions, studies have demonstrated that positive reflection reduces depressive symptoms (Seligman et al, 2006;Seligman et al, 2005) and enhances positive affect (Chan, 2011). Positive reflection about work-related events is associated with less stress and fewer health complaints (Bono et al, 2013).…”

Gratitude-based group intervention manual for college student-athletes

“…The influence of positive psychology in the construction of these specific interventions is very significant which zeroed in on optimizing character strengths more than alleviating symptoms. Seligman, Steen, Park, and Peterson (2005) tested the efficacy of positive psychological interventions in increasing happiness and reducing depression levels of the subjects through online intervention strategies. The gratitude visit exercise yielded the largest effect size in enhancing happiness indices of the subjects during the first month of the study.…”