Questions tagged [positive-psychology]

For questions regarding use of the scientific method to study mental-processes that perform typically and beneficially, e.g., topics like states of pleasure or flow, values, strengths, virtues, talents, as well as the ways that they can be promoted by social systems and institutions.

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Relation and differences between Awe, Aha moment and Flow [closed]

Relation and differences between Awe, Aha moment and Flow? From my reading, Awe is defined as 'Awe refers to an intense emotional response people may have when they encounter an object, event, or ...
Wong's user avatar
  • 11
2 votes
1 answer
256 views

How widespread is learned-helplessness in society?

Looking at these resources: Wikipedia, Learned helplessness Christopher Peterson, Learned Helplessness, 2010 Mario Mikulincer, Human Learned Helplessness: A Coping Perspective, 2013 I'm still unable ...
Ooker's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
80 views

What thoughts should one contemplate to minimize sleep latency?

While trying to fall asleep on night, I was wondering what my strategy would be if I was challenged to a competition where the goal was to fall asleep as fast as possible once I was lying in bed. The ...
Wuschelbeutel Kartoffelhuhn's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
479 views

Why is depression a diagnosable issue?

To me, it seems strange that something such as depression, which anyone can feel at any given time, is diagnosed and treated medically as if it is a mental disorder. I believe depression should be ...
Charlie's user avatar
  • 432
2 votes
1 answer
135 views

Awareness of unconditional positive regard

When Unconditional Positive Regard is in use through several therapy sessions and a client asks about this technique. What explanation should be given?
antonycc's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
107 views

Where does the human need for intimacy stem from?

I'm reading "The Art of Happiness" right now, and in it, it's written that our need from intimacy stems a fear that developed at childbirth. According to the text, there's much evidence that this fear ...
user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
73 views

How to foster an environment for appreciation

I'm a teacher at a highschool and currently we've been working on projects that are supposed to make the kids appreciate those around them especially the other teachers and workers at the school. ...
Morella Almånd's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
588 views

Is there a rating scale in psychology that is related to happiness?

There are many rating scales used in psychiatry to rate the severity of disorders. Thus, the extensive depression scales. What about the opposite, happiness scales? If 0 denotes excessive depressive ...
jiniyt's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
260 views

What is the opposite of an insult for the purposes of triggering lasting positive affect?

Over the centuries, western cultures have developed dozens of swear words, insults and curse words that are intended to trigger acute negative affect in the recipient. If one particular word does not ...
Alex Stone's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
1k views

How respected is Viktor Frankl's logotherapy among modern psychologists?

Is Viktor Frankl's logotherapy still a live option in modern psychology, or is it considered outdated? I've heard it referred to as the "third Viennese school of psychotherapy", but my wife's ...
Jonathan Aquino's user avatar
19 votes
2 answers
3k views

Thinking, Fast and Slow vs. Mindfulness vs. Flow

I've been wondering how dual-process theory, which is described in Daniel Kahneman's book "Thinking, Fast and Slow", relates to mindfulness and the state of being in the present moment and the flow ...
ThamP's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
122 views

Are Pareto charts identified in the cognitive sciences (and for willpower in particular)?

I'm a layman when it comes to the cognitive sciences. I've read some number of popular self-help books, but not any academic journals. I've noticed that many times a book suggests some techniques for ...
Wuschelbeutel Kartoffelhuhn's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
137 views

How can you forgive (and not only forget) evildoers without any remorse?

Given the mental and physical health benefits of forgiveness, how is it usually approached in psychological treatment? Despite hours of reading, I still don't understand, and can't even pinpoint why ...
user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
242 views

Are recent affordable EEG devices any good?

I'm looking to do some research about flow and optimal experience with EEG. I don't have access to a lab and I was wondering if the new devices that are available to the public (i.e. Melon, Muse, ...
curious's user avatar
  • 205
1 vote
1 answer
220 views

What is the psychological advantage of having a happiness set point?

What is the psychological advantage of having a happiness set point? If one found a way to constantly be attached to this set point, what would the advantages be (other than perpetual happiness ^^)? ...
Decrypted's user avatar
  • 111
2 votes
1 answer
101 views

Variables in positive reinforcement in human beings

I've been thinking about positive reinforcement occasionally, and I've always found myself wondering about various things that can influence it. So, I'm looking for information (results of empirical ...
user1999728's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
278 views

If we concentrate on our disappointment do we really get more disappointment?

On the blog, Positive Psychology Review, I read the following: TRAIN YOUR BRAIN - LAW OF ATTRACTION Dwelling on disappointments mentally and physically trains your brain to attract more ...
user4951's user avatar
  • 691
9 votes
1 answer
7k views

What makes some things more fun than others universally?

Recently I have been presented with the question, "What makes something addictive, and why are some activities more addicting than others?" This question intrigues me, as logically, the answer would ...
Monacraft's user avatar
  • 451
11 votes
1 answer
1k views

Evidence-based best practices for writing a gratitude journal

I was intrigued to read (in the question "What positive writing exercises improve happiness?") the idea of a gratitude diary suggested as an intervention that "causes psychological well-being levels ...
Jonathan Deamer's user avatar
11 votes
3 answers
711 views

What are effective strategies for increasing concentration and motivation when doing seemingly passive activities such as reading journal articles?

Background Unfortunately I am not a specialist in Cognitive Science I am just a regular CS student who has big interest in cognitive science. I want to share with you some interesting observation I ...
user10756's user avatar
  • 325
3 votes
1 answer
171 views

Where to find published results of positive psychology cancer treatment study mentioned in Martin Seligman's book?

In Dr. Martin Seligman's book, "Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life", there was mention of a study involving teaching cancer patients to fight learned helplessness. I believe this ...
ljs.dev's user avatar
  • 131
12 votes
1 answer
960 views

What is the influence of "effort put into pursuing wealth" on happiness?

As presented in the TED talk by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (3:30) repeated research has been unable to show a correlation between happiness and level of material wealth (above a certain minimum threshold)...
Wouter's user avatar
  • 552
12 votes
2 answers
343 views

Can the Philosophy thought game "The experience machine" be answered by Positive Psychology?

In Philosophy, a thought game exists called "The experience machine" {1}. In summary, it's a machine you plug into that enables you to always experience positive events, and never negative ones. One ...
Wouter's user avatar
  • 552
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

What positive writing exercises improve happiness?

Writing seems like a perfect medium for expressing ones problems but can it also be used to improve happiness somehow? Maybe through some sort of creative writing exercises that focus on positive ...
Ein Doofus's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

What science or psychology is behind the Landmark Forum's coursework?

The Landmark Forum is a self-help seminar focusing on helping individuals to make positive changes in their lives by chaing their point of view and using logic to break down emotions to change the way ...
Josh's user avatar
  • 5,400
14 votes
2 answers
473 views

What factors improve mood and increase cognitive functioning when people wake up?

I'm a software engineer doing some research in order to figure out if developing some applications are worth the effort. This work is applied to computational devices including mobile devices and even ...
bmartins's user avatar
  • 243
10 votes
1 answer
334 views

What is the effect of high expectations on long-term happiness?

Are there any studies about the long term effects of having high expectations of oneself on one's happiness? Does crashing after failing to reach unrealistic goals significantly impact long-term ...
PKG's user avatar
  • 273
20 votes
2 answers
3k views

Are autonomy, mastery, and purpose the most important motivators?

I've watched the amazing TED talk where Daniel Pink lays out the contrarian notion that greater extrinsic motivators are unimportant (and sometimes detrimental) in comparison to three intrinsic ...
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