In this article, we will discuss Throw light on the Historical Context of the Development of the field of Positive Psychology.
Historical Context of the Development of Positive Psychology.
The field of Positive Psychology emerged in the late 20th century as a response to the dominant paradigm in psychology, which focused primarily on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and dysfunction. In contrast, positive psychology sought to study the positive aspects of human experiences, such as happiness, well-being, and optimal functioning.
The Historical Context of the Development of Positive Psychology can be traced back to the humanistic psychology movement of the 1950s and 1960s, which emphasized the importance of personal growth, self-actualization, and positive relationships. Humanistic psychology was influenced by the work of philosophers and writers such as Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow, and Viktor Frankl, who emphasized the importance of subjective experience, personal meaning, and self-transcendence.
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In the 1980s and 1990s, the field of Positive Psychology began to take shape as psychologists such as Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi began to question the dominant focus on pathology and dysfunction in psychology. Seligman, in particular, argued that psychology should focus on promoting well-being and flourishing, rather than just alleviating mental illness.
In 1998, Seligman and his colleague Christopher Peterson published a landmark article in the journal American Psychologist titled “The Fulfillment of Human Potential Through Character Strengths and Virtues,” which proposed a framework for studying and promoting positive traits and values such as courage, wisdom, and compassion. This article helped to spark the development of positive psychology as a distinct field of study.
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Since then, Positive Psychology has grown rapidly, with researchers and practitioners exploring topics such as happiness, resilience, positive relationships, and the application of positive psychology principles in various domains such as education, healthcare, and business. Today, Positive Psychology continues to evolve and expand, emphasizing the intersection between positive psychology and other fields such as neuroscience, social psychology, and philosophy.
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