Positive Psychology: Year of the Rabbit

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Year of the Rabbit

The Year of the Rabbit Begins. (Image: Zhou Wenju: "The Goddess Chang'e In The Lunar Palace," c. 17th century, Freer Gallery, Washington, D.C. Thanks to, The Blue Lantern, http://bit.ly/gnWCXg

Positive Psychology given credence by Academia:

Positive psychology is the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive.

Commentators on the subject Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, note that:

"The field of positive psychology at the subjective level is about valued subjective experiences: well-being, contentment, and satisfaction (in the past); hope and optimism (for the future); and flow and happiness (in the present).

At the individual level, it is about positive individual traits: the capacity for love and vocation, courage, interpersonal skill, aesthetic sensibility, perseverance, forgiveness, originality, future mindedness, spirituality, high talent, and wisdom.

At the group level, it is about the civic virtues and the institutions that move individuals toward better citizenship: responsibility, nurturance, altruism, civility, moderation,tolerance, and work ethic."