PSY 300 Positive Psychology

Overview of Course

Before World War II, psychology had three primary missions: to make the lives of all people fulfilling, to identify and enhance human excellence, and to treat pathology. Nonetheless, over the last half-century, psychology has focused mainly on reducing maladaptive emotions and behaviors while ignoring optimal functioning (e.g., happiness and life satisfaction). Positive psychology is the study of how human beings prosper in the face of adversity. Its goal is to identify and enhance the human strengths and virtues that make life worth living (“The good life”) and allow individuals and communities to thrive (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000).
This course is designed to explore the concepts, the research behind them, techniques, and exercises that promote well-being. The course will be didactic, experiential, and interactive.