In most instances, positive psychology is attributed to the study of negative traits of the human self, such as mental disorder. However, through positive psychology, the field of psychology has managed to branch out in to the study of the elements that constituted to the 'good life', or rather, what adds the greatest value to an individual's life. This paper focuses entirely on the positive psychology learning course, with special emphasis on the core principles that define it. This paper also focuses on various elements, such as the emotional and cognitive changes observed in the states, processes and experiences of the learner. Other considerations in this paper involve future goals/ plans, practical application, as well as challenges and obstacles, in relation to the knowledge derived from the study of positive psychology.
Introduction.
Positive Psychology is a term coined by Abraham Maslow, which he wrote first as the title of his book, Motivation and Personality. Essentially, there are different definitions of this particular term, but the consensus among scholars is that it is simply the scientific assessment of the strengths of human beings from a psychological perspective. The field of positive psychology is relatively young, and is based on the premise that human beings typically have the desire to live in fulfilling and meaningful way. To do this, they need to hone their strengths, and enhance their daily experiences with the people around them. These experiences pertains to aspects of life such as work and love. Historically, psychology has largely focused on elements such as mental illness and a host of other psychological disorders. The distinction that positive psychology possesses is that it is possible to describe it as the study of happiness among human beings. It examines how regular/ ordinary people can lead more fulfilled lives.
Major Principles/ Concepts.
The main aim of positive psychology is to understand the inherent strengths that individuals possess, and propose ways to help them build them in order to succeed (Fredrickson, 2003).
