Positive Psychology

Carver, Scheier & Weintraub (1989) describe the two types of coping as problem focused and emotion focused. Problem focused (Carver, Scheier & Weintraub,1989). Problem focus also involve organizing implementing and taking action when deemed appropriate (Carver, Scheier & Weintraub,1989). Emotion focused examines reducing the distress that relates to the situation (Carver, Scheier & Weintraub,1989). Emotion focused involve refuting and look for general support (Carver, Scheier &

When faced with a stressor, a person evaluates the potential threat (primary appraisal). Primary appraisal is a person’s judgment about the significance of an event as stressful, positive, controllable, challenging or irrelevant. Facing a stressor, the second appraisal follows, which is an assessment of people’s coping resources and options (Cohen, 1984). Secondary appraisals address what one can do about the situation. Actual coping efforts aimed at regulation of the problem give rise to outcomes of the coping process. In the table below the key constructs of the Transaction Model of Stress and Coping are

Coping is something that everyone has experienced in their lifetime, whether it be over something significant or insignificant we have all experienced it. In an academic journal published in 2003, authors Gerhard Anderson, and Mimmie Willebrand stated, “Coping has been defined as the process of managing demands (external or internal) that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person” (S97). There have often been thought to be two main types of coping strategies, these strategies are problem-focused and emotional-focused coping (Heyman et al. 154). These two strategies differ from each other because, “problem-focused coping is often described as managing the problem, while emotion-focused coping is directed at regulating emotional responses to the problem” (Heyman et al. 154). Anderson and Willebrand have stated that coping is to serve two distinct purposes: to do away with the problem...and to regulate emotional reactions (S97). There are many different reasons that people cope and many different ways that people do it, but if not done right can cause a person emotional turmoil and make them inherit mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. Three ingredients in the conceptualization of coping are as follows, (1) coping need not be successful, but an effort must be made; (2) this effort need not be expressed in actual behavior, but can affect cognition as well; and (3) a cognitive appraisal of the taxing situation is a prerequisite for initiating coping attempts (Anderson and

Coping strategies have been shown to have a significant impact on the mental and physical health of various populations (Lehavot, 2012). Two types have coping strategies are commonly discussed: problem focused and emotion focused. Problem-focused coping is action oriented and involves trying to change the stressful situation. Examples of problem focused coping strategies include seeking information, planning, and taking action. Problem focused coping strategies are adaptive and are associated with positive adjustment after stressful events. Emotion focused coping involves changing the emotional aspects of the situation and includes both active and avoidant strategies. Examples of emotional focused coping include focusing on positive aspects of the situation, seeking emotional support from others (active strategies), and mental or behavioral disengagement (an avoidant strategy). Active emotion-focused strategies are generally considered to be adaptive, and avoidant emotion-focused coping strategies maladaptive. However, findings have shown mixed results.

Defining the meaning of life and the conditions, traits and features of a well-lived life is a question that throughout history engrossed theologians, philosophers, artists and, more recently, positive psychologists. This essay outlines findings from a selection of the literature and research to answer this question with the aim of identifying whether happiness is the true sign and the ultimate goal and marker of a well-lived life. This review of the literature has yielded findings that possessing a disposition towards gratitude is not only indicated to be present in a well-lived life, but can enhance and improve mental, physical and spiritual life outcomes.

As it states in the book, coping is “the thoughts and behaviors used to manage the internal and external demands of situations that are appraised as stressful” (Introduction to Health Behaviors, pg. 135). So, when we are going through a stressful life event, we react in varieties of ways to make the stress go away or make it better. Everyone, reacts to stress differently. There are two type of strategies that concentrated on decreasing the negative emotion a person has after the stressful event, which is called “emotion-focused coping”. Then, there is a second strategy called “problem-focused coping”, that attempts to do something helpful with a stressful situation that may be harming (Introduction to Health Behaviors, pg.140). For example,

The pursuit of happiness and being free from suffering has always be the ultimate goals of humanity (Dalai Lama, 2008). The emergence of Positive Psychology made it possible for (positive) psychologists to make a major breakthrough in getting closer to this goal. Through the application of Positive Psychology Interventions (PPI), it is now possible to manage levels of well-being, while also diminishing the risk of depressions. Sin and Lyubomirsky (2009) defined PPI as methods or activities other than medical treatment that can improve positive emotions, behaviours, and acknowledgement. A large amount of research with different types PPI activities has been conducted, some meta-analysis journals from these studies (e.g. Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009

The concepts of Positive Psychology are explored through an intrapersonal, interpersonal, and pro-social lens using empirical research as the basis. The paper examines the history, intentions and scope of positive psychology in relationship to personal experiences and character traits that lead to personal effectiveness. The specific Areas of Focus examine the major principles of Positive Psychology and their importance with regards to; changes in emotional states, cognitive processes and experiences in juxtaposition with current research. The concepts and principles are then applied to current

The new Psychology field of Positive Psychology promotes a “flourishing” life dedicated to individuals looking to expand the pleasant, engagement and meaning in their life. Many Positive Psychologist use Gratitude Practice as a method of therapy to aid individuals with a wealth of positive constructs. Before looking into Gratitude Practice it is important to begin the research by taking a look at what Positive psychology is. Positive Psychology is a newer field in Psychology focused on the study of the strengths that enable humans and organizations to flourish. Gratitude Practice can help individuals become more optimistic and live healthier lives (Emmons, R.E. & McCullough, M. E., 2003) it can lead to greater happiness (Seligman, M. E., 2011) and can lead to improved relationships (Lambert, et. al., 2010). Positive Psychotherapy will also be examined as it pertains to purpose, hope, and life satisfaction in three age groups.

This essay discusses coping, a complex process exercised by people to suppress, change, or eliminate stress or threat. This essay also discusses copers, that is, people who exhibit certain personality characteristics, known as distress resistant personality patterns, which can significantly influence whether they stay healthy or become ill. Also covered are coping strategies, -strategies people draw upon to solve life’s stressors, some effective, while

“Being able to selectively disengage from the home and engage with those outside, and then to reengage. “Being internally oriented and having an internal locus of control. “The absence of serious illness during adolescence.” The capacity of an individual to cope during difficulty is central to their resilience. Pearlin and Schooler (1982, p. 109) define coping as “the thing that people do to avoid being harmed by lifestrain.” These authors conducted 2300 interviews in the urbanized Chicago area and through content analysis of these interviews identified three main types of coping that serve distinct functions, viz: “Responses that change the situation out of which strainful experience arises” (Pearlin & Schooler, 1982, p. 115). Interestingly, their research found that this type of coping was not widely used. Several reasons are offered to explain this. Page 6 Resilience Theory: A Literature Review

Positive Psychotherapy was a factor that evolved its ideas from positive psychology that’s main goal was to increase the wellbeing of its patients through approaching it with two different types of learning to love and to know that is also associated with the unconscious, while some other types of psychotherapy focus on “Fordyce’s “happiness intervention”,48 Fava et al’s “wellbeing therapy”,49 and Frisch’s “quality of life therapy”.” (Schrank 98) which focus more on how to improve in overall life. Positive Psychotherapy was created based off the ideas of positive psychology with the help of CBT which stands for Cognitive Behavior Therapy that was geared towards creating cognitive bias towards negative thoughts (Schrank 98), these ideas were then tested in multiple experiments with many mental health patients but the best results came from those suffering from mild to severe depression. But recent experiments with positive psychotherapy with patients suffering from other mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or substance abuse can have “desirable outcome” (Schrank 99) which extends positive psychology effectiveness beyond those just suffering from depression. In all Positive psychology, can have a lasting effect on those patients who take part in treatment and can decrease depressive symptoms or help those suffering from severe mental illness.

This essay discusses coping, a complex process exercised by people to suppress, change, or eliminate stress or threat. This essay also discusses copers, that is, people who exhibit certain personality characteristics, known as distress resistant personality patterns, which can significantly influence whether they stay healthy or become ill. Also covered are coping strategies, -strategies people draw upon to solve life’s stressors, some

Coping strategies refer to the specific efforts, both behavioral and psychological, that people employ to master, tolerate, reduce or minimize stressful events. There are two general coping strategies which have been distinguished. Problem-focused strategies are efforts to do something active to alleviate stressful circumstances, where as emotion-focused coping strategies involve efforts to regulate the emotional consequences of stressful or potentially stressful events. Typically, people use both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping in their stressful episodes, which suggests that both types of coping are useful for most stressful events (Folkman & Lazarus, 1980).

The understanding of the internal and external factors that determine coping mechanisms and responses to life stressors have been an integral and valuable aspect of my success as a counselor to date, as well as have provided a steep learning curve for me to master. During the Masters program at NYU and the time I have spent