Positive psychology progress- empirical validations of interventions
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2005 |
Authors: |
Seligman, M.E.P., Steen, T.A., Park, N., Peterson, C. |
Publication/Journal: |
American Psychologist |
Keywords: |
character, classification, cross-cultural, positive psychology, psychological interventions. |
Abstract:
Positive psychology has flourished in the last 5 years. The authors review recent developments in the field, including books, meetings, courses, and conferences. They also discuss the newly created classification of character strengths and virtues, a positive complement to the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (e. g., American Psychiatric Association, 1994), and present some cross-cultural findings that suggest a surprising ubiquity of strengths and virtues. Finally, the authors focus on psychological interventions that increase individual happiness. In a 6-group, random-assignment, placebo-controlled Internet study, the authors tested 5 purported happiness interventions and 1 plausible control exercise. They found that 3 of the interventions lastingly increased happiness and decreased depressive symptoms. Positive interventions can supplement traditional interventions that relieve suffering and may someday be the practical legacy of positive psychology.