Authentic Happiness Transcript KDHE（真正的幸福记录KDHE）.pdfVIP

Authentic Happiness - Developing a Positive Emotional Life I. Introduction The information used in this training is based on the work of Martin Seligman, Ph.D. and his book Authentic Happiness : Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment For the last 50 or more years psychology has been focused on what’s wrong with people. There’s good understanding of how troubles develop-their genetics, biochemistry and psychological causes. And many disorders can now be treated. The problem that’s developed is that there has been a strong focus on what makes life difficult with a lack of focus on building those things within people that make life worth living. Many people want to do more than correct their weaknesses. They want to live lives that have meaning. The field of positive psychology seeks to understand positive emotion, how to build strengths and virtues and to help people live the “good life”. New research into happiness demonstrates that it can be lastingly increased. Seligman asserts that there is a pervasive belief that happiness is inauthentic. One of the goals of his book about authentic happiness is to challenge that belief. Seligman believes that authentic happiness comes from identifying and cultivating fundamental strengths and using them every day in every aspect of life. His goal is to provide some balance in the field of psychology so that in addition to its focus on suffering and mental illness there will be acknowledgment of the role of positive emotion, strengths and virtues. II. The following two studies are examples of how positive emotion can affect long-term happiness. Nun Study-One study that illustrates how positive emotion can affect longevity and long-term happiness. A study of happiness and longevity was done using 180 nuns living together in Milwaukee as subjects. The nuns were good subjects because they lived routine and sheltered lives. Many