Critical debate (cont)
being critical about the hype of the application of positive psychology informed interventions is a good thing.
Positive psychology is not all about making people happy. Some consider that there are two traditions within wellbeing research - the hedonistic tradition (focussing on happiness as a affective and cognitive state) and the eudaimonic tradition (focussing on living life in a full and satisfying way).
One message from the positive psychology movement is that although aspects of our current social arrangements seem to be quite deliver a range of material goods, they are much less good at delivering healthy, happy, fulfilled, meaningful lives. And the excess production of material goods that people didn't ask for or need requires billions of expenditure on marketing to get people to consume them, which may actually undermine their wellbeing over time.
You all know this.
Isn't there an opportunity to come alongside the positive psychology movement and give it a nudge, a different slant - rather then the sometime knee jerk reaction (sorry) that is is all about releasing endorphins, etc. We know that engagement makes a difference, that volunteering is good for you, that stopping comparing yourself to others can alleviate much sufferring, and that aspects of modern society are making us sick. Without wishing to fall into the dangers of utopianism, there is an opportunity to set out a more positive view of how society might be best organised to enable human flourishing. But a different view from Brown and Layard.
Tim
David Fryer <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
And so on with the critical debate . . .
Re. Paul (Duckett) 's point "I see no reason to include a positive psychology position in the statement as positive psychology does little other than de-radicalise the issues involved".
See below for a glimpse into how positive psychology is being marketed as the solution to the problems of global capitalism!
(Bold italicising done by me!)
David
Positive psychology, well-being and business: Cutting-edge science for organisational success Thursday 8 November at the University of East London, Docklands, with Professor Martin Seligman
UEL would like to invite you to a special one-day conference, Positive Psychology, Well-being and Business, featuring a keynote speech from world-renowned psychologist Professor Martin Seligman, founder of positive psychology.
Positive Psychology - the scientific study of well-being - is increasingly recognised as having major, lasting benefits for business. Evidence shows that employees with higher levels of well-being are more focused and engaged with their work; are better team-players; have higher levels of motivation; have less illness and absenteeism; and perform better overall.
This new thinking explicitly challenges the conventional wisdom that fixing a weakness is essential to improving performance. Rather, positive psychology concentrates on what drives and motivates success. Globally, many major organisations are implementing the findings of positive psychology and strengths-based performance management in the workplace, helping them to grow and succeed. This conference will enable you to learn how to put these findings into practice in your own business or organisation.
Whether you are involved in business, human resources, social and corporate responsibility, communication, organisational development, marketing, executive coaching, training or business consultancy, this conference could make a valuable contribution to your operational and staff development.
For more details and to register, visit MailScanner has detected a possible fraud attempt from "mail.stir.ac.uk" claiming to be www.uel.ac.uk/positiveconference or contact Sue Meade on 020 8223 4428.
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From: The UK Community Psychology Discussion List on behalf of richard pemberton
Sent: Tue 16/10/2007 06:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: CPUK ... who?
I havent been arguing for the inclusion of positive psychology or particularly trying to influence the content of the release. I have been suggesting that there are important dimensions to Layard that are poorly understood and which paradoxically may be helpful to the agendas that community orientated psychologists are trying to promote. This is, so far, the case in east sussex.
It is interesting that seligmans 'third pillar' is about' institutions and political structures. This marries with Layards pitch on renewing democracy and the interesting swiss canton data and his stance on work related stress connected to rising levels of job insecurity. It may all be hopelessly too social democratic or christian socialist for this list but I am arguing that there is something that is interesting and which needs to be unpackaged more, going on here. I am also trying to link this with what is going on in within UK Psychology and its own political/professional structures. The BPS probably attracts as much ire and cynicism as Layard but the marginalisation of community psychology, positive or critical, is of itself interesting and problematic.
Richard
On 10/15/07, Paul@home <[log in to unmask] > wrote: Dear List,
I agree with the critical stance we are taking towards CBT and support the forthcoming statement. I see no reason to include a positive psychology position in the statement as positive psychology does little other than de-radicalise the issues involved.
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