Psicología positiva: ¿Una nueva forma de hacer psicología?

Alejandro Castro Solano

Authors

Alejandro Castro Solano Consejo Nacional de Investgiaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4639-3706

Keywords:

emotional adjustment, commitment, happiness, Positve Psychology

Abstract

This paper attempts to show the development of Positive Psychology (PP) from its beginning (a decade ago) as a discipline inclined to the scientific study of the optimum psychicperformance of people, groups or institutions, in detriment of the classical interest onpsychopathological variables. The three central concerns of PP, that are the access routes to afulfilling life, are developed: the pleasant life (increase of positive emotions), the commitment(that can be attained by experiencing flow states) and the meaningful life (by applying personalstrengths to the development of something that goes beyond the individual (Seligman, 2002). Recently, Seligman (2009) added a fourth study concern: positive bonds (social life) as anaccess route to happiness. Also, psychotherapeutic interventions in PP aiming to improvepositive traits, to raise human strengths and the help given to the clients encouraging a positivechange –and not only to reduce the negative aspects– (Seligman, 2002) are pondered over.Besides, the most usual dissemination means for PP researches and the existing educationalprograms are shown. Ultimately, the future of PP is considered: If it is proposed as anotherbranch of psychology, or if it integrates to other fields in the professional practice ofpsychologists.

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