Flourish - Martin Seligman

Post date: Oct 29, 2012 6:01:41 PM

Positive Psychology Books

Review

This is the most recent book on Positive Psychology from Martin Seligman, updating his theory of happiness and well-being from his earlier book Authentic Happiness (2005). This book explains Seligman's current influential theory 'PERMA' through positive psychology research findings, their implications for our future happiness, and the opportunities to 'flourish' in our lives. It is full of insights from scientifically valid research findings:

'The appeal of what I write comes from the fact that it is grounded in careful science: statistical tests; validated questionnaires; thoroughly researched exercises, and large, representative samples. In contrast to pop-psychology and the bulk of self-improvement, my writings are believable because of the underlying science.' (p. 1)

It describes exercises and activities that have been used in commissioned wellbeing programmes in a variety of contexts, including schools and the military. It also includes the key 'signature strengths' questionnaire in the appendix.

• Did you know that optimism makes you healthier and more resistant to illnesses like colds and flu? (p104)
• Did you know that 'doing a kindness produces the single most reliable momentary increase in well-being of any exercise we have tested.' (p. 20)

The book also tackles the larger, political issues that arise as a result of the findings of positive psychology – including a challenge to the current measures of political and financial success:

'The aim of wealth should not be to blindly produce a higher GDP but to produce more well-being.' (p96).

Academic interest: Published in 2011, this new book updates the theory expounded in Authentic Happiness (2005) with Seligman's revised theory (PERMA), which incorporates the idea of accomplishment into his original theory. It has much to add to the original book on happiness, and shifts the focus away from 'happiness' to wellbeing, taking a far broader, more global view of wellbeing and the potential for people to 'flourish' in their lives. It is again referenced through its notes pages, which often contain brief descriptions of relevant studies.

Practitioners: If your practice includes a focus on human wellbeing, then this book will be an asset to you. Authentic Happiness, which expounds the early theories of wellbeing, has been updated by this book, to incorporate achievement as an important aspect. The book if also full of practical and tested approaches, interventions and principles. It is an excellent companion to Authentic Happiness, with important new aspects to consider.

Self-helpers: This is more academic than practical, so you may wish to read Authentic Happiness (2006) which contains detailed exercises and questionnaires (also available at http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu ). These can be used to identify your happiness characteristics including happiness levels, natural optimism, and 'signature strengths' (character strengths).

Best Bits

A clear table simplifies the difference between his theoretical position in Authentic Happiness and Flourish (p.12)

'Good events, high achievement, and positive emotions are just as legitimate objects of science for positive psychology as are awful events, failure, tragedy, and negative emotion.' (p.105)

'...positive mental health is not just the absence of mental illness'..'positive mental health is a presence: the presence of positive emotion, the presence of good relationships, and the presence of accomplishment'...'the presence of flourishing.' (p.183)

About the author

Martin E P Seligman (Marty) is Director of the Positive Psychology Centre at the University of Pennsylvania, and has an international reputation for his work. You may know Seligman for other well known books including Authentic Happiness (which this book updates), Learned Helplessness, and Learned Optimism. His ideas pervade current approaches to well-being in government policy, health, care and education. Seligman is passionate about his positive approach to psychology, which aims to study what makes us happy and helps us to flourish.

'The positive psychology exercises worked on me, they worked on my family, they worked on my students, and they were taught to professionals and then worked on their clients – even very depressed clients. ' (p.40)