What Makes People Happy An Introduction to Positive Psychology and its application within the work setting Shane Martin, Psychologist Moodwatchers Email: moodwatchers@eircom.net Tel. 047-84837 Mob: 085-1314482 (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

One track mind? Psychology consumed with mental illness Describing and measuring depression, schizophrenia, addiction etc. Explanations for ‘disorders’ across the lifespan Genetics, biochemistry, psychological causes Emphasis on relieving the ‘pain’ (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Progress at a price? Trying to relieve the states that makes life miserable instead of building the states that makes life worth living A shift from what is wrong to what is right (and fundamentally why it is right) From ‘fire-brigade’ psychology to ‘fire-proofing’ psychology Surviving crisis: how? Why? Strengths as well as weaknesses (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Global Gallop Poll Which would help you be more successful in your life - knowing what your weaknesses are and attempting to improve on them or knowing your strengths and building on them? 41% US, 38% UK, 24% Japan focused on weaknesses. No country focused on strengths. (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

How improved/better are you? From 2+ to 7+ From -5 to -2 How improved/better are you? (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

New research into happiness shows that it can be lastingly increased Time has arrived for a science that seeks to understand positive emotion and strengths and offer us guideposts for the ‘good life’ New research into happiness shows that it can be lastingly increased (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Authentic Happiness? Comes from identifying and cultivating your most fundamental strengths and using them everyday in work, love, play, parenting etc (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

3 Pillars of Positive Psychology STUDY OF POSITIVE EMOTION STUDY OF POSITIVE TRAITS - strengths, virtues, abilities (intelligence, athleticism) STUDY OF POSITIVE INSTITUTIONS (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Therapy? FROM THE DISEASE MODEL - helping people who present themselves for treatment once the problems have become unbearable Therapy usually too late - better to act when well, prevention, self-empowerment, education etc Prevention is massively effective (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Are there psychological interventions in youth that will prevent depression, schizophrenia and substance abuse in adulthood? YES Seligman: Teaching 10 year olds the skills of optimistic thinking and actions cuts their rates of depression in half in puberty (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Building strengths as a buffer Disease model focuses on deficits Prevention of mental illness by recognising and nurturing a set of strengths, competencies and virtues in young people such as future-mindedness, hope, faith, work ethic etc. Building strengths as a buffer Disease model focuses on deficits (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Positive Psychology The Study of Happiness When people are happy they are also mentally healthy Work: Are you happy in your job? Happier people are markedly more satisfied in their jobs than less happy people Research shows that happiness actually causes more productivity and higher incomes (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Happier people went on to get better evaluations and higher pay One study (TOYOTA) 275 employees measured their positive emotion and followed their job performance over next 18 months. Happier people went on to get better evaluations and higher pay Happy people endure pain better and take more health and safety precaution when threatened (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Genetics? Approximately 50% of all personality traits are attributed to genetic inheritances But high hereditary link does not determine how unchangeable a trait is State of Drift (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

SIGNATURE STRENGTHS Strengths ( integrity, valor, originality etc.) and talents (perfect pitch, facial beauty etc.) not to be confused with each other Strengths are moral traits Talents are non-moral (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Talents or Strengths? Talents tend not to be as ‘buildable’ as strengths Strengths can be built Talents more innate - you either have them or not Talents are relatively automatic (It’s C sharp v act of will (too much change in shop) Talents involve choice - whether to develop it or not, whether to use it or not Jill was so smart. She wasted her intelligence Jill was so kind. She wasted her kindness. (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Strengths can be acquired…. Time Self-discovery and Self-potential Determination But talents cannot be acquired merely by an act of will (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

The Signature Strengths WISDOM COURAGE HUMANITY JUSTICE TEMPERANCE TRANSCEDENCE Several distinct routes to each of the six and these are measurable and acquirable strengths (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Strength Not once off kindness in one setting but seen across different situations and consistently over time Ubiquitous - across culture (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

WISDOM Curiosity / interest in the world Love of learning Judgment / critical thinking / open-mindedness Ingenuity /originality / practical intelligence /street smart Social Intelligence / personal intelligence / emotional intelligence Perspective (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

COURAGE Valor and bravery Perseverance industry/ diligence Integrity / genuineness / honesty (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

HUMANITY Kindness / generosity Loving Allowing oneself to be loved (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

JUSTICE Citizenship / Duty / Teamwork / Loyalty Fairness and Equity Leadership (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

TEMPERANCE Self-control and discipline Prudence / discretion / caution Humility and modesty (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

TRANSCEDENCE Appreciation of beauty and excellence Gratitude Hope, optimism, future mindedness Spirituality, sense of purpose, faith, religiousness Forgiveness and mercy Playfulness and humour Zest, passion and enthusiasm (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Work? Does my work have to be this unsatisfying? What can I do about it? (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Positive Psychology Work can be more satisfying Using your signature strengths at work more often Re-crafting your job to make it more satisfying Job Coaches - implications for placing clients in ‘work’ and in measuring clients’ satisfaction within work (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Strengths-based development Transforming a ‘token’ job to a ‘calling’ To maximise job satisfaction we need to use our signature strengths and develop them more Strengths-based development Transforming a ‘token’ job to a ‘calling’ ‘Calling’ is the most satisfying form of work because it is done for its own sake rather than for the material benefits Companies that promote this state will overtake companies that rely solely on monetary reward (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

3 Kinds of Work Orientation Job: for the pay cheque, no other rewards sought, means to an end Career: deeper personal involvement, achievement marked through money/advancement / promotion brings more prestige, power, money (When opportunities close we start looking elsewhere) Calling: Passionate, fulfilling in its own right (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Positive Psychology says.. Any job can become a calling and any calling can become a job. (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Implications for Job Coaches Matching clients to jobs Positive Psychology within assessment process Assessment of satisfaction within job Strengths-based development (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

Positive Psychology Research shows…… Strengths-based development linked to positive outcomes Direct relationship between strengths-based development and attendance, punctuality, productivity Linked to ‘Employee-Engagement’ Studies of ‘State of Flow’ (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

People will be healthier and happier by By identifying and developing individual strengths. Ensuring sufficient levels of self-engagement are involved in the work setting (c) moodwatchers Shane Martin