1. Positive Psychology
Holly Cox Manager Centre for Public Safety and Well-Being
Judy Eaton Associate Professor Department of Psychology

2. A Brief History of Medicine
Reactive
Get sick, and then seek medical help
Prevention
Try not to get sick
Promotion
Become more resilient to illness

3. A Brief History of Medicine
Reactive
Get sick, and then seek medical help
Prevention
Try not to get sick
Promotion
Become more resilient to illness

4. A Brief History of Medicine
Reactive
Get sick, and then seek medical help
Prevention
Try not to get sick
Promotion
Become more resilient to illness

5. Positive Psychology
“Psychology is not just the study of pathology, weakness, and damage; it is also the study of strength and virtue” (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000, p. 5)
How can we help people thrive and flourish?

6. Canadian Mental Health 2012

7. Thriving/flourishing means
experiencing more positive than negative feelings
being satisfied with life
identifying and using talents and strengths
being thoroughly engaged in activities
having close relationships with neighbours, colleagues, friends, and family members
being a contributing member of a social community
having meaning and purpose

8. Themes of Positive Psychology
The Good Life
Using your strengths every day to produce authentic happiness and abundant gratification

9. Themes of Positive Psychology
Positive Emotions
Linked to satisfaction with life, more rewarding interpersonal relationships, productivity at work, helpfulness, reaching life goals, physical health, longevity…

10. Themes of Positive Psychology
People Can Flourish and Thrive
We adapt very well to adversity, and can overcome biology/genetics, less-than-ideal childhoods, and our unconscious desires

11. Themes of Positive Psychology
Compassion and Empathy are Important
We are not just driven by selfish motives
We have hard-wired instincts to help and cooperate with others

12. Themes of Positive Psychology
People Need Positive Social Relationships
Other people are important!

13. Themes of Positive Psychology
Strengths and Virtues are Important
There are some virtues, values, and characteristics that are related to better functioning

14. Themes of Positive Psychology
Positive and Negative Emotions are Both Important
You can feel both positive and negative emotions at the same time.
Eliminating negative emotions does not necessarily lead to well-being.

15. Themes of Positive Psychology
The Science of Well-being
Positive psychology is a science
It must follow the scientific method if it is to be taken seriously

17. The Science of Colouring
The research question:
Are there measurable psychological benefits to colouring? If so, what are these benefits?

18. SOWN = ?? HCTIRIU = ?? Measure anxiety and mood Colour for 30 minutes
Measure anxiety and mood again
Solve anagrams
SOWN = ??
Colour with free choice
Copy colours of existing image
HCTIRIU = ??
Perseverance

19. Anxiety Before and After Colouring

20. Perseverance

21. Evidence shows positive psychology interventions are a promising tool for enhancing employee well-being and performance. Positive psychology interventions also tend to diminish stress and burnout and to a lesser extent depression and anxiety.

26. What You Can Do?

27. Ten Qualities of Positive Work Environments
Opportunity for personal control
Opportunity for skill use
Reasonable goals
Variety
Environmental clarity
Availability of money
Physical security
Supportive supervision
Opportunity for interpersonal contact
Work is valued by society

28. Recalling Positive Events at Work Makes Employees Feel Happier, Move More, and Interact Less
Sonja Lyubomirsky, Journal of Happiness Studies Study results: Participants who considered good things at work not only reported relatively greater happiness over time but moved more upon arriving to work, engaged in less social interaction, and left the office earlier. Those who put more effort into the positive activity also showed greater changes.

29. Gratitude

31. Gratitude: The Research Evidence
Experimental research shows that those randomly assigned to a gratitude condition:
Exercise more
Are more optimistic
Feel better about lives
Are more connected to other people
Sleep better
Medical researchers are finding positive physical effects of gratitude interventions

32. Three Good Things
For the next week, before you go to bed, write down three good things that happened to you that day, for which you are grateful. The “things” do not have to be monumental (such as winning the lottery), and it may be hard to do this in the beginning. Predicted results: Eventually you should start to see and appreciate the positive things in your life and worry less about the not-so-good things. Why does it work? By doing this regularly you are retraining your brain to pay more attention to the good things than the bad things.

33. A continuing-education centre offering professional development programs for people working or aspiring to work in a wide range of industries, including public safety, health, and wellness and well-being.

34. Certificate in Positive Psychology
Centre established in Spring, First program launched by the Centre: February, 2016
Certificate in Positive Psychology

35. Unique:
Only Positive Psychology program offered by a Canadian university
Designed both for practitioners and those wanting the knowledge for themselves
HR, Coaching, Teaching, Health Care, Social Work, First Responder, Counseling
Fully online to ensure it is accessible for working professionals
Singapore/Hong Kong/Qatar/Canada: Halifax to Vancouver/across Ontario

36. April/September/January
Non-credit: no admission requirements
115 hours – 5-7 hours per week
Work at your own pace – no common time requirements
Capstone project: develop an initiative to promote well-being within the workplace
April/September/January

37. Exploration of the Fundamentals of Positive Psychology - 6 week
Signature and Character Strengths – 4 week
Self-Care – 4 week
Quality Connections – 4 week
A Pathway for Resilience: Growth Mindset – 5 week

38. wlu.ca/cpsw/positivepsychology