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8th September 2016

Positive Psychology and Happiness

Negative or Positive?

Psychology has a long history of focusing on healing and helping people with problems, looking largely at mental ill health and pathology. What if psychology started working more on prevention of problems? This is the premise behind positive psychology. We have strengths that can act as buffers against poor mental health. These strengths include self-esteem, work ethic, hope and many many more[1]. The mission of positive psychology is to use science to make conclusions about what would make a better world[2] and to increase and maintain happiness.

It’s all Perception

This relatively young area of psychology demonstrates how our perception, mind-set and reactions can have a huge impact on the way that we experience the world. It may seem obvious that someone with a negative outlook is likely to a have a more negative experience than someone with a positive outlook. However the impact that a positive mind-set can have is argued to be the predictor of a happy life. This outlook can be broken down into areas such as the way we think, behaviour and our emotional intelligence, all of which are powerfully influenced by our assumptions and beliefs about life[3].

Psychological Capital

One way that this is being applied is through “Psychological Capital”. This is where positive human strengths and psychological capacities are characterised by an individual’s level of hope, efficacy, resilience and optimism. We can apply this by identifying a person’s level of psychological capital and using their strengths and developing relevant areas to help achieve the best outcomes. This can relate to both workplace performance and overall life satisfaction.

Longer Life

Research has demonstrated that positivity and happiness are correlated with living a longer life[4], higher coping abilities and a better immune system. One study found that people who rated their selves in the upper reaches of happiness on psychological tests developed approximately 50% more antibodies in response to flu vaccines than average[5].

How much can we influence?

So how can we use positive psychology to increase our happiness? While the answer to this question is not clear cut, research has told us that it is possible. Approximately 50% of our happiness is genetic, 10% circumstantial and 40% is caused by intentional activity[6], suggesting that we are able to manipulate 40% or our happiness.

What can you do?

This change begins by focusing on positivity, becoming self-aware so that you can understand the ways you are thinking and behaving which might be bringing negativity into your day to day life. A good way of doing this is by keeping a gratitude diary, which encourages you to acknowledge all of the good things that have happened each day, rather than dwell on the negative. It is also a good idea to expose yourself to more good news rather than the overwhelming majority of negative news which we hear on a daily basis. This can be done by using social media to follow charities and people who are making positive changes on a daily basis, and reading books by inspiring people/organisations. There is a long list of new things than you can incorporate into your life or negative things that you can remove to help make this change.

Why does this happen?

Psychological research demonstrates that our brains can’t distinguish between reality and imagery[7]. This suggests that when we imagine ourselves doing something, the brain is reacting in the same way as it would if we were actually doing it. This gives one possible reason why practicing gratification and thoughtful self-reflection makes you feel happier. Your brain is re-living the experiences and producing hormones, such as dopamine, which makes us feel happier[8].

These theories and research can be applied collectively to communities and organisations and can help when we are facing difficult times. It is important to remember that in the world there is a lot of good happening as well as the tragedies and difficulties faced by people. If collectively we can recognise this and work on our positivity we can make our own environment and our experience of the world a better place.

Here at Impact Consulting we recognise the importance of positive psychology and apply this and the concept of psychological capital to our work. If you would like to know more about how we do this please contact Shelly at [email protected].

“You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing change to master you”

Brian Tracey

“I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitude”

Charles R. Swindoll


[1] Seligman, M. E. (2002). Positive psychology, positive prevention, and positive therapy. Handbook of positive psychology2, 3-12.
[2] Carr, A. (2011). Positive psychology: the science of happiness and human strengths (2nd ed). New York: Routledge.
[3] Koltko-Rivera, M. E. (2004). The psychology of worldviews. Review of General Psychology8(1), 3.
[4] Danner, D. D., Snowdon, D. A., & Friesen, W. V. (2001). Positive emotions in early life and longevity: findings from the nun study. Journal of personality and social psychology80(5), 804.
[5] Lemonick, M. D. (2005). The biology of joy. Time. Special Mind and Body Issue.
[6] Lyubomirsky, s. (2007). The how of happiness. New York: Penguin

[7] Pascual-Leone, A., Nguyet, D., Cohen, L. G., Brasil-Neto, J. P., Cammarota, A., & Hallett, M. (1995). Modulation of muscle responses evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation during the acquisition of new fine motor skills. Journal of neurophysiology74(3), 1037-1045.
[8] Lemonick, M. D. (2005). The biology of joy. Time. Special Mind and Body Issue.