What Is Positivity? Discussion – 50 points
“What we are all actually seeking is the truest expression of ourselves.” ~Oprah Winfrey
Positive psychology and positive organizational scholarship are relatively new and related disciplines that study positive experiences, positive character strengths, and positive organizations. Positive experiences include positive emotions (such as happiness, flourishing, thriving, hope, and optimism) and mental states of flow and mindfulness. Positive character strengths include wisdom, compassion, love, self-efficacy, resilience, grit, and civic values. In this first week, we will read four scholarly articles that give an introduction to the discipline. The following week, we will study Haidt’s “Happiness Hypothesis” which provides an engaging and thought-provoking overview of most important topics in positive psychology.
Read the following required articles, which are uploaded to Canvas Modules for your convenience:
Gable, S.L. & Haidt, J. (2005). What (and Why) Is Positive Psychology? Review of General Psychology, 9 (2), 103-110.
Fredrickson, B. (2013). Positive Emotions Broaden and Build. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Volume 47.
Lyubomirsky, S. at all. (2005). The Benefits of Frequent Positive Affect: Does Happiness Lead to Success? Psychological Bulletin, Vol.131, No.6, 803-855.
Fineman, S. (2006). On Being Positive: Concerns and Counterpoints. Academy of Management Review, 31, 270-291.
Please answer the following questions as you read the above articles:
“What (and Why) Is Positive Psychology?”
According to Haidt and Gable, what are the major goals of positive psychology?
According to the article, why has psychology traditionally focused on studying non-positive phenomena? Do you think there is more pragmatic value generally in studying non-positive phenomena? Why or why not? Do you agree with the authors that “positive topics of inquiry are important to understand in their own right, not solely as buffers against the problems, stressors, and disorders of life”?
“The Benefits of Frequent Positive Affect: Does Happiness Lead to Success?”
Lyubomirsky et al conduct a broad review of psychology literature that examines the relationship of happiness to various types of success. Describe one of the findings authors mention that is most surprising to you and explain why.
“Positive Emotions Broaden and Build”
Explain the significance behind the naming Broaden-and-Build theory (that is, why it named the way it is?).
Describe one of the findings authors mention that is most surprising to you and explain why.
“On Being Positive: Concerns and Counterpoints”
According to Fineman, how do cultural differences complicate what it means to be positive? Do you think that being positive as a virtue is a distinctly American phenomenon, or does each culture have its own way of being positive?
According to Fineman, what is the key reason that empowerment in organizations can fail to be a positive experience for employees? Do you think that employee empowerment is doomed as an idea, based on the evidence that Fineman presents in the article?
What are the potential pitfalls of positivity? Are there circumstances in which the idea of positivity could be used to unfairly punish those who disagree or who are different? How could this be prevented?
Answers to the above questions should be in an essay format (copy and paste each question, followed by your answer) and must amount to a minimum of three pages (double spaced, 12 point-size font) in length.
