positive psychology research topics 2022

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Collection  12 March 2023

Top 100 in Psychology - 2022

This collection highlights our most downloaded* psychology papers published in 2022. Featuring authors from around the world, these papers showcase valuable research from an international community.

You can also view the top papers across various subject areas here .

*Data obtained from SN Insights, which is based on Digital Science's Dimensions.

Cats learn the names of their friend cats in their daily lives

• Saho Takagi
• Atsuko Saito
• Hika Kuroshima

The impact of digital media on children’s intelligence while controlling for genetic differences in cognition and socioeconomic background

• Bruno Sauce
• Magnus Liebherr
• Torkel Klingberg

Reading on a smartphone affects sigh generation, brain activity, and comprehension

• Motoyasu Honma
• Yuri Masaoka
• Masahiko Izumizaki

Birdsongs alleviate anxiety and paranoia in healthy participants

• J. Sundermann

SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces cognitive deficit and anxiety-like behavior in mouse via non-cell autonomous hippocampal neuronal death

• Junyoung Oh
• Woo-Hyun Cho
• Sung Joong Lee

Prevalence, age of decision, and interpersonal warmth judgements of childfree adults

• Zachary P. Neal
• Jennifer Watling Neal

Acute and protracted abstinence from methamphetamine bidirectionally changes intrinsic excitability of indirect pathway spiny projection neurons in the dorsomedial striatum

• Sanghoon Choi
• Steven M. Graves

Indeterminacy of cannabis impairment and ∆ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (∆ 9 -THC) levels in blood and breath

• Gregory T. Wurz
• Michael W. DeGregorio

Perceiving societal pressure to be happy is linked to poor well-being, especially in happy nations

• Egon Dejonckheere
• Joshua J. Rhee
• Brock Bastian

Fitness tracking reveals task-specific associations between memory, mental health, and physical activity

• Jeremy R. Manning
• Gina M. Notaro
• Paxton C. Fitzpatrick

Higher emotional awareness is associated with greater domain-general reflective tendencies

• Michelle Persich
• William D. S. Killgore

Investigation of humans individual differences as predictors of their animal interaction styles, focused on the domestic cat

• Lauren R. Finka
• Lucia Ripari
• Marnie L. Brennan

Cichlids and stingrays can add and subtract ‘one’ in the number space from one to five

• V. Schluessel

Group VR experiences can produce ego attenuation and connectedness comparable to psychedelics

• David R. Glowacki
• Rhoslyn Roebuck Williams
• Mike Chatziapostolou

Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment reveals mental health benefits of birdlife

• Ryan Hammoud
• Stefania Tognin
• Andrea Mechelli

Deep language algorithms predict semantic comprehension from brain activity

• Charlotte Caucheteux
• Alexandre Gramfort
• Jean-Rémi King

Misinformation of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine hesitancy

• Sun Kyong Lee
• Juhyung Sun
• Shane Connelly

Children with autism spectrum disorder show atypical electroencephalographic response to processing contextual incongruencies

• Amparo V. Márquez-García
• Vasily A. Vakorin
• Sam M. Doesburg

Childhood temperament and adulthood personality differentially predict life outcomes

• Amanda J. Wright
• Joshua J. Jackson

Identification of genes associated with human-canine communication in canine evolution

• Akiko Tonoike
• Ken-ichi Otaki
• Miho Nagasawa

Breath chemical markers of sexual arousal in humans

• G. Pugliese
• J. Williams

Hyperrealistic neural decoding for reconstructing faces from fMRI activations via the GAN latent space

• Thirza Dado
• Yağmur Güçlütürk

Brain aging differs with cognitive ability regardless of education

• Kristine B. Walhovd
• Lars Nyberg
• Anders M. Fjell

Short-sighted decision-making by those not vaccinated against COVID-19

• Julia G. Halilova
• Samuel Fynes-Clinton
• R. Shayna Rosenbaum

Groove rhythm stimulates prefrontal cortex function in groove enjoyers

• Takemune Fukuie
• Kazuya Suwabe
• Hideaki Soya

Human magnetic sense is mediated by a light and magnetic field resonance-dependent mechanism

• Kwon-Seok Chae
• Soo-Chan Kim
• Yongkuk Kim

Innovative composite tool use by Goffin’s cockatoos ( Cacatua goffiniana )

• Antonio J. Osuna-Mascaró
• Roger Mundry
• Alice M. I. Auersperg

Is a downwards head tilt a cross-cultural signal of dominance? Evidence for a universal visual illusion

• Zachary Witkower
• Alexander K. Hill
• Jessica L. Tracy

Systematic review and meta-analysis of cognitive impairment in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)

• Mehdi Aoun Sebaiti
• Mathieu Hainselin
• François Jérôme Authier

Identification and validation of Alzheimer’s disease-related metabolic brain pattern in biomarker confirmed Alzheimer’s dementia patients

• Matej Perovnik
• Petra Tomše

Impact of fasting on stress systems and depressive symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder: a cross-sectional study

• Britta Stapel
• Daniela Fraccarollo
• Kai G. Kahl

Bio-behavioral synchrony is a potential mechanism for mate selection in humans

• Nathalie klein Selle

The cognitive and psychiatric subacute impairment in severe Covid-19

• Pedro J. Serrano-Castro
• Francisco J. Garzón-Maldonado
• Fernando Rodríguez de Fonseca

CNS imaging characteristics in fibromyalgia patients with and without peripheral nerve involvement

• Hans-Christoph Aster
• Dimitar Evdokimov
• Claudia Sommer

The effects of contracting Covid-19 on cognitive failures at work: implications for task performance and turnover intentions

• James W. Beck

The effects of mindfulness meditation versus CBT for anxiety on emotional distress and attitudes toward seeking mental health treatment: a semi-randomized trial

• Daniela Aisenberg-Shafran
• Liav Shturm

Trait emotional intelligence in American pilots

• Zachary Dugger
• K. V. Petrides
• Bernadette McCrory

Mindfulness meditation increases default mode, salience, and central executive network connectivity

• Benno Bremer
• Kathrin Koch

Effect of MIND diet intervention on cognitive performance and brain structure in healthy obese women: a randomized controlled trial

• Golnaz Arjmand
• Mojtaba Abbas-Zadeh
• Mohammad Hassan Eftekhari

Bodily ownership of an independent supernumerary limb: an exploratory study

• Kohei Umezawa
• Yuta Suzuki
• Yoichi Miyawaki

Anabolic–androgenic steroid use is associated with psychopathy, risk-taking, anger, and physical problems

• Bryan S. Nelson
• Tom Hildebrandt
• Pascal Wallisch

Longitudinal changes in auditory and reward systems following receptive music-based intervention in older adults

• Milena Aiello Quinci
• Alexander Belden
• Psyche Loui

Reaction time and working memory in gamers and non-gamers

• Ronnie Lidor

Simulated visual hallucinations in virtual reality enhance cognitive flexibility

• Clara Rastelli
• Antonino Greco
• Nicola De Pisapia

Rapid but specific perceptual learning partially explains individual differences in the recognition of challenging speech

• Karen Banai
• Hanin Karawani
• Yizhar Lavner

Mindfulness-based online intervention increases well-being and decreases stress after Covid-19 lockdown

• Francesco Bossi
• Francesca Zaninotto
• Emiliano Ricciardi

Automated meta-analysis of the event-related potential (ERP) literature

• Thomas Donoghue
• Bradley Voytek

Model-based learning retrospectively updates model-free values

• Maaike M. H. Van Swieten
• Sanjay G. Manohar

Interaction with the future self in virtual reality reduces self-defeating behavior in a sample of convicted offenders

• Jean-Louis van Gelder
• Liza J. M. Cornet
• Job van der Schalk

The newborn brain is sensitive to the communicative function of language

• Bálint Forgács
• Tibor Tauzin
• Judit Gervain

Cognitive profiles in children and adolescents with Down syndrome

• Sara Onnivello
• Francesca Pulina
• Silvia Lanfranchi

Short term treatment with a cocktail of rapamycin, acarbose and phenylbutyrate delays aging phenotypes in mice

• Warren Ladiges

Effects of exploring a novel environment on memory across the lifespan

• Judith Schomaker
• Valentin Baumann
• Marit F. L. Ruitenberg

The impact of psychopathology on academic performance in school-age children and adolescents

• Mireia Pagerols
• Raquel Prat

Effect of berry-based supplements and foods on cognitive function: a systematic review

• Negar Bonyadi
• Neda Dolatkhah
• Maryam Hashemian

Attention rhythmically samples multi-feature objects in working memory

• Samson Chota
• Stefan Van der Stigchel

Functional brain connectomes reflect acute and chronic cannabis use

• J. G. Ramaekers
• N. L. Mason

Simple questionnaires outperform behavioral tasks to measure socio-emotional skills in students

• Mélusine Boon-Falleur
• Adrien Bouguen
• Coralie Chevallier

Neuronal effects of glabellar botulinum toxin injections using a valenced inhibition task in borderline personality disorder

• Tillmann H. C. Kruger
• Jara Schulze
• M. Axel Wollmer

Naloxone’s dose-dependent displacement of [ 11 C]carfentanil and duration of receptor occupancy in the rat brain

• Kelly A. O’Conor
• Nora D. Volkow

rs-fMRI and machine learning for ASD diagnosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Caio Pinheiro Santana
• Emerson Assis de Carvalho
• Lucelmo Lacerda de Brito

Machine learning and expression analyses reveal circadian clock features predictive of anxiety

• Rebeccah Overton
• Krista Ingram

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on oral health and psychosocial factors

• Antonio Ciardo
• Marlinde M. Simon

Facial asymmetry in dogs with fear and aggressive behaviors towards humans

• Marcello Siniscalchi
• Serenella d’Ingeo
• Angelo Quaranta

Superposition mechanism as a neural basis for understanding others

• Wataru Noguchi
• Hiroyuki Iizuka
• Shigeru Taguchi

Influence of diurnal phase on behavioral tests of sensorimotor performance, anxiety, learning and memory in mice

• Chi-Hui Tsao
• Jonathan Flint
• Guo-Jen Huang

Gender stereotypes about intellectual ability in Japanese children

• Mako Okanda
• Xianwei Meng
• Yusuke Moriguchi

Meta-analytic evidence that mindfulness training alters resting state default mode network connectivity

• Hadley Rahrig
• David R. Vago
• Kirk Warren Brown

Mentalization and dissociation after adverse childhood experiences

• J. Wagner-Skacel

fMRI-based validation of continuous-wave fNIRS of supplementary motor area activation during motor execution and motor imagery

• Franziska Klein
• Stefan Debener
• Cornelia Kranczioch

Predictors of adherence to public health behaviors for fighting COVID-19 derived from longitudinal data

• Birga M. Schumpe
• Caspar J. Van Lissa
• N. Pontus Leander

High-resolution cortical parcellation based on conserved brain landmarks for localization of multimodal data to the nearest centimeter

• Hari McGrath
• Hitten P. Zaveri
• Dennis D. Spencer

Validation of the forced swim test in Drosophila , and its use to demonstrate psilocybin has long-lasting antidepressant-like effects in flies

• C. D. Nichols

Time pressure changes how people explore and respond to uncertainty

• Charley M. Wu
• Eric Schulz
• Maarten Speekenbrink

Functional connectivity of brain networks with three monochromatic wavelengths: a pilot study using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging

• Marc Argilés
• Bernat Sunyer-Grau
• Cleofé Peña-Gómez

Behavioral coping phenotypes and associated psychosocial outcomes of pregnant and postpartum women during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Denise M. Werchan
• Cassandra L. Hendrix
• Natalie H. Brito

Spontaneous activity patterns in human motor cortex replay evoked activity patterns for hand movements

• Tomer Livne
• Maurizio Corbetta

Sensory processing sensitivity and somatosensory brain activation when feeling touch

• Michael Schaefer
• Anja Kühnel
• Matti Gärtner

The interplay between cognition, depression, anxiety, and sleep in primary Sjogren’s syndrome patients

• Radjiv Goulabchand
• Elodie Castille
• Philippe Guilpain

Dynamics of adolescents’ smartphone use and well-being are positive but ephemeral

• Laura Marciano
• Charles C. Driver
• Anne-Linda Camerini

ADHD symptoms and use of anabolic androgenic steroids among male weightlifters

• Emilie Kildal
• Bjørnar Hassel
• Astrid Bjørnebekk

Facial mask personalization encourages facial mask wearing in times of COVID-19

• Johanna Palcu
• Martin Schreier
• Chris Janiszewski

Exploring brain activity for positive and negative emotions by means of EEG microstates

• Giulia Prete
• Pierpaolo Croce
• Paolo Capotosto

A network approach to relationships between cannabis use characteristics and psychopathology in the general population

• Linda T. Betz
• Nora Penzel
• Joseph Kambeitz

Socioeconomic status impacts cognitive and socioemotional processes in healthy ageing

• Joaquín Migeot
• Mariela Calivar
• Sol Fittipaldi

Parental praise and children’s exploration: a virtual reality experiment

• Eddie Brummelman
• Stathis Grapsas
• Katinka van der Kooij

Africans and Europeans differ in their facial perception of dominance and sex-typicality: a multidimensional Bayesian approach

• Vojtěch Fiala
• Petr Tureček
• Karel Kleisner

Brain information processing capacity modeling

• Tongtong Li
• Karl Friston

Safety evaluation of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide oral administration in healthy adult men and women

• Yuichiro Fukamizu
• Yoshiaki Uchida
• Takanobu Sakurai

Neural oscillations promoting perceptual stability and perceptual memory during bistable perception

• Michael Zhu
• Richard Hardstone

The effects of probiotics on risk and time preferences

• Aline M. Dantas
• Alexander T. Sack
• Teresa Schuhmann

Media-multitasking and cognitive control across the lifespan

• Natasha Matthews
• J. B. Mattingley

Depressive symptoms reduce when dorsolateral prefrontal cortex-precuneus connectivity normalizes after functional connectivity neurofeedback

• Jessica Elizabeth Taylor
• Takashi Yamada
• Tomokazu Motegi

Intranasal insulin modulates cerebrospinal fluid markers of neuroinflammation in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease: a randomized trial

• Derek Kellar
• Thomas Register
• Suzanne Craft

COVID-19 conspiracy ideation is associated with the delusion proneness trait and resistance to update of beliefs

• O. Horntvedt
• P. Petrovic

Hand constraint reduces brain activity and affects the speed of verbal responses on semantic tasks

• Kunihito Tobita
• Shogo Makioka

Impaired grouping of ambient facial images in autism

• Bayparvah Kaur Gehdu
• Katie L. H. Gray
• Richard Cook

Social support, psychological flexibility and coping mediate the association between COVID-19 related stress exposure and psychological distress

• Richard Tindle
• Ahmed A. Moustafa

Gender dysphoria in twins: a register-based population study

• Georgios Karamanis
• Maria Karalexi
• Fotios C. Papadopoulos

Learning from communication versus observation in great apes

• Hanna Marno
• Christoph J. Völter

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Positive Psychology Research

This page has a listing of Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman’s books and other publications on the topic of Positive Psychology. If you would like to see a complete listing of Dr. Seligman’s publications, please see his Curriculum Vitae .   BOOKS Seligman, M.E.P. (1998). Learned Optimism . New York: Pocket Books (Simon and Schuster). Seligman, M.E.P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L., & Gillham, J. (1996). The Optimistic Child . New York: Harper Collins. Gillham, J.E. (Ed). (2000). The Science of Optimism and Hope: Research Essays in Honor of Martin E. P. Seligman . Radnor, PA: Templeton Foundation Press. Seligman, M.E.P. (2002). Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment . New York: Free Press. Peterson, Christopher & Seligman, M.E.P. (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues A Handbook and Classification . Washington, D.C.: APA Press and Oxford University Press. Evans, D. L., Foa, E., Gur, R., Hendrin, H., O'Brien, C., Seligman, M.E.P. & Walsh, B.T. (Eds.). (2006). Treating and Preventing Adolescent Mental Health Disorders: What We Know and What We Don't Know . New York: Oxford University Press, The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, and The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Seligman, M.E.P. (2007) What You Can Change and What You Can't . (2d ed.) New York: Vintage. Seligman, M.E.P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L., & Gillham, J. (2007). The Optimistic Child . (2d ed.) New York: Mariner Books. Seligman, M.E.P. (2011). Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being . New York: Free Press. SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS 2015 Duckworth, A. L., Eichstaedt, J., & Unger, L. (in press). The mechanics of human achievement. Social and Personality Psychology Compass. Duckworth, A. L., Shulman E. P., Mastronarde, A. J., Patrick, S. D., Zhang, J., Druckman*, J. (in press). Will not want: Self-control rather than motivation explains the female advantage in report card grades. Learning and Individual Differences. Duckworth, A.L., & Steinberg, L. (2015). Understanding and cultivating self-control in children and adolescents. Child Development Perspectives, 9(1), 32-37. Duckworth, A. L., & Tsukayama, E. (in press). Domain-specificity in self-control. In C. Miller, R. M. Furr, A. Knobel, and W. Fleeson (Eds.), Character: New Directions from Philosophy, Psychology, and Theology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Duckworth, A. L., & Yeager, D. S. (in press). Measurement matters: Assessing personal qualities other than cognitive ability for educational purposes. Educational Researcher. Galla, B.M. & Duckworth, A.L. (2015). More than resisting temptation: Beneficial habits mediate the relationship between self-control and positive life outcomes. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Advance online publication. Roepke, A. M. & Seligman, M. E. P. (2015). Doors opening: A mechanism for growth after adversity. Journal of Positive Psychology, 10(2): 107-115, doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.913669 Seligman, M. (2015). Chris Peterson’s unfinished masterwork: The real mental illnesses. Journal of Positive Psychology: Special issue in memory of Chris Peterson, 10(1), 3-6. doi:10.1080/17439760.2014.888582 White, R. E., Kross, E., & Duckworth, A. D. (in press). Spontaneous self-distancing and adaptive self-reflection across adolescence. Child Development. 2014 Duckworth, A. L., Gendler, T. S, & Gross, J. J. (2014). Self-control in school-age children. Educational Psychologist, 49(3), 199-217. Duckworth, A.L., & Gross, J.J. (2014). Self-control and grit: Related but separable determinants of success. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23(5), 319-325. Eichstaedt, J. C., Schwartz, H. A., Kern, M. L., Park, G., Labarthe, D., Merchant, R., … Seligman, M. E. P. (2014). Psychological language on Twitter predicts county-level heart disease mortality. Manuscript submitted for publication. Eskreis-Winkler, L., Duckworth, A. L., Shulman, E., & Beal, S. (2014). The grit effect: Predicting retention in the military, the workplace, school and marriage. Frontiers in Personality Science and Individual Differences, 5(36), 1-12. Eskreis-Winkler, L., Shulman, E.P., Beal, S. & Duckworth, A.L. (2014). Survivor mission: Why those who survive have a drive to thrive at work. Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(3), 209-218. Friedman, H. S., Kern, M. L., Hampson, S. E., & Duckworth, A. L. (2014). A new lifespan approach to conscientiousness and health: Combining the pieces of the causal puzzle. Developmental Psychology, 50(5), 1377-1389. Galla, B. M., Plummer, B. D., White, R., Meketon, D., D'Mello, S. K., & Duckworth, A. L. (2014). The Academic Diligence Task (ADT): Assessing individual differences in effort on tedious but important schoolwork. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 39(4), 314-325. Kern, M. L., Eichstaedt, J. C., Schwartz, H. A., Dziurzynski, L., Ungar, L. H., Stillwell, D. J., … Seligman, M. E. P. (2014). The online social self: An open vocabulary approach to personality. Assessment, 21, 386-397. Kern, M. L., Eichstaedt, J. C., Schwartz, H. A., Park, G., Ungar, L. H., Stillwell, D. J., … Seligman, M. E. P. (2014). From “sooo excited!!!” to “so proud”: Using language to study development. Developmental Psychology, 50, 178-188. Park, G., Schwartz, H. A., Eichstaedt, J. C., Kern, M. L., Kosinski, M., Stillwell, D., … Seligman, M. E. P. (2014). Automatic personality assessment through social media language. Manuscript submitted for publication. Plummer, B. D., Galla, B. M., Finn, A., Patrick, S. D., Meketon, D., Leonard, J., Goetz, C., Fernandez-Vina, E., Bartolino, S., White, R. E., & Duckworth, A. L. (2014). A behind- the-scenes guide to school-based research. Mind, Brain, and Education, 8(1), 15-20. Robertson-Kraft, C. & Duckworth, A. L. (2014). True grit: Trait-level perseverance and passion for long-term goals predicts effectiveness and retention among novice teachers. Teachers College Record, 116(3), 1-27. Sap, M., Schwartz, H.A., Park, G., Eichstaedt, J. C., Kern, M. L., Kosinski, M., … Ungar, L. H. (2014). Developing age and gender predictive lexica over social media. in EMNLP-2014: the 2014 Conference on Empirical Methods in Natural Language Processing. Schwartz, H.A, Park, G., Sap, M., Eichstaedt, J. C., Kern, M. L., Wan, G., … Ungar, L. H. Extracting human temporal orientation from Facebook language. Manuscript submitted for publication. Seligman, M. (2014, February 10). God comes at the end. Spirituality in Clinical Practice, 1, 67-70. Seligman, M. (2014). The real mental illnesses: Susan Nolen-Hoeksema (1959–2013) in memoriam. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 123(1), Feb 2014, 1-2. Vie, L.L., Griffith, K.N., Scheier, L.M., Lester, P.B., Seligman, M.E.P. The person-event data environment (PDE): Leveraging big data for studies of psychological strengths in soldiers. Frontiers in Psychology. Technology Report. 4, 1-7. Vie, L. L., Scheier, L. M., Lester, P. B., & Seligman, M. E. P. Psychometric structure of the Global Assessment Tool (GAT): Cross-validation and tests of configural and measurement invariance. Manuscript submitted for publication. Von Culin, K., Tsukayama, E. & Duckworth, A. L. (2014). Unpacking grit: Motivational correlates of perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Positive Psychology, 9(4), 1-7. Yeager, D.S., Henderson, M., Paunesku, D., Walton, G., Spitzer, B., D’Mello, S., & Duckworth, A.L. (2014). Boring but important: A self-transcendent purpose for learning fosters academic self-regulation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 107(4), 559-580. 2013 Cutuli, J. J., Gillham, J. E., Chaplin, T. M., Reivich, K. J., Seligman, M.E.P., Gallop, R. J., Abenavoli, R. M. and Freres, D. R. (2013). Preventing adolescents’ externalizing and internalizing symptoms: Effects of the Penn Resiliency Program. Int J Emot Educ. Nov 1, 2013; 5(2): 67–79 . Duckworth, A. L., & Carlson, S. M. (2013). Self-regulation and school success. In B.W. Sokol, F.M.E. Grouzet, & U. Müller (Eds.), Self-regulation and autonomy: Social and developmental dimensions of human conduct. New York: Cambridge University Press. Duckworth, A. L., Kim, B., & Tsukayama, E. (2013). Life stress impairs self-control in early adolescence. Frontiers in Developmental Psychology, 3(608), 1-12. Duckworth, A. L., Kirby, T., Gollwitzer, A., & Oettingen, G. (2013). From fantasy to action: Mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) improves academic performance in children. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 4(6), 745-753. Duckworth, A. L., Tsukayama, E., & Kirby, T. (2013). Is it really self-control? Examining the predictive power of the delay of gratification task. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39(7), 843-855. Gillham, J.E., Abenavoli, R.M., Brunwasser, S.M., Reivich, K.J., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2013). Resilience education. In S. David, I. Boniwell, & A. Conley Ayers (Eds.), Oxford handbook of happiness (pp. 609-630). USA: Oxford University Press. Jayawickreme, E., Jayawickreme, N., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2013). From victims to survivors: The positive psychology of refugee mental health. In K.M. Gow and M.J. Celinski (Eds.), Mass Trauma: Impact and Recovery Issues. (pp. 313-330). New York: Nova Science Publishers. Kern, P., Duckworth, A. L., Urzua, S., Loeber, R., Stouthamer-Loeber, M., & Lynam, D. (2013). Do as you’re told! Facets of agreeableness and early adult outcomes for inner-city boys. Journal of Research in Personality. 47(6), 795-799. Kurzban, R., Duckworth, A. L., Kable, J. W., & Myers, J. (2013). An opportunity cost model of subjective effort and task performance. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 36(6), 661-726. Park, N., Seligman, M.E. Christopher M. Peterson (1950-2012). Am Psychol. 2013 Jul-Aug;68(5):403. doi: 10.1037/a0033380. Peterson, C., Park, N., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2013). Orientations to happiness and life satisfaction: the full life versus the empty life. In A. Delle Fave (Ed.), The exploration of happiness: present and future perspectives (pp. 161-173). Netherlands: Springer. Reivich, K., Gillham, J.E., Chaplin, T.M., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2013). From helplessness to optimism: the role of resilience in treating and preventing depression in youth. In. S. Goldstein & R.B. Brooks (Eds.) Handbook of resilience in children (pp. 201-214). New York: Springer US. Schwartz, H. A., Eichstaedt, J. C., Dziurzynski, L., Kern, M. L., Blanco, E., Kosinski, M., … Ungar, L. H. (2013). Toward personality insights from language exploration in social media. In Proceedings of the AAAI Spring Symposium Series. Stanford, CA. Schwartz, H. A., Eichstaedt, J. C., Dziurzynski, L., Kern, M. L., Blanco, E., Ramones, S., … Ungar, L. H. (2013). Choosing the right words: Characterizing and reducing error of the word count approach. In Proceedings of *SEM-2013: Second Joint Conference on Lexical and Computational Semantics. Schwartz, H. A., Eichstaedt, J. C., Kern, M. L., Dziurzynski, L., Lucas, R. E., Agrawal, M., … Ungar, L. H. (2013). Characterizing Geographic Variation in Well-Being using Tweets. In Proceedings of the Seventh International AAAI Conference on Weblogs and Social Media (ICWSM). Boston, MA. Schwartz, H. A., Eichstaedt, J. C., Kern, M. L., Dziurzynski, L., Ramones, S. M., Agrawal, M., … Ungar, L. H. (2013). Personality, gender, and age in the language of social media: The open-vocabulary approach. PLOS ONE, 8, e73791. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073791 Seligman, M.E.P., Railton, P., Baumeister, R.F., & Sripada, C. (2013). Navigating into the future or driven by the past. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 8(2), 119-141. Tsukayama, E., Duckworth, A. L., & Kim, B. (2013). Domain-specific impulsivity in school-age children. Developmental Science, 16, 879-893. 2012 Adler, A., Unanue, W., Osin, E., Ricard, M., Alkire, S., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2012). Psychological wellbeing.  Report of the Well-Being Working Group, Royal Government of Bhutan: Report to the United Nations General Assembly, Well-Being and Happiness: A New Development Paradigm. United Nations: New York. Duckworth, A. L. & Allred, K. M. (2012). Temperament in the classroom. In R. L. Shiner & M. Zentner (Eds.), Handbook of Temperament (pp. 627-644). New York, NY: Guilford Press. Duckworth, A. L., Quinn, P., Tsukayama, E. (2012). What No Child Left Behind leaves behind: The roles of IQ and self-control in predicting standardized achievement test scores and report card grades. Journal of Educational Psychology, 104(2), 439-451. Duckworth, A. L., Weir, D., Tsukayama, E., & Kwok, D. (2012). Who does well in life? Conscientious adults excel in both objective and subjective success. Frontiers in Personality Science and Individual Differences, 3(356), 1-8. Eisenberg, N., Duckworth, A. L., Spinrad, T. L., & Valiente, C. (2012). Conscientiousness: Origins in childhood. Developmental Psychology, 50(5), 1331-1349. Forgeard, M.J.C., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2012). Seeing the glass half full: A review of the causes and consequences of optimism. Pratiques Psychologiques, 18(2), 107-120. Gillham, J.E., Reivich, K.J., Brunwasser, S.M., Freres, D.R., Chajon, N.D., Kash-MacDonald, V.M., … Seligman, M.E.P. (2012). Evaluation of a group cognitive-behavioral depression prevention program for young adolescents: a randomized effectiveness trial. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 41(5), 621-639. doi: 10.1080/15374416.2012.706517 Jayawickreme, E., Forgeard, M.J.C., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2012). The engine of well-being. Review of General Psychology, 16(4), 327-342. Seligman, M.E.P. (2012). Flourish: Positive psychology and positive interventions. In The Tanner lectures on human values, 31. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press. Tsukayama, E., Duckworth, A. L., & Kim, B. (2012). Resisting everything except temptation: Evidence and an explanation for domain-specific impulsivity. European Journal of Personality, 26, 318-334. 2011 Almlund, M., Duckworth, A. L., Heckman, J., & Kautz, T. (2011). Personality psychology and economics. In E.A. Hanushek, S. Machin & L. Woessmann (Eds.), Handbook of the Economics of Education (pp. 1-181). Amsterdam: Elsevier. Cornum, R., Matthews, M.D., and Seligman, M.E.P. Comprehensive soldier fitness: Building resilience in a challenging institutional context. In M.E.P. Seligman and M.D. Matthews (Eds.), Comprehensive soldier fitness [Special issue]. American Psychologist, 66(1), 4-9. Duckworth, A. L., Grant, H., Loew, B., Oettingen, G. & Gollwitzer, P. M. (2011). 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Doing the right thing: Measuring wellbeing for public policy. International Journal of Wellbeing, 1(1), 79-106. doi:10.5502/ijw.v1i1.4. Gillham, J., Adams-Deutsch, Z., Werner, J., Reivich, K., Coulter-Heindl, V., Linkins, M., … Seligman, M.E.P. (2011). Character strengths predict subjective well-being during adolescence. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 6(1), 31-44. http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t724921263 Gollwitzer, A., Oettingen, G., Kirby, T. & Duckworth, A. L. (2011). Mental contrasting facilitates academic performance in school children. Motivation and Emotion, 35, 403- 412. Kross, E., Duckworth, A. L., Ayduk, O., Tsukayama, E., & Mischel, W. (2011). The effect of self-distancing on adaptive versus maladaptive self-reflection in children. Emotion, 11(5), 1032 1039. Reivich, K.J., Seligman, M.E.P., & McBride, S. Master resilience training in the army. In M.E.P. Seligman and M.D. Matthews (Eds.), Comprehensive soldier fitness [Special issue]. American Psychologist, 66(1), 25-34. Roberts, B., Jackson, J., Duckworth, A. L., Von Culin*, K. (2011). Personality measurement and assessment in large panel surveys. Forum for Health Economics & Policy, 14(3). Seligman, M.E.P. (2011). Helping American soldiers in time of war: Reply to comments on the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Special Issue. American Psychologist, 66(7), 646-647. Seligman, M.E.P., & Fowler, R.F. Comprehensive soldier fitness and the future of psychology. In M.E.P. Seligman and M.D. Matthews (Eds.), Comprehensive soldier fitness [Special issue]. American Psychologist, 66(1), 82-86. Seligman, M.E.P., & Matthews, M.D. (Eds.). (2011). Comprehensive soldier fitness [Special issue]. American Psychologist, 66(1). 2010 Duckworth, A. L., Kirby, T., Tsukayama, E., Berstein, H., Ericsson, K. (2010). Deliberate practice spells success: Why grittier competitors triumph at the National Spelling Bee. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2, 174-181 Duckworth, A. L., Tsukayama, E., & Geier, A. B. (2010). Self-controlled children stay leaner in the transition to adolescence. Appetite, 54(2), 304-308. Duckworth, A. L., Tsukayama, E., & May, H. (2010). Establishing causality using longitudinal hierarchical linear modeling: An illustration predicting achievement from self-control. Social Psychology and Personality Science, 1(4), 311-317. Peterson , C., Stephens , J.P., Park , N., Lee , F., & Seligman , M.E.P. (2010). Strengths of character and work. In P. A. Linley, S. Harrington, & N. Page (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology and work (pp. 221-231). New York: Oxford University Press. Romer, D., Duckworth, A. L., Sznitman, S., & Park, S. (2010). Can adolescents learn self- control? Delay of gratification in the development of control over risk taking. Prevention Science, 11(3), 319-330. Ruch , W., Proyer , R. T., Harzer , C., Park , N., Peterson , C., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2010). 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Journal of Organizational Behavior, 30(2), 161-172. Peterson, C., Stephens, J. P., Park, N., Lee, F., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2009). Strengths of character and work. In P. A. Linley, S. Harrington, & N. Page (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology and work. (pp. 221-231). New York: Oxford University Press. Seligman, M.E.P., Gillham, J., Reivich, K., Linkins, M., & Ernst, R. (2009). Positive education: positive psychology and positive interventions. Oxford Review of Education, 35(3), 293-311. Seligman, M.E.P., & Kahana, M. (2009). Unpacking intuition. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4(4), 399-402. 2008 Borghans, L., Duckworth, A. L., Heckman, J. J., & ter Weel, B. (2008). The economics and psychology of personality traits. Journal of Human Resources, 43(4), 972-1059. Peterson, C., Park, N., Pole, N., D’Andrea, W., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2008). Strengths of character and posttraumatic growth. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 21(2), 214-217. Schueller, S., and Seligman, M.E.P. (2008) . Optimism and pessimism. In K.S. Dobson & D.J.A. Dozois (Eds.), Risk factors in depression. 1st ed. (pp. 171-94). New York: Elsevier Inc. Seligman, M.E.P. (2008). Positive health. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 57, 3-18. 2007 Cardemil, E., Reivich, K.J., Beevers, C.G., Seligman, M.E.P., & James, J. (2007). The prevention of depressive symptoms in low-income, minority children: Two-year follow-up. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45, 313-327. Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087-1101. Gillham, J., Reivich, K., Freres, D., Chaplin, T., Shatté, A., Samuels, B., et al. (2007). School-based prevention of depressive symptoms: A randomized controlled study of the effectiveness and specificity of the Penn Resiliency Program. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 75(1), 9-19. Linley, P.A., Maltby, J., Wood, A., Joseph, S., Harrington, S., Peterson, C., Park, et al (2007). Character strengths in the United Kingdom: The VIA inventory of strengths. Personality & Individual Differences, 43(2), 341-351. Peterson, C., Ruch, W., Beerman, U., Park, N., & Seligman, M.E.P. Strengths of character, orientations to happiness, and life satisfaction. Journal of Positive Psychology, 2(3), 149-156. Seligman, M.E.P. (2007). Coaching and positive psychology. Australian Psychologist, 42(4), 266-267. Seligman, M.E.P., Schulman, P., & Tryon, A. (2007). Group prevention of depression and anxiety symptoms. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 45(6), 1111-1126. 2006 Chaplin, T.M., Gillham, J.E., Reivich, K., Levy-Elkton, A., Samuels, B., Freres, D.R., et al (2006). Depression prevention for early adolescent girls: A pilot study of all-girls versus co-ed groups. Journal of Early Adolescence, 26, 110-126. Duckworth, A.L., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2006). Self-discipline outdoes IQ in predicting academic performance of adolescents. Psychological Science, 16, 939-944. Duckworth, A.L., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2006). Self-discipline gives girls the edge: Gender in self-discipline, grades, and achievement test scores. Journal of Educational Psychology, 98, 198-208. Gillham, J. E., Reivich, K. J., Freres, D. R., Lascher, M., Litzinger, S., & Shatte, A. et al. (2006). School-based prevention of depression and anxiety symptoms in early adolescence: A pilot of a parent intervention component. School Psychology Quarterly, 21, 323-348. Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2006). Character strengths in fifty-four nations and the fifty US states. Journal of Positive Psychology, 1, 118-129. Peterson, C., Park, N., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2006). Greater strengths of character and recovery from illness. Journal of Positive Psychology, 1, 17-26. Seligman, M.E.P. (2006). Afterword: Breaking the 65 percent barrier. In M. Csikszentmihalyi, & I. S. Csikszentmihalyi (Eds.), A life worth living: Contributions to positive psychology (pp. 230-236). New York: Oxford University Press. Seligman, M.E.P., & Csikszentmkhalyi, Mihaly. (2006). Positiv Psykologi - en introduktion. Kognition & P ? dagogik, 16(60), 4-12. Seligman, M.E.P., Parks, A.C., & Steen, T. (2006). A balanced psychology and a full life. In F. Huppert, B. Keverne & N. Baylis, (Eds.), The science of well-being (pp. 275-283). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Seligman, M.E.P., Rashid, T., & Parks, A.C. (2006). Positive psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 61, 774-788. Shimai, S., Otake, K., Park, N., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2006). Convergence of character strengths in American and Japanese young adults. Journal of Happiness Studies, 7, 311-322. 2005 Dahlsgaard, K., Peterson, C., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2005). Shared virtue: The convergence of valued human strengths across culture and history. Review of General Psychology, 9, 203-213. Duckworth, A.L., Steen, T.A., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2005). Positive psychology in clinical practice. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 1, 629-651. Peterson, C., Park, N., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2005). Orientations to happiness and life satisfaction: The full life versus the empty life, Journal of Happiness Studies, 6(1), 25 – 41. Reivich, K.J., Gillham, J.E., Chaplin, T. M., & Seligman, M.E.P. (2005). From helplessness to optimism: The role of resilience in treating and preventing depression in youth. In S. Goldstein & R.B. Brooks (Eds.) Handbook of Resilience in Children. (pp. 223-237). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. Seligman, M. E. P., Berkowitz, M. W., Catalano, R. F., Damon, W., Eccles, J.S., Gillham, J. E., Moore, K. A., Nicholson, H. J., Park, N., Penn, D. L., Peterson, C., Shih, M., Steen, T. A., Sternberg, R. J., Tierney, J. P., Weissberg, R. P., & Zaff, J. F. (2005). The positive perspective on youth development. In D. L. Evans, E. Foa, R. Gur, H. Hendrin, C. 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Top positive psychology research of 2021 (so far)

07/07/2021 by Marie

Top positive psychology research of 2021

There is so much research happening around the world into what is arguably the most important question you can ask: how can I be happy? As global mental health stats continue to decline, particularly during COVID, this is good news. There’s now a raft of actionable science-backed research you can apply in your life to take you from simply languishing in life, to thriving.

While the rest of this article is a catalogue of the top positive psychology research in 2021 so far, I would like to acknowledge one other piece of sad news from this year: Edward Diener, Psychologist Known as Dr. Happiness, Dies at 74 . Since the 1980s, Ed Diener was recognised as a leader in measuring what he called “subjective well-being” and his passing is a loss for not only his family and friends, but the entire positive psychology community.

In this article, we take a look at the top positive psychology research of 2021, so far. Let me know in the comments about how you are using the latest research to achieve a happier, healthier life!

Frequent travel could make you 7% happier  (Science Daily). People dreaming of travel post-COVID-19 now have some scientific data to support their wanderlust. A new study shows frequent travellers are happier with their lives than people who don’t travel at all.

Research suggests positive forward-thinking safeguards mental health during lockdowns  (Mental Health Today). We all might feel nostalgic for a time when we weren’t confined to our homes or had rules imposed upon us in public spaces; however new research from the University of Surrey suggests that if we forget about 2020 or even our current lockdown state in 2021 and look forward to the future, our mental wellbeing will presently be more resilient.

Learning Boosts Happiness, New Study Suggests  (Sci News). New research from University College London suggests that how we learn about the world around us can be more important for how we feel than rewards we receive directly.

Study suggests link between word choices and extraverts  (Science Daily). A study by a team of Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) psychologists has found a link between extraverts and their word choices.

Why living in the future, rather than the past, is key to coping with lockdowns – new research  (The Conversation).  Researcher in the UK recruited 261 people during the first lockdown in the UK (March-May 2020) to explore the impact of the three different time orientations on wellbeing.

Being around birds linked to higher happiness levels  (World Economic Forum). Greater bird biodiversity can make people more joyful, according to a study published in Ecological Economics. The happiest Europeans are those who see the most bird species in their day-to-day life. 

Research shows positive effect of street trees on mental health  (De Montfort University). Daily contact with trees in the street may significantly reduce the risk of depression and the need for antidepressants, according to new research by a De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) academic.

Heading outdoors keeps lockdown blues at bay  (Science Daily). A new study has found that spending time outdoors and switching off devices, such as smartphones, is associated with higher levels of happiness during a period of COVID-19 restrictions.

Money matters to happiness—perhaps more than previously thought   (Penn Today). Research shows that contrary to previous influential work, there’s no dollar-value plateau at which money’s importance lessens. One potential reason: Higher earners feel an increased sense of control over life.

Happiness and life expectancy by main occupational position among older workers: Who will live longer and happy?   (ScienceDirect) We show that women in routine jobs were systematically the ones who were expected to live shorter and unhappier. Men and women in managerial positions lived longer, but only men record more years with happiness.

Why being resilient won’t necessarily make you happy new research  (The Conversation). Resilience featured at the core of the World Health Organization’s policy framework for health and well-being in 2020. This states that “building resilience is a key factor in protecting and promoting health and wellbeing”. Similar statements have also been made by wellbeing researchers. Despite this, most resilience research focuses on how to help individuals avoid negative outcomes, rather than achieve positive outcomes. Very few who investigate resilience actually assess wellbeing.

Happiness really does come for free  (Science Daily). Economic growth is often prescribed as a sure way of increasing the well-being of people in low-income countries, but a study led by McGill and the Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technologies at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (ICTA-UAB) suggests that there may be good reason to question this assumption.

20 surprising, science-backed health benefits of music  (USA Today). Research suggests that music not only helps us cope with pain — it can also benefit our physical and mental health in numerous other ways. Read on to learn how listening to tunes can ramp up your health.

Mental Health Plays a Role in Treating and Preventing Heart Disease  (VeryWell) Researchers are stressing the important links between your mental health and heart health. And they’re calling on clinicians to screen and address mental health when seeking to treat heart conditions.

COVID-19’s Impact on Mental Health Hasn’t Been All Bad   (Psychology Today). The COVID-19 pandemic has caused mental distress, but it has also strengthened people’s mental health in many ways. New research shows how the crisis has increased mental health through three main processes.

Study uncovers a psychological factor that predict one’s motivation to boost happiness  (PsyPost). A group of researchers from Seoul National University and Korea University have found evidence that “essentializing” happiness—i.e., attributing one’s happiness to immutable factors like genetics—renders individuals less likely to adopt behaviors intended to (and in many cases, proven to) increase happiness.

To Get Through Tough Times Turn Down Your Pessimism   (Psychology Today). New research shows the value of remaining positive when things look negative. There is a personality trait that can explain this tendency to overlook the negative and find reason to celebrate each day as it comes. Optimism, from this perspective, reflects not some delusional form of denial, but a stable quality that allows people to feel genuinely hopeful no matter what’s going on around them.

Emotional Well-Being Under Conditions of Lockdown  (Springer) The coronavirus pandemic and related lockdown measures present serious threats to emotional well-being worldwide. Researchers examined the extent to which being outdoors (vs. indoors), the experience of loneliness, and screen-time are associated with emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How Trip Planning and Happiness Are Directly Correlated  (Psychology Today). Research reveals that planning future travel may boost mood and mindset.

A Tale of Three Countries: What is the Relationship Between COVID‐19, Lockdown and Happiness ?  (Wiley Online Library). Though lockdowns do minimise the physical damage caused by the virus, there may also be substantial damage to population well‐being. 

Does Volunteering Make Us Happier, or Are Happier People More Likely to Volunteer? Addressing the Problem of Reverse Causality When Estimating the Wellbeing Impacts of Volunteering   (Springer Link). New research shows that volunteering does indeed make people measurably happier.

Is Awareness of Strengths Intervention Sufficient to Cultivate Wellbeing and Other Positive Outcomes?   (Springer Link). A new study shows that students who reflected on strengths for a 5-week period prior to exams prevented the surfacing of negative emotions and distress, as well as a decline in wellbeing due to the impending examination period. The intervention also enhanced feelings of optimism about the future.

Mental Health Declining During COVID, But Not For Regular Church Attenders  (Theravive). A recent Gallup study reveals a positive connection between regular church attendance and a positive self-evaluation of one’s mental health. I invited experts to give their opinions on these findings and what it is about church attendance that contributes to positive mental health.

Happiness of centenarians a severely neglected area of research  (Mirage). A systematic review by researchers at the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), UNSW Sydney has highlighted the need for clearer definitions of ‘happiness’, ‘life satisfaction’ and ‘positive affect’ in centenarians. This is the first systematic review to summarise the literature on the subjective wellbeing of this unique age group.

Forget what you think happiness is  (Wall Street Journal). Think you know what it means to be happy? Think again. Scientists are learning how to better measure and improve happiness, as the pandemic forces many to question what brings them joy. In the future, some experts believe, people will embrace a more complex definition of happiness that focuses less on uninterrupted bliss and involves everything from a person’s environment to exercises that train the brain in ways to be happy.

How watching TV in lockdown can be good for you — according to science  (Salon). Many mental health organizations have proposed strategies to protect mental health, such as exercising, sleeping well and enjoying nature. This may make us assume that watching TV is ultimately bad for our mental wellbeing. But there is evidence to suggest that watching TV can also be good for us – if we go about it the right way.

One team is redefining how the world measures happiness, for the better  (Inverse).  First released in 2012, the World Happiness Report aims to both quantify and analyze well-being around the world. Each year, it generates press coverage because of its ranking of the world’s happiest countries — typically Nordic countries like Finland and Denmark top the charts.

Women reported decreased happiness during COVID-19 pandemic: Study   (ZEE5).  A recent study found that during the COVID-19 pandemic women, especially mothers, spent more time on tasks such as childcare and household chores than men. In turn, time spent completing household chores was linked to lower well-being and decreased happiness during the pandemic.

Why Older People Managed to Stay Happier Through the Pandemic  (New York Times) . New surveys over the last year show that the ability to cope improves with age.

Australia ‘most expensive country in the world to be happy,’ study finds  (DMarge)  Researchers at Purdue University in the United States have come up with a metric called ‘income satiation’ – basically, the point at which you have enough money to be happy.

Degrees of happiness? Formal education does not lead to greater job satisfaction  (Science Daily).  Education is considered one of the most critical personal capital investments. But formal educational attainment doesn’t necessarily pay off in job satisfaction, according to new research from the University of Notre Dame.

Happiness can be learned through meditation, philosophy and training  (Medical Xpress). Is it possible to learn to be happier? Well, it seems it is—at least according to a scientific study coordinated by the University of Trento and carried out in collaboration with Sapienza University of Rome, now published in Frontiers in Psychology.

Make mine a micro-job! Why working one day a week is the secret of happiness  (The Guardian). Working only one day a week is the secret of happiness, according to researchers at the University of Cambridge.

Do you ever struggle to overcome a bad mood? Scientists have finally figured out why this happens  (News24). In a new study on brain activity led by University of Miami psychologists, researchers explain why some of these emotional experiences persist. According to their research, how a person’s brain evaluates fleeting negative stimuli may influence their long-term psychological well-being.

The unsung secret to stability and happiness during the pandemic  (ZDNet). It’s been a hard year, but at least many people have found a reliable way to reduce stress and increase happiness. Netflix is great and exercise is important, but music, it turns out, has made a positive difference in the lives of many during an often-bleak and perpetually uncertain pandemic year.

How Life Could Get Better (or Worse) After COVID  (Greater Good Magazine). Fifty-seven scientists make predictions about potential positive and negative consequences of the pandemic.

Want a Happier Workplace? Studies Say the Best Companies Do These 5 Things Every Single Day  (Inc.). It will not only make employees happy, it will also increase their productivity.

UK workforce finds happiness in ability to work from anywhere  (Computer Weekly). Study finds 44% of UK workers consider the ability to work remotely as a driver of happiness and 61% would support government policies aimed at the widespread adoption of ‘hybrid’ working practices.

Scientists explore the source of well-being and happiness  (ZJU University). Serotonin, or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a messenger molecule that produces a sense of well-being and happiness and is therefore also known as the “happy hormone”. However, the biological mechanism as to how 5-HT generates a sense of well-being has yet to be deciphered.

How has WFH impacted employee happiness? results by sector, revealed  (HRD). If there’s one thing we can all agree on about 2020/21, it’s that most of us have never spent so much time at home. But how has working from home (WFH) affected us? Expert Insolvency Practitioners, Hudson Weir, polled 3,500 employees across the country to find out how well we have taken to it…

Social comparisons with similar people determine income’s effect on happiness  (Phys.org). Researchers have found that in states where incomes were relatively equal, individuals’ happiness was affected less by their incomes because their economic positions were less clearly defined, making social comparisons less meaningful.

Can Online Psychology Classes Increase Well-Being?  (Psychology Today). A study found that participants in online psychology courses saw increases in well-being from their baseline measures. If these classes have long-term benefits, they could become reliable public health interventions.

8 Mix-and-Match Ingredients for a Tailored Be-Well Plan  (Psychology Today). A new systematic review and meta-analysis of well-being studies identified 8 core psychological interventions that delivered positive results. The researchers found, though, that no one approach was best, and encouraged clinicians and individuals to “mix and match” strategies. 

Curiosity and happiness go hand in hand  (The Philadelphia Inquirer). As Einstein said: The important thing is to never stop questioning. Recent research suggests that consistent curiosity goes hand in hand with happiness. 

Lockdown has had a positive effect on some people’s mental health, study reveals  (GentSide). Researchers from the University of Manchester have found that lockdown brought forth a sense of relief for those who struggled with pre-existing depression. 

If You Want to Be Happy, Try to Make Someone Else Happy  (Greater Good Berkeley). What if happiness comes from aiming to make others happy, instead of doing nice things for yourself? That is exactly what a recent study found. 

How to Draw On Your Psychological Resources  (Psychology Today). An international team of psychologists has explored various ways individuals can help alleviate the pandemic’s massive psychological toll – with an arsenal of researched-backed skills, states, and competencies that can help us buffer against stress, bolster mental health, and build new capacities. 

3 Reasons Real-Life Social Support Is Best for Mental Health  (Psychology Today). Many people rely on social media platforms for social support. New research suggests that social media social support (SMSS) doesn’t have a negative impact on mental health. However, real-life social support (RLSS) can reduce anxiety, depression, and loneliness; RLSS has a positive effect on mental health.

The impact of staff happiness on customer service   (Convenience and Impulse Retailing). Three-quarters or 79 per cent of Australian casual workers say their happiness at work directly impacts on the customer experience they can deliver.

Happiness statistics 2021  (Finder.com). Data reveals children, financial security and a good Internet connection make Aussies happy.

So Happy Fur You: Elmhurst Research Links Pet Spending to Joy  (Elmhurst University). In findings published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, Elmhurst University faculty and students showed that a person’s happiness can be affected by purchasing a gift for their pet. Study participants reported being happier when buying for a pet than spending money on themselves or another person.

Happiness Comes from Making Others Feel Good   (Psychology Today). New research published by a team of psychologists at the University of Missouri-Columbia suggests that King’s words are as true today as they were a half-century ago — that our own happiness is, in part, influenced by the kindness and generosity we show others.

Happiness & Sustainability Go Hand In Hand’: New Survey Shows Vegans Are Happier Than Meat Eaters  (Green Queen). A new study was looking to do a deeper dive into the many misconceptions about vegans and vegetarians has taken meat eaters by surprise, with the results showing that vegans reported higher happiness levels (+7%) than those who consume meat.

Zest, Hope, And Humor Are The Most Important Character Strengths, Suggests New Psychological Research  (Forbes). A new study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology suggests that while all character strengths serve an important function, some may be more central to psychological well-being than others — and that zest, hope, and humor are the three strengths most commonly found in well-rounded and psychologically healthy individuals.

Employee happiness drops 75% in two years  (Employee Benefits).The happiness of workers has decreased by 75% since 2019, according to new findings from employee engagement consultancy Inpulse.

If You Want to Be Happy, Try to Make Someone Else Happy  (Epoch Times). In a recent study, college students reported on their happiness and on their sense of autonomy, competence, and connection to others—all what researchers consider to be “basic psychological needs” for well-being.

Green space around primary schools may improve students’ academic performance  (The Conversation). Greenery around primary schools may improve students’ academic performance, while traffic pollution may be detrimental, our study shows. 

This is where older Americans find the most happiness  (Market Watch). A new study “The Four Pillars of the New Retirement: What a Difference a Year Makes” conducted by Edward Jones, the large investment and financial services advisory firm, in partnership with Age Wave, a think tank and consulting firm, and The Harris Poll reports that 70% of Americans say the pandemic has caused them to be more reflective and pay more attention to their long-term finances.

‘Urban green space affects citizens’ happiness’  (Science Daily). A recent study revealed that as a city becomes more economically developed, its citizens’ happiness becomes more directly related to the area of urban green space.

Considering happiness and stress as leading indicators  (OHS Canada). As our understanding of neuroscience evolves, how we manage workplace safety and health must also evolve.

How You Decorate Your Home Can Impact Your Happiness   (Women’s Health). Google partnered with the Arts & Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University to explore the impact of sensory input on our minds and bodies. They designed three different rooms, and participants wore bands to track their physiological responses as they moved through each room.

One Walking Strategy That Will Secretly Make You a Happier Person  (Eat This. Not That). If you’re looking to really boost your mood—and to view the world in a much more positive light—walking can help you out there, too. You just need to employ one specific mental technique devised by researchers at Iowa State University and published in the Journal of Happiness Studies.

Find this useful? Sign up to my weekly newsletter to get the internet’s best happiness news and tips and deliver it straight to you every Monday for free!

What Is Positive Psychology? A Starting Point

In doing so, it attempts to answer several key questions, including: What is the good life? And, what makes life worth living?

Positive psychology does not suggest that we should dismiss the rest of psychology or that therapists should ignore the very real problems people face (Snyder, 2021).

Here, we bring together many of our most popular articles, exploring this exciting and rapidly developing area of research and its application to human wellbeing.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology, including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains

What is positive psychology an introduction, positive psychology vs traditional psychology.

• Martin Seligman & the History of Positive Psychology

Why Is Positive Psychology Important?

6 examples of positive psychology in practice, 5 key concepts and topics in positive psychology, 4 theories, principles, and models explained, is positive psychology evidence-based 60+ research findings, positive psychology in therapy and coaching, applied positive psychology in the workplace and education, 30+ positive psychology techniques to apply, 20+ popular interventions for your sessions, 28 exercises and activities for individuals and groups, helpful worksheets, workbooks, and resources, assessment tools: 24 tests, questions, and questionnaires, positive psychology training: 20+ bachelor’s degrees and master’s programs, 100+ best courses and online options, 270+ fascinating positive psychology books, common criticisms of positive psychology, a take-home message.

“Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living” (Snyder, 2021, p. XXIII). While not rejecting the psychology that has gone before, it redresses a previous imbalance by focusing attention on our strengths as much as our weaknesses and fostering our most fulfilling lives while repairing the worst (Snyder, 2021).

Positive psychology is more than a one-sided focus on positive thinking and emotions; it uses science-led research to uncover “what makes individuals and communities flourish, rather than languish” (Boniwell & Tunariu, 2019, p. 2).

In our article What Is Positive Psychology & Why Is It Important? , we learn more about what positive psychology is and is not. We also clear up some misunderstandings and introduce the tools and techniques that enhance clients’ wellbeing in therapy and outside, in education, the workplace, and beyond.

Positive psychology complements – rather than replaces – traditional psychology (sometimes referred to as the “disease model”), fostering wellbeing in individuals through identifying and cultivating virtues and strengths and creating a path toward meaningful and valued living (Seligman, 2011).

While traditional psychology is typically viewed as studying and treating “disease, weakness, and damage” – or what went wrong – positive psychology focuses on “strength and virtue” and “building on what is right” in our lives (Boniwell & Tunariu, 2019, p. 5).

Martin Seligman & the History of Positive Psychology

It then continues by laying out the four waves of psychology that went before its introduction.

In Who Is Martin Seligman and What Does He Do? , we gain a deeper understanding of Seligman’s work on learned helplessness, character strengths, and virtues, along with the introduction of (perhaps) the definitive model of optimal human functioning and wellbeing: the PERMA model (Seligman, 2011; Boniwell & Tunariu, 2019).

In the decades since Seligman’s presidency, positive psychology has gained momentum, with a wealth of supporting research and therapeutic interventions taking the theory and practice further and becoming an established field of study in many high-profile academic institutions (Boniwell & Tunariu, 2019).

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Exercises (PDF)

Enhance wellbeing with these free, science-based exercises that draw on the latest insights from positive psychology.

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Tools Pack (PDF)

By filling out your name and email address below.

The benefits of positive psychology are many and varied. Most importantly, they are backed up by theory and research and have become an established part of many coaches’, counselors’, and therapists’ toolkits.

The importance and benefits of the approach have been recognized in research through the identification of many triggers and their consequences associated with flourishing and wellbeing, including the following (Snyder, 2021; Lomas et al., 2014).

• Positive emotions are contagious in the workplace, boosting job performance and, ultimately, customer satisfaction.
• Small, simple changes can have a huge impact on creating a fulfilling and meaningful life.
• Focusing on happiness in the present should be accompanied by thinking about our past and future to create meaning.
• Giving creates more meaning in life, but taking can increase happiness in the present. Therefore, by giving back to others while showing gratitude and accepting people’s kindness, it is possible to create a meaningful yet happy existence.
• Positive emotions, such as happiness, are contagious. It is vital to recognize the impact we can have on others and their effect on us.

Positive psychology is vital and exciting because it studies and attempts to understand and promote optimal functioning by stimulating the factors that allow individuals and communities to flourish.

Importantly, positive psychology is not solely a focus on what makes life better. It is more than a prescription for happiness. It is facilitative, encouraging us to identify and use our strengths and virtues to overcome difficult times and create a more fulfilling life (Lomas et al., 2014).

In What Is Applied Positive Psychology? , we learn that the approach is successful for those seeking help and, equally, for those unaware it is needed. By adopting a theory that attends to what goes right in life, making it worthwhile and meaningful, therapists can work with clients to determine and steer them toward their goals.

Positive psychology is so powerful and far reaching that it is being theoretically explored and practically applied in a diverse range of fields of human endeavors, including:

• Social work
• Economics and politics
• Management and leadership
• Business organization

The wide-ranging practical application of positive psychology is evident when we consider that it “encompasses the entire field of psychology”; indeed, “links can be drawn to humanistic psychology, psychiatry, sociology, biology” and far beyond (Boniwell & Tunariu, 2019, p. 13).

As we see below, and in our article sharing positive psychology examples , when applied directly or as part of other approaches, positive psychology can positively impact therapy and counseling , education , parenting , the workplace , and even specific communities, such as through building a positive community .

We have included several topics below, along with articles written to better understand the key concepts in more detail.

While we have an immense range of emotions, we often recognize very few (such as being happy, sad, and angry). Each feeling we experience has a strong and intimate connection with our cognition and behavior.

Becoming more aware of our emotions and the difference between positive and negative ones is extremely helpful to our wellbeing (Boniwell & Tunariu, 2019), as explored in the following articles:

• Understanding Emotions: 15 Ways to Identify Your Feelings
• What Are Positive and Negative Emotions and Do We Need Both?
• What Are Negative Emotions and How to Control Them?
• What Are Positive Emotions in Psychology? (+List & Examples)
• The Pursuit of Happiness: Using the Power of Positive Emotions

Character strengths and Values in Action

Knowing and using our character strengths and values can boost our positive emotions and engagement (Niemiec, 2018). In the following articles, we explore their importance to positive psychology and individual wellbeing.

• Understanding the CliftonStrengths™ Assessment: A Guide
• Strength-Spotting Interviews: 20+ Questions and Techniques
• Strength-Based Leadership: 34 Traits of Successful Leaders
• 10+ Ways to Build Character Strengths at Work (& Examples)

“Resilience is actually about managing emotions, not suppressing them” and finding a way forward during difficult times; crucially, it can be grown (Neenan, 2018, p. 9). As such, it is a key feature of positive psychology and learning to flourish (Seligman, 2011).

• Resilience Counseling: 12 Worksheets to Use in Therapy
• 5+ Ways to Develop a Growth Mindset Using Grit and Resilience
• Resilience Theory: A Summary of the Research (+PDF)
• What Is Emotional Resilience? (+6 Proven Ways to Build It)

Growth and psychological development are “supported and characterized by intrinsic motivation and active internalization and integration” (Ryan & Deci, 2018, p. 100). The following articles explore motivation and its importance to performance and, ultimately, wellness.

• Intrinsic Motivation Explained: 10 Examples & Key Factors
• What Is Extrinsic Motivation? (Incl. Types & Examples)
• How to Increase Intrinsic Motivation (According to Science)

While reflection is crucial to wellness, so too is learning how “to form intentions and to direct oneself towards a certain path or goal” (Boniwell & Tunariu, 2019, p. 158). The following articles introduce why goal setting is key and how it can be performed.

• Goal Setting: 20 Templates & Worksheets for Achieving Goals
• How to Set and Achieve Life Goals the Right Way

In this section, we explore several of the models, theories, and principles that combine multiple elements of positive psychology and how they can be applied.

PERMA model

Perhaps the most pervasive model within positive psychology is Seligman’s (2011) own: the PERMA model (Csikszentmihalyi, 2016).

The articles Martin Seligman’s Positive Psychology Theory and Seligman’s PERMA+ Model Explained: A Theory of Wellbeing provide the ideal introduction.

The five elements that make up the PERMA acronym form the foundation of a flourishing life and a helpful breakdown for working with clients. The following three intrinsic properties characterize each one:

• They contribute to wellbeing.
• They are pursued for their own sake.
• They can be measured and defined individually.

We include each one below along with additional links for more information:

• Positive emotions Fostering our feel-good emotions helps build our skills and resources, improving relationships and creativity.

Check out Positive Mindset: How to Develop a Positive Mental Attitude .

• Engagement When we experience flow, our concentration is heightened, causing us to ignore distractions and perform optimally.

Check out Flow at Work: How to Boost Engagement in the Workplace .

• Relationships Forming relationships and connecting with others is a fundamental human need and helps ensure our health and happiness.

Check out What Is Social Wellbeing? 12+ Activities for Social Wellness .

• Meaning “Meaning within life is essential to fulfilled individuals,” and searching for it may be more important than chasing happiness (Boniwell & Tunariu, 2019, p. 98).

Check out 9 Powerful Existential Therapy Techniques for Your Sessions , 15 Ways to Find Your Purpose of Life & Realize Your Meaning , and What Is the Meaning of Life According to Positive Psychology ?

• Accomplishments Those who feel personally engaged and involved in achieving their goals typically experience better health. We must all become better at goal setting and goal achievement for a fulfilling life.

Check out The Science & Psychology of Goal Setting 101 .

Hope theory

Hope (while difficult to define) is a powerful positive emotion that can benefit our lives and help us achieve our goals (Tomasulo, 2020).

In What Is Hope in Psychology? + 7 Exercises & Worksheets , you can find out more about the potential of hope to strengthen your resolve, bolster your resilience, and overcome the most challenging obstacles.

While an important theory and set of practical applications for positive psychology, it is a therapy in its own right and can be explored further in How to Perform Hope Therapy: 4 Best Techniques .

Flow theory

Those moments, however fleeting, when we feel totally immersed in an activity, oblivious to time or our environment, are described as flow by psychologists (Csikszentmihalyi, 2016).

What Is Flow in Psychology? explores this highly enjoyable state of being that has the potential to heighten our creativity, productivity, and happiness, even when performing the most mundane tasks.

In the article Flow Theory in Psychology , we further explore the theory of flow and assess its potential to impact our lives positively, as well as its role in work, education, and sports.

The Sailboat Metaphor

For those new to positive psychology or getting to grips with its terminology, it can be helpful to adopt a metaphor. In PositivePsychology.com’s Sailboat Metaphor , we learn how to create a common language for therapy sessions and interventions that requires little upfront knowledge yet can stimulate ongoing discussions and insights.

The theory and practice of positive psychology are research led; each aspect of the approach is backed by “science that focuses on the development and facilitation of a flourishing environment and individuals” (Boniwell & Tunariu, 2019, p. 2).

Over the last few decades, a great deal of research has confirmed the principles of positive psychology and the benefits that related interventions have on our wellbeing and moving toward more fulfilling lives (Boniwell & Tunariu, 2019; Seligman, 2011; Snyder, 2021).

We have several articles that include further information on such research findings.

• Money does not influence happiness as much as we may think (Aknin et al., 2009).
• Gratitude is a big contributor to our happiness (Seligman et al., 2005).
• Authenticity is more important to a sense of meaning than putting on a pretense of happiness (Baumeister et al., 2012).
• Being generous to others with our time and money leads to greater happiness for the giver (Baumeister et al., 2012).
• Job satisfaction (Spector, 1986; Miglianico et al., 2020; Hartmann et al., 2020)
• Positive coping (Langford et al., 1997)
• Self-worth (Langford et al., 1997)
• Psychological wellbeing (Langford et al., 1997)
• Commitment (Spector, 1986; Castka et al., 2001; Miglianico et al., 2020; Hartmann et al., 2020)
• Information sharing (Castka et al., 2001)
• Continuous learning (Castka et al., 2001)
• Adaptivity (Miglianico et al., 2020; Hartmann et al., 2020)
• Learning skills faster
• Greater insight into the origins of consciousness
• Improved workplace design
• Invest in their own and their employees’ strengths
• Surround themselves with a good team
• Understand and meet the needs of their followers
• Cardiovascular health (via increased work engagement; Bakker et al., 2014)
• Job performance (work engagement; Bakker et al., 2014)
• Productivity (happiness; Wright & Cropanzano, 2007)
• Satisfaction (work engagement; Bakker et al., 2014)

Positive psychology is backed by science and shaped by research. The theory and interventions continue to be challenged and tested to ensure that it remains at the forefront of scientific research.

Here are two articles that provide useful positive psychology maps for counseling and therapy:

• Applied Positive Psychology Coaching: The Ultimate Guide
• Applied Positive Psychology in Therapy: Your Ultimate Guide

Other favorite topics include:

General skills

Learning communication, social, and parenting skills can support coping and build on our existing positive emotions, benefiting clients inside and outside treatment (Magyar-Moe, 2009).

• Providing Psychoeducation in Groups: 5 Examples & Ideas
• How to Improve Communication Skills: 14 Best Worksheets
• Relationship Therapy Sessions: 45 Questions & Worksheets
• Social Skills Training for Adults: 10 Best Activities + PDF

Positive psychology in therapy builds upon individuals’, couples’, and families’ strengths (Conoley & Conoley, 2009). The following articles embrace many of the principles of the positive psychology approach.

• What Is Positive Psychotherapy? (Benefits & Model)
• What Is ACT? The Hexaflex Model and Principles Explained
• What Is Marriage Psychology? +5 Relationship Theories
• 19 Best Narrative Therapy Techniques & Worksheets [+PDF]

Positive psychology offers a powerful stimulus to coaching sessions, encouraging clients to live their best lives (Driver, 2011).

• What Is the GROW Coaching Model? (Incl. Examples)
• Health Coaching: Your Ultimate Template Toolkit for Success
• 11 Best Tools & Questions for Work-Life Balance Coaching
• 18 Financial Coaching Worksheets, Software & Tools

Positive psychology is less about prescribing behavior and more about facilitating a meaningful life (Lomas et al., 2014).

As such, positive psychology has the potential to be used in a wide variety of situations and with various clients beyond therapy, counseling, and coaching.

The following articles include applications in education, criminology, and at work.

• Positive Psychology in Education: Your Ultimate Guide
• What is Positive Criminology? (+ 14 Theories & Worksheets)
• What Is Positive Organizational Psychology?

For further examples, see the article What Is Applied Positive Psychology?

The following articles offer a sample of the many techniques available that are inspired by or closely aligned to the principles of positive psychology.

• 12 Inspiring Real-Life Positive Psychology Examples – This article introduces five of the most popular positive psychology interventions and how to use them.
• The Science of Coping: 10+ Strategies & Skills (Incl. Wheel) – Our lives are more difficult when we are overwhelmed and stressed, yet there are helpful techniques that support our ability to cope.
• What Is Openness to Experience & How Do We Measure It? – Being open to new opportunities contributes to our authenticity and wellbeing and increases our engagement in relationships and activities.
• Visualization in Therapy: 16 Simple Techniques & Tools – Our imagination can help us explore aspects of our self and possible futures and promote behavior change.

• How to Apply the Wheel of Life in Coaching – One of our favorites for achieving balanced living, the wheel of life helps clients identify and fulfill each of their psychological needs.
• 19 Top Positive Psychology Interventions + How to Apply Them – These techniques focus on building strengths and promoting wellbeing, rather than dwelling on problems.

Activities for individuals and groups that promote wellbeing and life fulfillment can occur inside and outside treatment sessions.

The following offer some valuable ideas for exercises and activities.

• Your Ultimate Online Group Coaching Toolkit (+ Exercises) – This article explores how to set up and structure coaching sessions and introduces some of the best activities and exercises available.
• 19 Top Positive Psychology Exercises for Clients or Students – These exercises support the central tenets of positive psychology, building on clients’ strengths and helping them experience more satisfying and fulfilling lives.
• How to Successfully Teach Positive Psychology in Groups – Positive psychology can be taught to students and clients through a series of exercises that increase positive emotions, behaviors, and thinking in groups.

The following articles include some of our most effective downloads for promoting positive psychology and implementing the tools and techniques that support wellness and working toward life fulfillment.

• 8 PERMA Model Activities and Worksheets to Apply With Clients – These vital downloads support Seligman’s (2011) PERMA model, overcoming challenges while helping live more enriched lives.
• 56 Free Positive Psychology PDF Handouts – These exceptional downloads promote self-awareness, problem-solving, replacing irrational beliefs, and fostering core values and beliefs.
• How to Overcome Perfectionism: 15 Worksheets & Resources – Setting impossibly high standards may lead to increased self-criticism. The techniques within this article help clients recognize that our imperfections and vulnerability are not failings.
• How to Use Mindfulness Therapy for Anxiety: 15 Exercises – The mindfulness workbooks and worksheets help clients develop awareness and a sense of compassion and can reduce anxiety (Shapiro, 2020) by reducing or removing judgment.

The following articles include key assessments, questions, and questionnaires that can be used alongside positive psychology coaching and therapy.

• 5 Quality of Life Questionnaires and Assessments – Recognizing a person’s attitude toward life and their values is particularly valuable in positive psychology.
• 10 Positive Psychology Surveys, Measures, and Questionnaires – These research-led tools have been created to capture life satisfaction, gratitude, and flow scores and can be used in research or treatment.
• 3 Most Accurate Character Strengths Assessments and Tests – Backed up by research, these three character strengths assessments are invaluable for coaching sessions.
• 6 Happiness Tests & Scales to Measure Happiness – Several scientifically validated tests and surveys are available to measure happiness.

Becoming effective as a positive psychologist, coach, or therapist requires training and typically begins at college. The following sample of bachelor’s degrees and master’s programs are available at the time of writing but should be followed up by a thorough online search.

• 20 Top Positive Psychology Degrees & Certificates – This article contains an invaluable list of some of the best institutions for higher study in positive psychology.
• Master of Applied Positive Psychology: The MAPP Program – While the Master of Applied Positive Psychology degree is typically considered the gold standard of training in this exciting field, there are other opportunities to explore as well, which we mention below.

While not necessarily specific to positive psychology, the following course articles offer coaches and therapists valuable educational (online and in-person) opportunities to hone their skills.

• 19 Best Coaching Training Institutes and Programs
• 20 Coaching Courses and Online Opportunities
• How to Become a Relationship Coach: 7 Certification Courses
• Emotional Intelligence Certification & Coaching Programs
• 6 Best Executive Coaching Certifications & Training Programs
• What Is Leadership Coaching? (Including Certification Options)
• How To Become a Therapist: Types & Requirements
• Training in Narrative Therapy: 21 Courses & Online Options
• 18 Behavioral Therapist Certifications & Training Courses
• Training in Educational Psychology: 22 Master’s & Degrees

Before signing up, it is worth considering their location (for example, onsite or remote), cost, and what certification and accreditations are needed for your future career and area.

We have included some of our favorites below, along with others outside the field that bring additional insights.

Books on all aspects of positive psychology

• 88+ Must-Read Positive Psychology Books
• Fostering Self-Forgiveness: 25 Powerful Techniques and Books
• How to Improve Self-Knowledge: 21 Books, Tests, and Questions
• 18 Psychology Books on Authenticity and Being Your True Self
• 27 Books to Improve Self-Esteem, Self-Worth, and Self-Image
• 7 Best Books to Help You Find the Meaning of Life

Coaching and therapy books

• The Top-20 Life Coaching Books You Should Read
• 14 Must-Read Acceptance & Commitment Therapy Books
• 15 Motivational Interviewing Books to Help Clients Change
• 30 Best CBT Books to Master Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Books on other skills and areas of psychology

• Building Assertiveness Skills: Top 12 Books & Workbooks
• 20 Best Sports Psychology Books for Motivating Athletes
• The 20 Best Books on Appreciative Inquiry

17 Top-Rated Positive Psychology Exercises for Practitioners

Expand your arsenal and impact with these 17 Positive Psychology Exercises [PDF] , scientifically designed to promote human flourishing, meaning, and wellbeing.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

In our article defining positive psychology , we learn about people’s common misconceptions and some of the most common criticisms, including:

• It is not possible to be perpetually happy.
• The focus is too much on the individual.
• There is a cultural and ethnocentric bias.
• There is too much emphasis on self-report.

While positive psychology’s creation and ongoing development are driven by research (and typically well validated), it is vital to consider its challenges and what learning or new areas of scientific study they offer.

Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes individuals, couples, families, and communities flourish. It attempts to answer the difficult questions of what makes us happy and our existence meaningful.

Positive psychology is not simply a focus on what is good in our lives; it recognizes the troubles we face and the obstacles we overcome.

While aware of the psychological theories and ideas that have gone before, Seligman (2011) and others have created a series of models and approaches that direct research, coaching, and therapy toward helping us create fulfilling lives that focus on our strengths rather than our weaknesses.

Research has already identified considerable successes in using positive psychology with diverse populations in various situations, including the workplace, education, and healthcare.

The potential of this relatively recent approach to understanding and improving the human condition is considerable. By following the links within the article, it is possible to explore in depth the vast body of research and literature on positive psychology and pick up many of the powerful techniques, skills, and tools for use in your own or your clients’ lives.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free .

• Aknin, L. B., Norton, M. I., & Dunn, E. W. (2009) From wealth to well-being? Money matters, but less than people think. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4, 523–527.
• Attridge, M. (2008).  A quiet crisis: The business case for managing employee mental health . Human Solutions.
• Bakker, A. B., Demerouti, E., & Sanz-Vergel, A. I. (2014). Burnout and work engagement: The JD–R approach.  Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior ,  1 (1), 389–411.
• Baumeister, R. F., Vohs, K. D., Aaker, J., & Garbinsky, E. N. (2012). Some key differences between a happy life and a meaningful life.  Journal of Positive Psychology, 8, 505–516.
• Boniwell, I., & Tunariu, A. D. (2019). Positive psychology: Theory, research and applications . Open University Press.
• Castka, P., Bamber, C. J., Sharp, J. M., & Belohoubek, P. (2001). Factors affecting successful implementation of high performance teams.  Team Performance Management: An International Journal ,  7 (7–8), 123–134.
• Conoley, C. W., & Conoley, J. C. (2009). Positive psychology and family therapy: Creative techniques and practical tools for guiding change and enhancing growth . Wiley.
• Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2016). Flow and the foundations of positive psychology: The collected works of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi . Springer.
• Driver, M. (2011). Coaching positively: Lessons for coaches from positive psychology . Open University Press.
• Hartmann, S., Weiss, M., Newman, A., & Hoegl, M. (2020). Resilience in the workplace: A multilevel review and synthesis.  Applied Psychology ,  69 (3), 913–959.
• Langford, C. P. H., Bowsher, J., Maloney, J. P., & Lillis, P. P. (1997). Social support: A conceptual analysis.  Journal of Advanced Nursing ,  25 (1), 95–100.
• Lomas, T., Hefferon, K., & Ivtzan, I. (2014). Applied positive psychology: Integrated positive practice . Sage.
• Magyar-Moe, J. L. (2009). Therapist’s guide to positive psychological interventions . Academic Press.
• Miglianico, M., Dubreuil, P., Miquelon, P., Bakker, A. B., & Martin-Krumm, C. (2020). Strength use in the workplace: A literature review.  Journal of Happiness Studies ,  21 (2), 737–764.
• Neenan, M. (2018). Developing resilience: A cognitive-behavioural approach . Routledge.
• Niemiec, R. M. (2018). Character strengths interventions: A field guide for practitioners . Hogrefe.
• Rath, T. (2017). Strengths based leadership: Great leaders, teams, and why people follow . Gallup Press.
• Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2018). Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness . Guilford Press.
• Seligman, M. E. (2011). Authentic happiness . Random House Australia.
• Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, S. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions.  American Psychologist, 60 , 410–421.
• Shapiro, S. L. (2020).  Rewire your mind: Discover the science + practice of mindfulness . Aster.
• Snyder, C. R. (2021). The Oxford handbook of positive psychology . Oxford University Press.
• Spector, P. E. (1986). Perceived control by employees: A meta-analysis of studies concerning autonomy and participation at work.  Human Relations ,  39 (11), 1005–1016.
• Tomasulo, D. (2020). Learned hopefulness: The power of positivity to overcome depression . New Harbinger.
• Wright, T. A., & Cropanzano, R. (2007). The happy/productive worker thesis revisited.  Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management ,  26 , 269–307.

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50+ Research Topics for Psychology Papers

How to Find Psychology Research Topics for Your Student Paper

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

• Specific Branches of Psychology
• Topics Involving a Disorder or Type of Therapy
• Human Cognition
• Human Development
• Critique of Publications
• Famous Experiments
• Historical Figures
• Specific Careers
• Case Studies
• Literature Reviews
• Your Own Study/Experiment

Are you searching for a great topic for your psychology paper ? Sometimes it seems like coming up with topics of psychology research is more challenging than the actual research and writing. Fortunately, there are plenty of great places to find inspiration and the following list contains just a few ideas to help get you started.

Finding a solid topic is one of the most important steps when writing any type of paper. It can be particularly important when you are writing a psychology research paper or essay. Psychology is such a broad topic, so you want to find a topic that allows you to adequately cover the subject without becoming overwhelmed with information.

I can always tell when a student really cares about the topic they chose; it comes through in the writing. My advice is to choose a topic that genuinely interests you, so you’ll be more motivated to do thorough research.

In some cases, such as in a general psychology class, you might have the option to select any topic from within psychology's broad reach. Other instances, such as in an  abnormal psychology  course, might require you to write your paper on a specific subject such as a psychological disorder.

As you begin your search for a topic for your psychology paper, it is first important to consider the guidelines established by your instructor.

Research Topics Within Specific Branches of Psychology

The key to selecting a good topic for your psychology paper is to select something that is narrow enough to allow you to really focus on the subject, but not so narrow that it is difficult to find sources or information to write about.

One approach is to narrow your focus down to a subject within a specific branch of psychology. For example, you might start by deciding that you want to write a paper on some sort of social psychology topic. Next, you might narrow your focus down to how persuasion can be used to influence behavior .

Other social psychology topics you might consider include:

• Prejudice and discrimination (i.e., homophobia, sexism, racism)
• Social cognition
• Person perception
• Social control and cults
• Persuasion, propaganda, and marketing
• Attraction, romance, and love
• Nonverbal communication
• Prosocial behavior

Psychology Research Topics Involving a Disorder or Type of Therapy

Exploring a psychological disorder or a specific treatment modality can also be a good topic for a psychology paper. Some potential abnormal psychology topics include specific psychological disorders or particular treatment modalities, including:

• Eating disorders
• Borderline personality disorder
• Seasonal affective disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Profile a  type of therapy  (i.e., cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, psychoanalytic therapy)

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Human Cognition

Some of the possible topics you might explore in this area include thinking, language, intelligence, and decision-making. Other ideas might include:

• False memories
• Speech disorders
• Problem-solving

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Human Development

In this area, you might opt to focus on issues pertinent to  early childhood  such as language development, social learning, or childhood attachment or you might instead opt to concentrate on issues that affect older adults such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

Some other topics you might consider include:

• Language acquisition
• Media violence and children
• Learning disabilities
• Gender roles
• Child abuse
• Prenatal development
• Parenting styles
• Aspects of the aging process

Do a Critique of Publications Involving Psychology Research Topics

One option is to consider writing a critique paper of a published psychology book or academic journal article. For example, you might write a critical analysis of Sigmund Freud's Interpretation of Dreams or you might evaluate a more recent book such as Philip Zimbardo's  The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil .

Professional and academic journals are also great places to find materials for a critique paper. Browse through the collection at your university library to find titles devoted to the subject that you are most interested in, then look through recent articles until you find one that grabs your attention.

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Famous Experiments

There have been many fascinating and groundbreaking experiments throughout the history of psychology, providing ample material for students looking for an interesting term paper topic. In your paper, you might choose to summarize the experiment, analyze the ethics of the research, or evaluate the implications of the study. Possible experiments that you might consider include:

• The Milgram Obedience Experiment
• The Stanford Prison Experiment
• The Little Albert Experiment
• Pavlov's Conditioning Experiments
• The Asch Conformity Experiment
• Harlow's Rhesus Monkey Experiments

Topics of Psychology Research About Historical Figures

One of the simplest ways to find a great topic is to choose an interesting person in the  history of psychology  and write a paper about them. Your paper might focus on many different elements of the individual's life, such as their biography, professional history, theories, or influence on psychology.

While this type of paper may be historical in nature, there is no need for this assignment to be dry or boring. Psychology is full of fascinating figures rife with intriguing stories and anecdotes. Consider such famous individuals as Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner, Harry Harlow, or one of the many other  eminent psychologists .

Psychology Research Topics About a Specific Career

​Another possible topic, depending on the course in which you are enrolled, is to write about specific career paths within the  field of psychology . This type of paper is especially appropriate if you are exploring different subtopics or considering which area interests you the most.

In your paper, you might opt to explore the typical duties of a psychologist, how much people working in these fields typically earn, and the different employment options that are available.

Topics of Psychology Research Involving Case Studies

One potentially interesting idea is to write a  psychology case study  of a particular individual or group of people. In this type of paper, you will provide an in-depth analysis of your subject, including a thorough biography.

Generally, you will also assess the person, often using a major psychological theory such as  Piaget's stages of cognitive development  or  Erikson's eight-stage theory of human development . It is also important to note that your paper doesn't necessarily have to be about someone you know personally.

In fact, many professors encourage students to write case studies on historical figures or fictional characters from books, television programs, or films.

Psychology Research Topics Involving Literature Reviews

Another possibility that would work well for a number of psychology courses is to do a literature review of a specific topic within psychology. A literature review involves finding a variety of sources on a particular subject, then summarizing and reporting on what these sources have to say about the topic.

Literature reviews are generally found in the  introduction  of journal articles and other  psychology papers , but this type of analysis also works well for a full-scale psychology term paper.

Topics of Psychology Research Based on Your Own Study or Experiment

Many psychology courses require students to design an actual psychological study or perform some type of experiment. In some cases, students simply devise the study and then imagine the possible results that might occur. In other situations, you may actually have the opportunity to collect data, analyze your findings, and write up your results.

Finding a topic for your study can be difficult, but there are plenty of great ways to come up with intriguing ideas. Start by considering your own interests as well as subjects you have studied in the past.

Online sources, newspaper articles, books , journal articles, and even your own class textbook are all great places to start searching for topics for your experiments and psychology term papers. Before you begin, learn more about  how to conduct a psychology experiment .

What This Means For You

After looking at this brief list of possible topics for psychology papers, it is easy to see that psychology is a very broad and diverse subject. While this variety makes it possible to find a topic that really catches your interest, it can sometimes make it very difficult for some students to select a good topic.

If you are still stumped by your assignment, ask your instructor for suggestions and consider a few from this list for inspiration.

• Hockenbury, SE & Nolan, SA. Psychology. New York: Worth Publishers; 2014.
• Santrock, JW. A Topical Approach to Lifespan Development. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2016.

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

This article is part of the research topic.

Delirium in Older Persons

The 4AT scale for rapid detection of delirium in emergency department triage Provisionally Accepted

• 1 University of Valencia, Spain

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

Aims: To assess the diagnostic accuracy and time impact of the 4AT scale in emergency department triage.Methods: A Prospective diagnostic accuracy study was carried out. People aged ≥ 65 years presenting to the emergency department from 1 November 2021 to 30 June 2022 were included. Nurses opportunistically screened eligible patients using the 4AT scale during triage according to the Manchester Triage System Francesc de Borja Hospital emergency department, Gandía (Spain). Accuracy was compared with medical diagnosis of delirium. Time (seconds) spent in triage with and without screening was assessed.Results: The study included 370 patients (55.1% men, mean age 81.8 years), of whom 58.4% (n=216) were screened. A final diagnosis of delirium was made in 41.4% of those screened. The most frequently used presentational flow charts and discriminators were 'behaving strangely' (15%) and 'rapid onset' (33.3%). The highest accuracy was obtained for a score of 3 points or more (sensitivity 85.1%; specificity 66.9%; positive predictive value 52.8%; negative predictive value 71.7%). No significant differences were found in the time spent in triage according to the performance of screening.Conclusions: A score of 3 points or more on the 4AT scale enables rapid detection of delirium in emergency department triage, without consuming more time than conventional triage.

Keywords: Delirium, Aged, Emergency service hospital, Triage, Data accuracy

Received: 28 Nov 2023; Accepted: 02 May 2024.

Copyright: © 2024 Soler-Sanchis, Martínez-Arnau, Sánchez-Frutos and Pérez-Ros. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: PhD. Francisco Miguel Martínez-Arnau, University of Valencia, Valencia, 46010, Valencian Community, Spain

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