America’s Dairy Industry may be pretty keen on questioning whether you’ve got your milk, but when it comes to Connecticut College’s Psychology Department, they want to know if you’ve ‘got happy.’
Led by clinical psychologist and professor of Psychology Jefferson Singer, some of the various aspects and dimensions of the up-and-coming field of “Positive Psychology” were discussed in the talk on November 11.
Singer began with a brief history of the field of positive psychology. “It’s very rare to be able to know the exact point at which a branch of psychology started, but with positive psychology, that’s the case.”
In the 1980s, Martin Seligman, a psychologist, gave lectures on problems related to learned helplessness, a technical term for a condition in which humans or animals are exposed to a particularly harmful or frustrating circumstance.
“Rather than attempt to make an effort, they choose to endure the pain,” resulting often from a perceived absence of control, Singer explained.
But after studying the detrimental effects associated with conditioning and learned helplessness, Seligman considered the idea of taking on an alternative view of the studies, and instead, researching some of the optimistic ways in which humans and animals can respond to difficult situations.
In one of Seligman’s lectures, audience member John Templeton, intrigued by the idea of taking on a positive outlook versus simply focusing on the negatives, asked whether much work had been done on this new concept. After Seligman dejectedly responded that he had only just begun his research, Templeton generously offered grant money towards the project “much like a blank check donor,” Singer explained.
“Since then, many anonymous donors have all contributed to the many clusters of positive psychology programs that are now operating around the world,” making its way into Introduction to Psychology textbook paragraphs along the way.
“These days, we tend to like to focus on the wrongs in psychology – aggression, depression passivity – things like that,” Singer mentioned. “But focusing on positives, it’s determining the aspects like virtues, pride and gratitude. What brings joy and meaning to life?”
Furthermore, what is the importance of positivity and its influence in psychology? To this question, Singer spoke of another psychologist, Barbara Frederickson, equally important in the area of positive psychology, primarily for her work on her “broaden-and-build theory”. This theory stresses the idea that positive emotions enable one to expand on aspects of his or her life, like knowledge or social relationships, “making one more able to build, and taking their work one step further,” quoted Singer.
Applying this theory to the typical college student, perhaps struggling with making ends meet, completing all of their work with efficacy and still staying upbeat and enjoying life, may seem like quite a challenge; therefore, Singer chose to focus on exactly how to address this concern.
“What would bring more positivity to our lives?” Singer asked, peering out among the audience of students. “I decided to make a list of things that, over the course of a week, I try to factor in to make sure that I stay ‘a most happy fella,’” a running joke in Singer’s family.
Singer then started listing the top seven qualities he tries to incorporate into his busy life, even after a days like this past Wednesday when he gave a three hour lecture, taught a ninety minute class, met with students for course registration and then gave a talk on the benefits of positive psychology.
“Number one is Relationships,” Singer spoke. “At my age, my priorities are my wife, my parents, my family – even my two cats! Those are the kinds of relationships in which I don’t feel good unless I’ve invested some time into them throughout the week. But what about for you college kids?”
To this one student raised her hand and commented, “I like to set aside time to have dinner with friends. No matter how busy I am, I make sure I make that one hour or so with friends meaningful.”
Singer then raised the idea of mindfulness, a concept whereby one stays in the present, capturing the moment.
“Now, I’m not too ancient not to know how big texting can be these days, but I do feel like it takes away from the quality of relationships,” Singer observed. “That’s perfect that you hold yourself to making time for your friends at dinner.”
“Point two,” Singer continued, narrating his points with chalk on the black board, “is almost opposite of Relationships: Creativity and Individuality. Now I’m going to tell you a bit of a ridiculous story.” Singer then recounted of his lifelong infatuation with the Dots gummy candy.
“One small way that I choose to be unique is that every time I go to a movie theater, I look for this candy. If the theater carries it, I praise them for doing so. If not though,” he paused, “I thoroughly question them.”
He defended this seemingly strange story by saying that even if the people find him crazy, it’s a small behavior that he can truly be unique and an individual.
“Really, guys,” he said, “some day, just go to class with a sock on your hand, and wait for people to ask why you’re wearing it. Have fun! Don’t allow the machine of society weigh you down.”
The third and fourth characteristics that Singer tried to include in every week are Exercise and Humor.
“They both serve as healthy buffers, improving strength, circulation… you know that feeling you get after laughing really hard for a few minutes?”
Singer brought in biological factors, noting that bodies were previously used for much more than they are these days – like fishing and hunting – all before computers factored so heavily into the average lifestyle. Singer then encouraged each student to try to incorporate some more exercise into their day, whether that means signing up for classes in South when living in North, or making an earnest effort to make it down to the beautifully refurbished fitness center.
Tasks five and six, Philanthropy and Gratitude are quite necessary, according to Singer, to truly get the most out of life. When it comes to giving and philanthropy, specifically, there seem to be holes in one’s life if giving is not an active behavior.
“As a clinical psychologist, I work with a lot of couples struggling to make their relationship work,” Singer said. “And it really is the case that the smallest, gentle acts of kindness make the biggest difference.”
He then recalled one couple who incorporated a “Fun Box” into their relationship, depositing small acts of kindness for the other to fulfill on the occasion to give and contribute to the relationship.
“Receiving, however, is likewise important,” he declared. “Gratitude, and asking yourself, ‘What do I have good?’ Not having H1N1 might be good, perhaps…” joked Singer.
Again, he noted the idea of mindfulness, and being sure to thank those around you whether doing so through letters, Twittering or anything that makes it easy yet still meaningful.
The last point Singer signified as being quite pertinent to his life, in terms of living a typical week to the fullest, are one’s sense of Virtues.
“Connecticut College has an honor code, and you can laugh at it if you’d like, because we all know that in the ‘real world,’ people cheat and cut corners to get ahead,” Singer recognized. “But I like to tell people about the ‘Pillow Test,’ which is basically that when you lie down to go to sleep and your head hits that pillow, will you be able to say, ‘I lived my life virtuously, and the best I could,’ and be able to fall asleep, or will you have to deal with knowing you’ve lied, or deceived?”
These, Singer reminded, are all concepts that heavily support the foundation of positive psychology, and have substantiated the field since its birth nearly twenty years ago.
After concluding with his own seven points, Singer asked if any students had any further ideas on possible contributions to the list.
One student suggested having a sense of Spontaneity, to which other students contributed their own stories of spontaneity, ranging from sky diving to skinny-dipping, to driving around with friends with no purpose at all.
Another student proposed Education and Learning, extending beyond the classroom learning, and challenging one’s self with a new word or crossword puzzle each day to make sure not to lose the innate love that should be found in learning.
