Applying Positive Psychology Principles in the Workplace

Introduction

Today, the combination of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic and a presidential election of unprecedented contentiousness has resulted in a nation of anxious and concerned citizens who are uncertain about their future and the fate of the nation. Against this backdrop, identifying strategies for improving personal well-being and mental health represents a timely and valuable enterprise. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the major principles and concepts of positive psychology, an explanation of why they are important, and a description of the changes intended for personal and professional life based on what was learned. In addition, the paper evaluates the research to date in support of the key tenets of positive psychology and presents a summary of findings concerning how these lessons will be applied in the future.

The original major principles and concepts of positive psychology were introduced in 1998 by Martin Seligman when, in his capacity as president of the American Psychological Association, he selected it as the topic for his annual address. The term itself, however, is credited to Maslow and his theory of the hierarchy of needs described in his seminal 1954 text, Motivation and Personality (Park & Peterson, 2008). The field was subsequently refined by Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi in 2000, based on the argument that conventional psychological approaches used since the second half of the 20th century were limited in scope because they relied on a medically oriented model that failed to take into account the brighter aspects of the human condition — such as individual strengths and positive emotions that help humans thrive (Shrestha, 2019).

Major Principles and Concepts of Positive Psychology

The major principles and concepts of positive psychology include the notion that: (1) it is possible to attain otherwise-elusive happiness by building up a reserve of well-being and satisfaction with life (Nathawat, 2017); (2) it is more productive to consider what is right with people rather than what is wrong with them (Sutton, 2007); (3) helping people attain happiness and fulfillment requires more than conventional psychological approaches can provide (Park & Peterson, 2008); (4) positive psychology intends to complement business-as-usual psychology, not replace it, by expanding the topics of legitimate study to yield "a full and balanced depiction of human thriving and flourishing" (Park & Peterson, 2008, p. 88); and (5) human goodness and excellence are as authentic as disease, disorder, and distress and therefore deserve equal attention from psychologists and human service providers (Park & Peterson, 2008, p. 89).

In response to the limitations of conventional psychology and the need for alternative approaches, Seligman and his associates (2005) defined positive psychology at three core levels: (1) the subjective level, (2) the individual level, and (3) the societal level:

Subjective level: The field of positive psychology at the subjective level is about valued subjective experiences — well-being, contentment, and satisfaction (in the past); hope and optimism (for the future); and flow and happiness (in the present).

Individual level: This level is about positive individual traits: the capacity for love and vocation, courage, interpersonal skill, aesthetic sensibility, perseverance, forgiveness, originality, future-mindedness, spirituality, high talent, and wisdom.

Societal level: This level concerns the civic virtues and institutions that move individuals toward better citizenship: responsibility, nurturance, altruism, civility, moderation, tolerance, and work ethic (Mukund & Singh, 2015, p. 198).

Since its introduction, the field of positive psychology has made two fundamental contributions: (1) providing an umbrella term for what had been isolated lines of theory and research, and (2) making the self-conscious argument that what makes life worth living deserves its own field of inquiry within psychology (Park & Peterson, 2008, p. 86). These are important issues at any point in time, but especially during the existential threats facing humankind today.

Changes in Emotional and Cognitive States

The past several months have been challenging by any measure, and distinct changes in emotional states have emerged in response to the increasingly threatening COVID-19 pandemic as well as the charged and divisive politics inflaming passions across the country — notwithstanding what was learned about the importance and value of maintaining a positive outlook in order to promote better health and a sense of well-being. Based on recent media coverage and the scholarly literature, however, these types of responses are natural and are virtually ubiquitous to some degree among the entire American population. That fact is not necessarily encouraging, but it does help to dispel the feeling of being alone in one's anxiety.

On the other hand, gaining an understanding of the main principles and concepts of positive psychology has produced a more acute awareness of cognitive states as the events of the day unfold, and this enhanced awareness has facilitated the ability to process a deluge of negative news in healthier ways. For example, notwithstanding the mounting death toll and the fact that the COVID-19 virus has already infected many friends and several members of my immediate family, an effective vaccine is on the way, and the safety protocols recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have provided meaningful protection. This mental reframing shifted the original mindset — one of impending doom at the pandemic's onset — to one of hopeful outlook for the future.

Research Supporting Prosocial Behaviors and PERMA

Employee morale and job satisfaction in any workplace can suffer from poor management, but a relentless onslaught of bad news can also have a profoundly severe impact on workplace productivity. While it would be disingenuous to maintain an outlook that "everything's great" at such a time, it is appropriate to promote prosocial behaviors by encouraging others to count their blessings and appreciate the good things in their lives that many people lack. This application of positive psychological information is congruent with the guidance provided by Tweed and Bhatt (2011), who note that "positive psychologists can study the relation between some of the discipline's core dimensions such as gratitude, forgiveness, sense of meaning, altruism (or at least apparent altruism), prudence, and humility" (p. 112). Not only are these important behaviors for workplace productivity, they also have a concomitant positive effect on individual practitioners.

Although additional research in this area is needed, the studies to date confirm that the application of positive psychology produces a number of potentially important outcomes that support its viability and relevance. According to Park and Peterson (2008), "Although specific definitions of happiness, health, and good character may vary across time, place, and culture, their importance for personal as well as societal well-being cannot be contested" (p. 87). It is essential to note that demonstrating and promoting prosocial behaviors involves more than simply "being happy." Rather, it extends to include the five quantifiable metrics most recently developed by Seligman (2011) using the acronym PERMA, as described below.

Positive Emotion: For us to experience well-being, we need positive emotion in our lives. Any positive emotion — such as peace, gratitude, satisfaction, pleasure, inspiration, hope, curiosity, or love — falls into this category. The message is that it is important to enjoy oneself in the here and now, as long as the other elements of PERMA are also in place.

Engagement: When we are truly engaged in a situation, task, or project, we experience a state of flow: time seems to stop, we lose our sense of self, and we concentrate intensely on the present. The more we experience this type of engagement, the more likely we are to experience well-being. One can preferentially draw on one's highest strengths to perform and engage in tasks that feel intrinsically rewarding.

Relationships: As humans, we are social beings, and good relationships are core to our well-being. Time and again, research shows that people who have meaningful, positive relationships with others are happier than those who do not.

Meaning: Meaning comes from belonging to and serving a cause bigger than ourselves.

Accomplishment/Achievement: This element means striving to better ourselves in some way, whether we are seeking to master a skill, achieve a valuable goal, or succeed in some competitive endeavor.

Source: Adapted from Mukund & Singh, 2015, p. 199

Conclusion

The world has always been a troubled place for humankind, and the events of the early 21st century and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic indicate that nothing has fundamentally changed. It is especially challenging to maintain a bright outlook about the future when thousands of people are dying every day from an insidious disease while political leaders appear overwhelmed. Fortunately, the research is consistent in showing that the main principles and concepts of positive psychology can be applied to both personal and professional life in ways that promote mental and physical health — an outcome that is virtually priceless during this period in human history. In the final analysis, it is reasonable to conclude that the field of positive psychology will continue to increase in popularity as more practitioners and health care consumers recognize the importance of its underlying principles.