Comments on: Short-term Gain: Could You Please Pass the Blame? http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771 Positive Psychology News Daily - Daily boost of research-based happiness. Authored by University of Pennsylvania graduates of the Master of Applied Positive Psychology program (MAPP). Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:58:13 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Sherri Fisher http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771/comment-page-1#comment-116357 Sherri Fisher Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:57:21 +0000 http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771#comment-116357 Hi, Christine-- I think there is a big difference between blaming and reframing. "Not-me" is not the same as optimism. Optimism can be built, of course, by being more realistic about one's situations. On the other hand, if the belief is that rules do not apply to oneself--ever--(Cher believes all grades are negotiable and thus does not come to class prepared or complete assignments)then this is not using her strengths for good. Cher also believes that she should be making the world a better place through fashion and matchmaking. This may make her feel happy and fulfilled, but what about the people she is trying to "improve"? They may have strengths that she is overlooking. :-)Sherri Hi, Christine–
I think there is a big difference between blaming and reframing. “Not-me” is not the same as optimism.

Optimism can be built, of course, by being more realistic about one’s situations. On the other hand, if the belief is that rules do not apply to oneself–ever–(Cher believes all grades are negotiable and thus does not come to class prepared or complete assignments)then this is not using her strengths for good.

Cher also believes that she should be making the world a better place through fashion and matchmaking. This may make her feel happy and fulfilled, but what about the people she is trying to “improve”? They may have strengths that she is overlooking.

:-) Sherri

]]> By: Christine Duvivier http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771/comment-page-1#comment-112339 Christine Duvivier Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:22:05 +0000 http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771#comment-112339 Sherri, I love the quote on tardiness from Clueless! Thanks so much for reminding me of it. While I agree with you that taking no responsibility is not a healthy response, I think it adds to optimism when she looks for other factors that contributed to her situation. Do you see it that way? Best, Christine Christine Duvivier www.positiveleaders.com Sherri, I love the quote on tardiness from Clueless! Thanks so much for reminding me of it.
While I agree with you that taking no responsibility is not a healthy response, I think it adds to optimism when she looks for other factors that contributed to her situation. Do you see it that way?
Best,
Christine

Christine Duvivier
http://www.positiveleaders.com

]]> By: Sherri Fisher http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771/comment-page-1#comment-111875 Sherri Fisher Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:42:56 +0000 http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771#comment-111875 Hi, Wayne- I do like and use the cocktail approach, as you call it. The idea that interventions can be individualized makes it tough to empirically test them, but the A in MAPP is applied--we are not MEPP. In the end research that works in a lab but not in the field has not passed the application test, at least not yet. Meanwhile people and life go on, so "experimenting" with research findings is necessary. :-)Sherri Hi, Wayne-
I do like and use the cocktail approach, as you call it. The idea that interventions can be individualized makes it tough to empirically test them, but the A in MAPP is applied–we are not MEPP. In the end research that works in a lab but not in the field has not passed the application test, at least not yet. Meanwhile people and life go on, so “experimenting” with research findings is necessary.

:-) Sherri

]]> By: Sherri Fisher http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771/comment-page-1#comment-111853 Sherri Fisher Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:37:04 +0000 http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771#comment-111853 Hi, Kirsten-- That's an interesting perspective on Cher. Her character is a close adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma, who took it upon herself to be matchmaker and general do-gooder to her community but failed to realize (hence the title of the movie) that she was often clueless about just how much of that was actually good for others. I'm not sure that is the same as optimism, though she is surely not a pessimist! :-) Sherri Hi, Kirsten–
That’s an interesting perspective on Cher. Her character is a close adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma, who took it upon herself to be matchmaker and general do-gooder to her community but failed to realize (hence the title of the movie) that she was often clueless about just how much of that was actually good for others. I’m not sure that is the same as optimism, though she is surely not a pessimist!

:-) Sherri

]]> By: Editor S.M. http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771/comment-page-1#comment-109315 Editor S.M. Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:53:41 +0000 http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771#comment-109315 testing a comment again testing a comment again

]]> By: WJ http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771/comment-page-1#comment-109191 WJ Sun, 05 Apr 2009 20:15:56 +0000 http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771#comment-109191 Sherri, One of the advantages of mindfulness is that blame really becomes redundant - they are just thoughts that you explore and learn from. The irony is that reserach suggests that using our "inner lawyer" - ie challenging and reframing reduces our levels of mindfulness. I also agree with your coacktail approach. I think combining mindfulness (which I don't think is covered in the Penn program) with other interventions makes them more powerful. Mindfulness seems to make everything else that much easier. For an exmaple see Kirsten Cronlunds article on how mindfulness makes it easier to re-appraise http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/kirsten-cronlund/200903151652 - a fundamental resilience skill Sherri, One of the advantages of mindfulness is that blame really becomes redundant – they are just thoughts that you explore and learn from.

The irony is that reserach suggests that using our “inner lawyer” – ie challenging and reframing reduces our levels of mindfulness.

I also agree with your coacktail approach. I think combining mindfulness (which I don’t think is covered in the Penn program) with other interventions makes them more powerful.

Mindfulness seems to make everything else that much easier. For an exmaple see Kirsten Cronlunds article on how mindfulness makes it easier to re-appraise http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/kirsten-cronlund/200903151652 – a fundamental resilience skill

]]> By: Kirsten Cronlund http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771/comment-page-1#comment-109020 Kirsten Cronlund Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:21:56 +0000 http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771#comment-109020 Hi Sherri, I LOVE the movie Clueless. And I didn't really think about why until I read your article. While I totally get your point about blame - and I do think we all do better when we take personal responsibility for our own actions, regardless of external circumstances - there is something so incredibly optimistic about the main character in Clueless, Cher. Yes, she's shifting blame, but she looks at the world as a place where things will inevitably work out, and, perhaps more to the point, she is kind and giving. I think Cher embodies perhaps the best of optimism. She does not jump to self-blame as much as she also doesn't put blame on others. Just a thought... Thanks for inspiring it. I think I'll watch Clueless again soon. Kirsten Hi Sherri,

I LOVE the movie Clueless. And I didn’t really think about why until I read your article. While I totally get your point about blame – and I do think we all do better when we take personal responsibility for our own actions, regardless of external circumstances – there is something so incredibly optimistic about the main character in Clueless, Cher. Yes, she’s shifting blame, but she looks at the world as a place where things will inevitably work out, and, perhaps more to the point, she is kind and giving. I think Cher embodies perhaps the best of optimism. She does not jump to self-blame as much as she also doesn’t put blame on others. Just a thought… Thanks for inspiring it. I think I’ll watch Clueless again soon.

Kirsten

]]> By: Editor S.M. http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771/comment-page-1#comment-108960 Editor S.M. Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:02:46 +0000 http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771#comment-108960 Hi all, we're having some issues with the error-message you get when you submit a comment... We are working on fixing this... Your comment still goes through!! You just get this strange message. I'll post when this is fixed. (testing a comment.) Hi all, we’re having some issues with the error-message you get when you submit a comment… We are working on fixing this…
Your comment still goes through!! You just get this strange message.
I’ll post when this is fixed.

(testing a comment.)

]]> By: Senia Maymin http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771/comment-page-1#comment-108950 Senia Maymin Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:59:29 +0000 http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/sherri-fisher/200904051771#comment-108950 Sherri, Really really glad you're addressing a topic that we never think about much consciously, but once you point it out, YES, it's clear to observe that this happens all the time! Best, Senia Sherri,

Really really glad you’re addressing a topic that we never think about much consciously, but once you point it out, YES, it’s clear to observe that this happens all the time!

Best,
Senia

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