Global Policies

If the name Clifton rings a bell, it should. For three generations starting with Donald Clifton, this remarkable American family has been synonymous with surveys and the systematic study of…

This issue of MAPP Magazine deals with the theme of Civic Engagement: how volunteering to help run elections can increase well-being; how positive psychology can be applied to approach discussions with adherents of extremist groups so that interventions are not perceived as personal attacks; and how members of a community can use strengths to make connections and facilitate curious conversations among those with opposing political views.

August 31 is the launch date for the new book, The Business of Race: How to Create and Sustain an Antiracist Workplace and Why It’s Actually Good for Business. At first blush, the title says it all: who the book is for, why it matters, and what we can aspire to achieve. But as a curious person and a long -time friend of Margaret Greenberg, I wanted to know more.

Sharing memories of Ed Diener, a positive psychology pioneer whose work has touched millions. We invite you to share your pictures and memories in the comments.

What if there is a false dichotomy between optimism and pessimism?  Could the same individual filter with the caution of the pessimist and choose the hope and positive outcomes of the optimist?

In 2019, Henry Edwards published The Daily Better: 365 Reasons for Optimism. I interviewed him on December 12 about why he wrote the book. I learned that he personally changed his world view to be more open and hopeful and that he hopes his book will help others do the same.

Dr. Diener, what are you working on now? What are the newest developments in research on happiness?

On November 11, 2018, I had the privilege of interviewing Ed Diener about well-being and public policy. Dr. Diener is a leading researcher on happiness, the correlates of well-being, and well-being measurement.

Do you keep up with the news? If you’re like me, you find that your well-being takes a nosedive after a dose of the news. Nonetheless, I don’t think we should avoid it. A strong democracy requires us to be informed citizens. That’s what led me to study the question: What can we do to keep informed without a major cost to our well-being?

Interested in positive psychology? Join us for the 9th European Conference on Positive Psychology (ECPP) and preconference meetings. The conference will take place in Budapest, Hungary, from June 26 through June 30. Luminaries in the field will explore the conference theme, “Positive psychology for a flourishing Europe in times of transition.”

Kegan’s 5th order of consciousness involves being able to hold onto multiple perspectives at the same time, bound together by common questions, not letting ourselves be not thrown apart in the search for common answers. Given the challenges we face in the world, the timing couldn’t be more right.

What should you write in an email if you want a response within minutes?

Why is it a good strategy to get your negotiation counterpart to say “No”?

The United Nations has 17 sustainable development goals that create a broad vision of a positive future. In service of these goals, Kunal Sood intends to have a positive effect on the lives of a billion people by combining technology and entrepreneurship. Whether or not you think as big as Kunal does, there are things you can do on a daily basis to move us toward a positive future.

The connection between positive psychology (for personal happiness) and the happiness movement (for an economy and society based on well-being, sustainability and happiness for all beings) seems simple and obvious. In reality it isn’t.

It is unknown if it will take five, ten, or more years to bring Bhutan out of poverty and increase the country’s Gross National Happiness. Policy makers cannot look to another nation for examples of what to do or what not to do for the Gross National Happiness of its nation. There are no known solutions. This is one of the features of an irresolvable dilemma. Yet the future of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness depends on whether policy makers in Bhutan can live with the irresolvable dilemma of Gross National Happiness.

To feel truly happy, loving, joyous, confident, peaceful, grateful, loving,and all the other positive feelings, you have to allow yourself to feel the negative feelings (within a healthy range). I call this the sad and happy irresolvable dilemma. From my observation, this is a necessary lesson to get the full benefit from all other happiness lessons.

If someone told you that the question about whether happiness could be measured was settled and the issue at hand is how to use happiness data, would you believe it? Most would say no, but a growing number of psychologists, economists, community activists, and policy makers are proving that happiness is quantifiable and that the data is useful.

Technology isn’t simply a conduit for spreading positive psychology. It will be one force that reshapes and augments our very notions of human experience and of well-being itself. We cannot afford to be technological bystanders if we want to bring about Seligman’s aim that 51% of the human population flourishes by 2051.

Tim Kasser made the point that materialism and well-being tend to be related to each other like two riders on a seesaw. When one goes up, the other goes down. This has implications for both individuals and society.

This is a ground-breaking volume of positive psychology research, and the breadth of perspectives is unparalleled. Not only are new and more specialized topics included, but even familiar topics are illustrated with up-to-date research, case studies, and examples. Clearly this is what positive psychology students and teachers need to progress the science, do high quality research, and put it out into the public domain.