Now in its 10th year, I’m happy to offer you the best of the best positive psychology movies from the past year. I comb through popular, independent, and obscure films to select important films across some of the most important positive psychology themes.
Ryan Niemiec
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AllMovieMovie Review and Event ReviewPositive agingRelationshipsStrengths
The Positive Psychology Movie Awards of 2017
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecThe Positive Psychology News Movie Award series is now in its 9th year of providing the best of the best positive psychology movies. I comb through popular, independent, and obscure films from the previous year in order to share with you these awards across positive psychology themes.
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AllMovieMovie Review and Event ReviewPositive FeelingsStrengths
The Positive Psychology Movie Awards for 2016
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecNow in its 8th year, I’m happy to share my observations of the best movies using the science of positive psychology as a lens. In other words, if researchers/practitioners in positive psychology were the ones to give out Oscars for the best films, this is what they might say.
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AllMovieMovie Review and Event ReviewPositive EmotionStrengths
The Positive Psychology Movie Awards for 2015: Just in Time for the Oscars
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecGet ready for the Academy Awards. The Positive Psychology Movie Awards are coming out before the Oscars this year. A PPND tradition since 2009, these awards go to films that offer some of the best portrayals of key themes in positive psychology. Here are the winners.
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AllMovieSavoring / In-the-MomentStrengths
Positive Psychology Movie Awards for 2014
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecGet your Netflix queue ready. Fire up the On-Demand services of your cable TV. Because it’s time for an annual PPND tradition since 2009, the positive psychology movie awards! These awards go to films that offer some of the best portrayals of key themes in positive psychology. 2014 was a very strong year for positive psychology movies. Here are the winners:
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Signature Strengths: Translating Research into Practice
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecIn practice, people find it surprisingly challenging to come up with new ways to use their signature strengths. Perhaps that’s because we often use our signature strengths without much awareness. For example, have you paid much attention to your use of self-regulation as you brush your teeth? Your level of prudence or kindness while driving?
Here are three tips for using your signature strengths in mindful ways.
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What Do We Know about Signature Strengths?
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecIf you have only one question to ask someone about their character strengths, make it, “What strengths are most essential to who you are and define you as a person?
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AllMovieStrengths
Fifth Annual Positive Movie Awards: Recognizing 2013
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecPositive psychology films portray the human condition, which is not always pleasant and upbeat. Some positive psychology films are intentionally raw, dark, and emotionally riveting, while others are lighthearted and fun.
This is the fifth time that Ryan Niemiec has looked back at the movies from the previous year and awarded those that shine light on what is vulnerable, authentic, conflicted, and beautiful in the human condition.
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AllMovieStrengthsThree Branches
The Positive Psychology Movie Awards for 2012
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecI have several hopes in maintaining this annual PPND tradition of giving Positive Psychology Awards to movies made the previous year:
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AllMovieMovie Review and Event ReviewStrengths
The Positive Psychology Movie Awards of 2011: Character Strengths and Best Picture
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecPositive psychology movies teach us something about the human condition, help us face suffering, and shine a light on character strengths. Here I nominate movies for awards for exemplifying authenticity, teamwork, zest, strength paragons, having too much of a single strength, and having constellations of strengths. The article concludes with my nomination for Positive Psychology Best Picture of 2011.
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The Positive Psychology Oscars of 2011: Elements of Flourishing
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecPositive psychology movies are not only the lighthearted films that inspire and elevate us, but also the movies that teach us something about the human condition, help us face suffering, and shine a light on pain and tragedy. You’ll see a mixture of both types of films in my offering of the Positive Psychology Movie Awards for 2011. This is part 1. Come back tomorrow for the awards for character strengths—and the best picture award.
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The Positive Psychology Movie Awards for 2010
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecHave you seen any good movies lately? If not, you’re in luck! Announcing the second annual positive psychology movie awards! Here are 10 of the best positive psychology films of 2010. Whether or not they are snubbed by the actual Academy Awards ceremony, each of these films has its merits from a specific positive psychology lens and is worthy of your viewing time.
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Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman defined character strengths as the pathways to the virtues valued by moral philosophers and religious thinkers over time. Character strengths are manifested in our thoughts, our emotions, and our behavior. Building from this structure, here are ten principles emerging from the science of character.
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AllAweSavoring / In-the-MomentStrengths_1 Positive Experiences
Positive Psychology Movie Awards for 2009: Countdown
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecThe countdown of the top 10 positive psychology films of 2009 is about to begin. These are films that both appeal to a wide audience and have important messages. Many…
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AllAweMindfulnessPathway 3 "Meaning"Strengths
Positive Psychology Movie Awards for 2009: Honorable Mention
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecIs there any substance and meaning behind the choice of who wins an Academy Award? In an analysis of 1,132 films, Simonton found that the Oscars do matter; they provide…
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AllStrengths
Reflections on the Humanity of It All: The VIA Interviews, Part III
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecAs a psychologist, I observe people. As I interviewed 16 positive psychology leaders under a watchful video crew, I observed my own processes as well as the men and women…
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AllPositive FeelingsStrengths_1 Positive Experiences
Intersections and Integrations: The VIA Interviews, Part II
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecIn Part 1, I talked about the leaders’ signature strengths. Today, I’ll focus on insights from leaders in our field about how the VIA Classification intersects with Martin Seligman’s original…
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AllStrengths
Love of Learning and the Engaged Life: The VIA Interviews, Part I
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecAt the International Positive Psychology Association’s charter conference, I had the opportunity to simultaneously experience pleasure, engagement, and meaning when I sat down with 16 of the leading thought leaders,…
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AllCommunicationHealthPathway 3 "Meaning"Positive Feelings
The Visitor: The “Positive Snowball” Effect
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecIf Walter Vale – the lonely, isolated professor in The Visitor – walked into my office… he could be described as an automaton, consuming and floating along the surface of life. Walter eats alone, drinks wine alone every night, and is disengaged at work meetings. The Visitor has been selected for the Sundance film festival, the Toronto film festival, and others. Psychologist Corey Keyes of Emory University writes about social well-being as critical in a healthy adjustment to life. … Walter is not socially healthy initially. But he changes. Does he comes alive? […]
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AllAweMindfulnessPathway 3 "Meaning"Spirituality_1 Positive Experiences
The Sacred: Spirituality and Movies
by Ryan Niemiecby Ryan NiemiecMovies can be an instrument of positive psychology. In a manner different from other art forms, they teach, guide, and inspire the awareness of and expression of character strengths and virtues. Walt Disney said that movies find a way to touch the “unspoiled spot” within us. Ingmar Bergman noted that movies can reach the dark inner recesses of our souls. Movies help us, the viewers, to connect with “the sacred” that is within us.
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