1. What Makes People Happy An Introduction to Positive Psychology and its application within the work setting
Shane Martin,
Psychologist
Moodwatchers
Tel Mob:
(c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

2. One track mind? Psychology consumed with mental illness
Describing and measuring depression, schizophrenia, addiction etc.
Explanations for ‘disorders’ across the lifespan
Genetics, biochemistry, psychological causes
Emphasis on relieving the ‘pain’
(c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

3. Progress at a price?
Trying to relieve the states that makes life miserable instead of building the states that makes life worth living
A shift from what is wrong to what is right (and fundamentally why it is right)
From ‘fire-brigade’ psychology to ‘fire-proofing’ psychology
Surviving crisis: how? Why?
Strengths as well as weaknesses
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4. Global Gallop Poll
Which would help you be more successful in your life - knowing what your weaknesses are and attempting to improve on them or knowing your strengths and building on them?
41% US, 38% UK, 24% Japan focused on weaknesses. No country focused on strengths.
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5. How improved/better are you?
From 2+ to 7+
From -5 to -2
How improved/better are you?
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6. New research into happiness shows that it can be lastingly increased
Time has arrived for a science that seeks to understand positive emotion and strengths and offer us guideposts for the ‘good life’
New research into happiness shows that it can be lastingly increased
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7. Authentic Happiness?
Comes from identifying and cultivating your most fundamental strengths and using them everyday in work, love, play, parenting etc
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8. 3 Pillars of Positive Psychology
STUDY OF POSITIVE EMOTION
STUDY OF POSITIVE TRAITS - strengths, virtues, abilities (intelligence, athleticism)
STUDY OF POSITIVE INSTITUTIONS
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9. Therapy?
FROM THE DISEASE MODEL - helping people who present themselves for treatment once the problems have become unbearable
Therapy usually too late - better to act when well, prevention, self-empowerment, education etc
Prevention is massively effective
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10. Are there psychological interventions in youth that will prevent depression, schizophrenia and substance abuse in adulthood?
YES
Seligman: Teaching 10 year olds the skills of optimistic thinking and actions cuts their rates of depression in half in puberty
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11. Building strengths as a buffer Disease model focuses on deficits
Prevention of mental illness by recognising and nurturing a set of strengths, competencies and virtues in young people such as future-mindedness, hope, faith, work ethic etc.
Building strengths as a buffer
Disease model focuses on deficits
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12. Positive Psychology The Study of Happiness
When people are happy they are also mentally healthy
Work: Are you happy in your job?
Happier people are markedly more satisfied in their jobs than less happy people
Research shows that happiness actually causes more productivity and higher incomes
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13. Happier people went on to get better evaluations and higher pay
One study (TOYOTA) 275 employees measured their positive emotion and followed their job performance over next 18 months.
Happier people went on to get better evaluations and higher pay
Happy people endure pain better and take more health and safety precaution when threatened
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14. Genetics?
Approximately 50% of all personality traits are attributed to genetic inheritances
But high hereditary link does not determine how unchangeable a trait is
State of Drift
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15. SIGNATURE STRENGTHS
Strengths ( integrity, valor, originality etc.) and talents (perfect pitch, facial beauty etc.) not to be confused with each other
Strengths are moral traits
Talents are non-moral
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16. Talents or Strengths?
Talents tend not to be as ‘buildable’ as strengths
Strengths can be built
Talents more innate - you either have them or not
Talents are relatively automatic (It’s C sharp v act of will (too much change in shop)
Talents involve choice - whether to develop it or not, whether to use it or not
Jill was so smart. She wasted her intelligence
Jill was so kind. She wasted her kindness.
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17. Strengths can be acquired….
Time
Self-discovery and Self-potential
Determination
But talents cannot be acquired merely by an act of will
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18. The Signature Strengths
WISDOM
COURAGE
HUMANITY
JUSTICE
TEMPERANCE
TRANSCEDENCE
Several distinct routes to each of the six and these are measurable and acquirable strengths
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19. Strength
Not once off kindness in one setting but seen across different situations and consistently over time
Ubiquitous - across culture
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20. WISDOM Curiosity / interest in the world Love of learning
Judgment / critical thinking / open-mindedness
Ingenuity /originality / practical intelligence /street smart
Social Intelligence / personal intelligence / emotional intelligence
Perspective
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21. COURAGE Valor and bravery Perseverance industry/ diligence
Integrity / genuineness / honesty
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22. HUMANITY Kindness / generosity Loving Allowing oneself to be loved
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23. JUSTICE Citizenship / Duty / Teamwork / Loyalty Fairness and Equity
Leadership
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24. TEMPERANCE Self-control and discipline Prudence / discretion / caution
Humility and modesty
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25. TRANSCEDENCE Appreciation of beauty and excellence Gratitude
Hope, optimism, future mindedness
Spirituality, sense of purpose, faith, religiousness
Forgiveness and mercy
Playfulness and humour
Zest, passion and enthusiasm
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26. Work? Does my work have to be this unsatisfying?
What can I do about it?
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27. Positive Psychology Work can be more satisfying
Using your signature strengths at work more often
Re-crafting your job to make it more satisfying
Job Coaches - implications for placing clients in ‘work’ and in measuring clients’ satisfaction within work
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28. Strengths-based development Transforming a ‘token’ job to a ‘calling’
To maximise job satisfaction we need to use our signature strengths and develop them more
Strengths-based development
Transforming a ‘token’ job to a ‘calling’
‘Calling’ is the most satisfying form of work because it is done for its own sake rather than for the material benefits
Companies that promote this state will overtake companies that rely solely on monetary reward
(c) moodwatchers Shane Martin

29. 3 Kinds of Work Orientation
Job: for the pay cheque, no other rewards sought, means to an end
Career: deeper personal involvement, achievement marked through money/advancement / promotion brings more prestige, power, money (When opportunities close we start looking elsewhere)
Calling: Passionate, fulfilling in its own right
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30. Positive Psychology says..
Any job can become a calling and any calling can become a job.
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31. Implications for Job Coaches
Matching clients to jobs
Positive Psychology within assessment process
Assessment of satisfaction within job
Strengths-based development
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32. Positive Psychology Research shows……
Strengths-based development linked to positive outcomes
Direct relationship between strengths-based development and attendance, punctuality, productivity
Linked to ‘Employee-Engagement’
Studies of ‘State of Flow’
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33. People will be healthier and happier by
By identifying and developing individual strengths.
Ensuring sufficient levels of self-engagement are involved in the work setting
(c) moodwatchers Shane Martin