Martin Seligman’s “Flourish” and Modern Psychology

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Introduction

Martin Seligman is a famous American psychologist whose contributions to the field of psychology are studied worldwide. Seligman is the father of modern positive psychology because of his well-being theory as a part of psychology research (Cherry, 2018). In 2011, he introduced a non-fiction book Flourish, with the purpose of explaining the idea of well-being and flourishing in human life and its critical measurement techniques. This work was published by Free Press (New York) and gained recognition worldwide within a short period of time. It was translated into many languages, providing different nations with an opportunity of learning his study. In this report, Seligman’s Flourish will be summarized and analyzed to understand the worth of his work and its application to modern psychology.

Summary

There are ten chapters in Flourish, divided into two major parts. The first section, “A New Positive Psychology”, explains the essence of human well-being and the main ingredients of positive psychology. The second section, “The Ways to Flourish”, contains a thorough description of his research, with a number of tables and figures being used as evidence. Each chapter in both sections has specific goals and main points, which shows the relationships of the book with the field of psychology.

Chapter One

The first chapter of Flourish aims at providing the background of Seligman’s studies. There was the moment when Seligman (2011) began to “rethink happiness” as there is a “huge hole” that “omits success and mastery” (p. 10). Instead of interpreting happiness as a thing “defined by life satisfaction”, he uses the term “well-being” as a construct that has to be measured (Seligman, 2011, p. 15). He created authentic happiness theory about a decade ago, and now, he questions its elements through the prism of a new theory. The acronym PERMA (positive emotion, engagement, positive relationships, meaning, and accomplishment) is introduced to measure well-being and human flourishing (Seligman, 2011). Life satisfaction is hard to measure, and well-being properties are easily recognized either in relation to each other or independently.

Chapter Two

In the next chapter, positive psychology interventions are discussed to prove their effectiveness in exploring the assessment of human behaviors. Such practices as the “Gratitude Visit”, “Three Blessings”, and “Signature Strengths” help students and other stakeholders of psychological research to grasp the meaning of positive psychology. Many people do not believe in the power of psychotherapy, and Seligman (2011) recommends using it as a part of treatment for patients with depression and other mental health disorders. If participants are involved in the offered psychological practices for more than six months, improvements can be observed.

Chapter Three

In the next chapter, attention is paid to the connection between biological psychiatry and clinical psychology and the effects these fields have on a treatment process. According to Seligman (2011), there are many barriers (roads with cones) in the intention of care providers to help patients, and the neglect of happiness and well-being is one of them. A new approach to cure is based on positive psychology and emotions people experience when they take medications, communicate with doctors, or pass tests.

Chapter Four

Applied positive psychology consists of many elements, and the master of applied positive psychology (MAPP) program reveals its worth. Seligman (2011) devotes the whole chapter to this concept as it helps understand the challenging nature of the content, personality transformations, and calling. The application of the MAPP is a unique opportunity for students of different ages to benefit from positive psychology and education and promote successful treatment outcomes.

Chapter Five

As soon as the idea of positive education is mentioned in the previous chapter, the author focuses on the importance of well-being education in schools via different projects. Seligman (2011) underlines that as a part of education, positive psychology could prevent depression and other psychological concerns among students and enhance happiness and satisfaction. The example of Geelong Grammar School serves as evidence of the correctness of his approach.

Chapter Six

The sixth chapter introduces a new part of the book. Its purpose is to introduce a new theory of intelligence and success through skill and effort development (Seligman, 2011). GRIT is used as one of the tests to be offered to people and evaluate their skills in different contexts. As soon as an individual understands if his or her knowledge is enough for further growth, the importance of education is revealed.

Chapter Seven

The essence of this chapter is to demonstrate how the army could influence people and their social interactions. Being constantly involved in research practice and psychological experiences, Seligman (2011) focuses on the psychological and physiological aspects the army could promote in humans. There are many people who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological strength of soldiers is a significant element in well-being studies.

Chapter Eight

This chapter is a continuation of the discussion about PTSD and the role of the army in human life. Military experiences vary and leave different traces in people’s relationships. Seligman (2011) is not able to focus on all possible outcomes but pay close attention to such feelings and behaviors as guilt, anxiety, relief, and fear. It is necessary to deal with challenges to promote well-being, and the US army turns out to be a source for better family life, good physical health, and deep feelings.

Chapter Nine

As well as any theory and policy, the well-being theory could have its opponents and supporters. Seligman (2011) uses the concept of positive health and proves that psychological optimism has to be associated with physical conditions like cardiovascular health, infection control, and physical exercises. Longitudinal analysis results and other qualitative data are used as evidence to prove the position that positive health could extend life span and reduce morbidity.

Chapter Ten

The final chapter of Flourish focuses on political and economic institutions that play a key role in the promotion of positive psychology. The author explains that money should not determine the quality of life, but wealth remains a significant factor that is “in the service of well-being” (Seligman, 2011, p. 221). Positive psychology, well-being, and health are interrelated concepts that have to be thoroughly investigated in the future.

Analysis

The main achievement Seligman demonstrates in his book is the establishment of a new psychological model that is based on well-being and positive psychology. The author uses personal experiences, knowledge, and interpretations of meetings and cooperation with different people to underline why rethinking his past project is important. The organization of the book successfully contributes to the chosen content and goals of writing. First, Seligman develops a theoretical framework for his study on flourishing and well-being. Then, credible evidence and techniques are used to gather and analyze information about human emotions, relationships, and attitudes towards the world and people.

Each of the ten chapters in the book has its purpose and examples. It is not enough for Seligman to introduce the new theory and prove its worth. The author admits that his past findings are not full, and much information is omitted that prevents the discussion of positive psychology to its full extent. Cherry (2018) admits that Seligman’s research overcomes the existing pessimistic attitudes and demonstrates a deep interest in optimism via promoting positive emotions, meaning, accomplishment, relationships, and engagements. This PERMA concept is a powerful tool in positive psychology, as well as in the evaluation of social interactions.

One of the most appropriate criteria to judge the book and identify its success in relation to the field of psychology is the association between the reader’s expectations and actual findings after reading it. Seligman (2011) sets a clear and definite goal at the beginning of his book, which is to help the reader flourish. In my opinion, the author succeeds in completing the task and explaining why well-being has to be recognized as one of the central concepts in human life. In their intention to be healthy and follow the established treatment plans, many individuals neglect the role of positive emotions, optimism, and psychological support. Positive psychology is created as an improvement of the quality of life, and Flourish is a source of motivation for researchers, psychologists, students, or a random reader.

Conclusion

Seligman’s Flourish turns out to be a helpful guide for researchers and psychologists who use the concept of well-being in promoting high-quality standards in human relationships and life. Discussions in the field of psychology are always unpredictable and educative. This area continues developing, and the new theory offered by Seligman is developed to underline the worth of personal experiences and knowledge. Flourish contains descriptive analysis, tests, and interpretations to prove psychology as a multifaceted discipline with a variety of perspectives and processes. Every individual has his or her preferences and needs, depending on the context and the environment, and well-being is a common goal that has to be achieved.

References

Cherry, K. (2018). Martin Seligman biography: The father of modern positive psychology. Web.

Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. New York, NY: Free Press.

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