Chapter 9: Leveraging Self Psychology to Strengthen Positive Psychology: Conceptual Analysis of Three Paths to Well-Being

Pharrell Williams’ song “Happy” recently became one of the most popular songs of all time. Its up-tempo beat and sing-along chorus are quite infectious. But its success may also stem from the song’s near-perfect attunement with the current Zeitgeist of psychological positivity in the United States and abroad. People in Western cultures around the world long for happiness, self-acceptance, a sense of purpose, and belonging, and Americans alone spend over $10-billion annually pursuing these laudable goals (Self-Help, 2015). Within psychological science, these priorities have given rise to the burgeoning field of positive psychology. This movement has both a long and short history. Maslow (1954) coined the term “positive psychology” over 60 years ago, but it was just 17 years ago that positive psychology went mainstream. As president of the American Psychological Association, Martin Seligman (1998) lamented psychology’s failure to focus on cultivating the positive aspects of human existence—optimism, happiness, gratitude, virtue, resilience, and strength. It was time, he insisted, to expand psychology’s horizons by shifting attention onto these positive aspects and developing strategies for improving well-being.