Martin Seligman is the founder of the psychology of joy and happiness. This American scientist has created a unique concept of positive thinking that positively affects consciousness. In his books, he clearly outlined a set of feelings, human conditions that help to cultivate a unique ability to enjoy life. Martin Seligman developed the so-called “scientific view of happiness”. This approach contributes to the formation of personality, its further development and self-improvement. He made an attempt to explain to the world that you can endlessly seek happiness and never find it, if you do not know for sure which way you should go. When the direction of movement is known, one can find a worthy exit from any situation in the shortest possible time.
University of Pennsylvania played a special role in the life of a scientist. At first he studied there himself, and then organized his own center of positive psychology in it. The University of Pennsylvania was that sacred place where it could come in special thoughts and the desire to sit over his books.
Syndrome of "learned helplessness"
So the scientist called a condition in which during the action of an external stimulus complete passivity was noted, unwillingness to act in such a way as to change the situation for the better. He conducted a scientific experiment, during which it turned out that some people and animals, faced with obstacles, give up in advance and do not make any attempts to improve their situation. Martin Seligman studied the nature of these individuals very carefully and determined exactly what it was customary for them to endure inconvenience, always be a victim. The more such experience a person has, the firmer his conviction that the world is against him. As a rule, a person with similar problems never seeks help from others; he seeks to do everything on his own. He does not believe in his own prospects so much that he does not seek to develop himself, to make big plans.
Syndrome learned helplessness can otherwise be called voluntary slavery or excessive compliance. Such people most often live the needs of others, forgetting about their own preferences. Loneliness is their characteristic feature, since not everyone needs sacrifice.
The phenomenon of conscious optimism
During the experiment, it turned out that despite significant inconvenience, some individuals preferred to maintain a positive attitude at all costs . They tried to maintain a good mood and, fortunately, even in the most difficult moments they succeeded. The phenomenon of conscious optimism is that a person chooses joy for himself through volitional effort , and does not intentionally focus on the bad. It is about this phenomenon that Martin Seligman talks about. How to learn optimism?
To do this, you need to have a strong will and be able to look to the future with hope. Of course, you must develop an appropriate habit. Otherwise, it will constantly seem to you that you are behaving extremely unnaturally. Anyone who is used to concentrating on problems actually resists the universal flow of well-being. It is very difficult to convince such people that life can be pleasant and happy, and not just a heavy, overwhelming burden.
The study of the inner world of man, the causes of his spiritual contradictions is engaged in science psychology. Martin Seligman I was able to prove experimentally that each of us makes his choice individually and is responsible for it. However, not everyone is ready to accept this truth. It’s easy for many to consider themselves losers.
Positive psychology
Martin Seligman spent many hours studying the traits of a person’s character that are characteristic of happy people. He has proved with numerous studies that the ability to rejoice and appreciate life does not come at one time. This must be learned, as well as the ability to masterfully play the violin.
First of all, a person should strive for personal growth. In any circumstances, focus on results helps to cultivate a positive attitude towards reality. Only in this case he will not be afraid of any defeats. Failures happen at all. But not everyone is able to boldly step over them and move on with his head held high. Most people, unfortunately, give up, being in the prime of their creative abilities. The researcher makes a powerful emphasis on the fact that in the search for happiness it is so important not to forget about yourself, your desires and capabilities. Thus the fullness of life is achieved.
Publications
Martin Seligman is a great master of psychology. He created several talented works that are of scientific interest and are very popular. Acquaintance with them will be extremely useful for those who strive for self-improvement, want to work out the existing problems in communicating with other people.
Helplessness
This study explains the nature of human internal vulnerability: how it is formed, under the influence of which it grows and develops. Helplessness is formed due to the expressed inability of the individual to stand up for himself, to value his own skills, to uphold an individual position. Low self-esteem, constant reproaches of loved ones and ignorance of their abilities turn into a great personal tragedy. A person is simply lost as an individual.
"Psychology of deviations"
This work is devoted to issues of impaired brain activity due to impaired function. The psychology of deviations explains why people act in one way or another, sometimes acting to the detriment of themselves and others.
“Optimism to learn”
The ability to think positively is very valuable. Such a person at any time will be able to psychologically protect himself from the influence of any negative factors, to escape from disturbing soul experiences. In order to master positive thinking, there is no need to invent anything supernatural. You just need to know the features of your inner world and be able to protect it from the influence of energy vampires. The author of the study emphasizes that the main strength lies in the hands of the person himself, only he decides what he should do in this or that case.
Thus, Martin Seligman is a significant figure in psychology. Thanks to his wonderful research, many people got the opportunity to look at the familiar world differently, to work effectively on themselves.