Learn the Art of Happiness with Psychology Degree |
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May 10, 2007
by Kate Robb
Healthcare Programs Columnist
As a freshman in college, I wanted to explore a degree in psychology and took "Abnormal Psychology" to try things out. After three and a half months of worrying that I (and everyone in my family) was plagued with everything in the DSM IV, I decided to declare a different major. But if Martin Seligman and Positive Psychology had existed then, I might not have changed my mind.
Studying People in a New Light
Though it might seem obvious to study happiness as a human state, no one has done it until quite recently. Martin Seligman, the man who founded the field, believes that people can become happier with their lives without changing their life circumstances.
According to the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, positive psychology is "a new branch of psychology which focuses on the empirical study of such things as positive emotions, strengths-based character, and healthy institutions." They seek to "have a more complete and balanced scientific understanding of the human experience--the peaks, the valleys, and everything in between."
Positive Psychology Can Help Depression
So far, positive psychologists have learned a great deal about the vague state we think of as happiness. In addition to offering tools to clients to help them analyze their levels of contentment, enjoyment, etc., psychologists have also conducted rigorous studies showing that positive psychology interventions can have long-term effects in reducing symptoms of depression.
If you like to work closely with people, positive psychology training can give you the tools you need to understand the entire spectrum of the human condition. Enroll in a psychology degree program today.
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About the Author
Kate Robb is a freelance writer and university professor.
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