Positive Psychology


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Positive Psychology and Cultivating Happiness

Positive psychology is a subfield of psychology that focuses on the study of positive emotions, characteristics, and behaviors that assist individuals in leading lives that are both meaningful and satisfying. Its objective is to comprehend and promote human well-being rather than solely focusing on individual suffering.

Positive psychology makes the most use of the concept of happiness, which is frequently defined as a subjective sense of well-being. Bliss has been displayed to decidedly affect our psychological and actual well-being, as proven by lower paces of melancholy, nervousness problems, and cardiovascular illness.

The study of human flourishing, happiness, and well-being is the primary focus of positive psychology. It seeks to promote positive emotions, relationships, engagement, meaning, and accomplishments by examining the factors that contribute to a life that is full of fulfillment.

One noticeable hypothesis in sure brain research is the PERMA model, created by clinician Martin Seligman. The PERMA model proposes five key components that add to prosperity and satisfaction:

Positive Feelings: Positive feelings like happiness, gratitude, love, and contentment are all part of this. Developing positive feelings can prompt expanded joy and generally speaking prosperity.

Engagement: Being completely absorbed in activities or experiences that produce a state of flow is referred to as engagement. When you are engaged in a task that is challenging but within your skill level, you experience flow, which results in a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction.

Relationships: Positive associations with others are essential for prosperity. Important aspects of happiness include cultivating social connections, maintaining relationships that are supportive, and experiencing a sense of belonging.

Meaning: Discovering a feeling of direction and significance in life is fundamental for prosperity. This can include having objectives that line up with one’s qualities, adding to an option that could be bigger than oneself, and discovering a feeling of satisfaction and importance.

Accomplishments: Accomplishing objectives and achievements, both of all shapes and sizes, add to bliss. A person’s overall well-being can be improved by pursuing and achieving success in a variety of life areas, including work, education, hobbies, and personal development.

Authentic Happiness Strategies by Martin Seligman (2002)

In “Authentic Happiness” (2002), Martin Seligman presents various strategies and exercises aimed at cultivating happiness and well-being. Here are some key strategies outlined in the book:

Gratitude Journal: Seligman suggests keeping a gratitude journal in which you write down three good things that happened to you each day. This practice helps shift your focus towards the positive aspects of life, increasing feelings of gratitude and well-being.

Signature Strengths: Seligman introduces the concept of character strengths and encourages readers to identify and utilize their signature strengths. By engaging in activities that align with your strengths, you can experience a sense of fulfillment and purpose.

Positive Experiences: The book emphasizes the importance of savoring positive experiences. Seligman suggests engaging in activities that bring you joy, such as hobbies, spending time in nature, or connecting with loved ones.

Cultivating Optimism: Seligman explores the power of optimism and offers strategies to cultivate a more optimistic mindset. This involves challenging negative thoughts, practicing positive self-talk, and reframing setbacks as temporary and specific rather than permanent and pervasive.

Building Positive Relationships: Seligman emphasizes the significance of positive relationships for happiness. He provides guidance on nurturing relationships, developing empathy, and enhancing communication skills.

Meaning and Purpose: The book explores the importance of finding meaning and purpose in life. Seligman suggests reflecting on your core values, setting goals aligned with those values, and finding ways to contribute to something larger than yourself.

important for your overall well-being. Integrating taking care of oneself exercises into your routine can be a strong method for developing joy and prosperity

These procedures are expected to assist people with developing positive feelings, participating in significant exercises, serious areas of strength for construction, and fostering a feeling of direction — all of which add to legitimate bliss and prosperity.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi has contributed significant concepts to the field of positive psychology, he was primarily known for his theories rather than specific strategies for happiness.

Attempt Flow Experiments: Take part in exercises that match your abilities and challenge level, permitting you to enter a condition of the stream. When you are fully immersed, focused, and enjoying the moment, you are in the flow. Recognize exercises or side interests that achieve this state and set aside a few minutes for them consistently.

Put forth Clear Objectives: Set objectives that are distinct, significant, and in line with your values and interests. Having clear targets can give guidance and a feeling of inspiration, improving inspiration and satisfaction.

Become more mindful: In your daily life, cultivate awareness and presence. Mindfulness can assist you in fully engaging with the present moment, recognizing and appreciating the small things, and reducing stress and anxiety.

Barbara Fredrickson

Barbara Fredrickson has contributed significant concepts to the field of positive psychology,he was primarily known for his theories rather than specific strategies for happiness.

Promoting Positive Feelings: Engage in activities that make you feel happy, grateful, awestruck, and in love. This can incorporate rehearsing appreciation works out, performing thoughtful gestures, or participating in exercises that give you pleasure and satisfaction.

Expanding Viewpoints: Search out new encounters, investigate alternate points of view, and challenge your suppositions. This can assist with widening your outlook, upgrading inventiveness, and encouraging self-awareness.

Developing Prosperous Relationships: Sustaining positive and strong associations with others is essential for joy. Focus on building and keeping up with significant associations with family, companions, and networks.

How to Improve Your Mood and Raise Your Happiness Throughout the Day (The Happiness Advantage by Shawn)

1. Meditate

  • “Neuroscientists have found that monks who spend years meditating actually grow their left prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain most responsible for feeling happy.”
  • “Studies show that in the minutes right after meditating, we experience feelings of calm and contentment, as well as heightened awareness and empathy. And, research even shows that regular meditation can permanently rewire the brain to raise levels of happiness, lower stress, even improve immune function.”

2. Find Something to Look Forward To

  • “One study found people who just thought about watching their favorite movie actually raised their endorphin levels by 27 percent.”
  • “Anticipating future rewards can actually light up the pleasure centers in your brain much as the actual reward will.”

3. Commit Conscious Acts of Kindness

  • “A long line of empirical research, including one study of over 2,000 people, has shown that acts of altruism—giving to friends and strangers alike—decrease stress and strongly contribute to enhanced mental health.”
  • “Pick one day a week and make a point of committing five acts of kindness.”

4. Infuse Positivity Into Your Surroundings

  • “Our physical environment can have an enormous impact on our mindset and sense of well-being.”
  • “Studies have shown that the less negative TV we watch, specifically violent media, the happier we are.”

5. Exercise

  • “Physical activity can boost mood and enhance our work performance in a number of other ways as well, by improving motivation and feelings of mastery, reducing stress and anxiety, and helping us get into flow—that “locked in” feeling of total engagement that we usually get when we’re at our most productive.”

6. Spend Money (but Not on Stuff)

  • “In his book Luxury Fever, Robert Frank explains that while the positive feelings we get from material objects are frustratingly fleeting, spending money on experiences, especially ones with other people, produces positive emotions that are both more meaningful and more lasting.”
  • Spending money on other people is called ‘prosocial spending,’ and also boosts happiness.
  • “Draw two columns on a piece of paper (or take ten minutes at work to create a nifty spreadsheet) and track your purchases over the next month. Are you spending more on things or on experiences? At the end of the month, look back over each column and think about the pleasure each purchase brought you, and for how long.”

7. Exercise a Signature Strength

  • “Each time we use a skill, whatever it is, we experience a burst of positivity. If you find yourself in need of a happiness booster, revisit a talent you haven’t used in a while.”
  • “Even more fulfilling than using a skill, though, is exercising a strength of character, a trait that is deeply embedded in who we are.”
  • “Studies have shown that the more you use your signature strengths in daily life, the happier you become.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, happiness is a complicated concept with many facets, and a number of authors and researchers have provided useful insights and methods for cultivating happiness and well-being. Positive brain science, as a field, centers around understanding the variables that add to a satisfying life and advancing positive feelings, connections, commitment, significance, and achievements.

Martin Seligman, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Barbara Fredrickson, Shawn Achor, Gretchen Rubin, and Tal Ben-Shahar are just a few of the authors who have contributed significantly to our understanding of happiness and offered practical methods for improving one’s level of well-being. These techniques incorporate developing positive feelings, participating in exercises that give pleasure and satisfaction, supporting good connections, tracking down importance and reason, defining clear objectives, rehearsing care, and creating versatility.

It’s memorable’s essential that everybody’s way to satisfaction is exceptional, and what works for one individual may not work for another. Individuals may be able to discover the approaches that resonate most with them and lead to greater happiness and well-being in their lives by examining these strategies and personal experimentation and reflection.

The Psychology of Spring: Exploring the Mental Health Benefits of the Season

According to Peter Walschburger, an Emeritus Professor Emeritus of Biopsychology at the Freie Universität Berlin, “Human beings are programmed to rest when it’s dark, and to be active and in high spirits when it’s light”. He further explains that humans “react massively to light”.react massively to light.” On beautiful spring days, this is why conscious experience and human behavior change dramatically.

Layers Of Clothing

The layers of clothing are starting to come off as the weather gets warmer, and we can once more engage in outdoor activities. Indeed, the warmth of the sun on our skin generally lifts our spirits. So we don’t have to rely too heavily on caffeine to feel energized this spring.

Vitamin Deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency is a real problem, and there may be a variety of factors at play. However, this is the time of year to soak up vitamin D. Achy bones, brain fog, and depressed moods are among its symptoms.

Socializing

More time for socializing Spending time with family and friends is extremely healthy (both socially and mentally), but it is a bit of a hassle to pull on a coat, a scarf, gloves, and a pair of boots before going out, so you are more likely to be tempted to just stay in during the winter. However, now that the sun stays up past four in the afternoon and it will soon be warm enough to show some skin outdoors, we will be getting a welcome additional dose of Vitamin D. More time Naturally, one effect of fewer social interactions is a decrease in general physical activity: no more short strolls at lunchtime or after dinner. Fortunately, spring brings more light and warmth, encouraging us to move more.

Planting Flowers

More time spent with the garden’s plants, flowers, and soil This is the time of year when the flowers begin to bloom and we have more time to spend with our plants. Smelling roses or even weeding can lower blood pressure, increase brain activity, and produce a sense of well-being, according to research. They’ve also found that allotment gardening can help people feel better about themselves and can even be used to prevent illness.

Seasonal Changes

Boost for mental health Seasonal changes, especially the “winter blues,” can cause changes in mood, energy, sleeping, eating, and social and sexual behavior as well as in mood. This can worry some people.

More Exposure Of Sunlight

Serotonin, a hormone that helps regulate mood, has been linked to sunlight exposure. During the spring, when there is more sunlight and longer days, many people feel happier and more energetic.

Outdoor Pursuits

People are more likely to spend time outside because of the longer days and warmer temperatures. Being outside has been shown to lower stress and anxiety levels, whether through activities like going for a walk or playing sports outside.

Spring Cleaning

Springtime is frequently associated with organizing and cleaning. Physical clutter removal can reduce stress and give you a sense of accomplishment. People may experience a sense of relief after organizing their thoughts and emotions, which can lead to mental clutter.

Beginning of New Things

The season of growth and renewal is spring. People may be motivated to set new goals or make positive changes in their lives at the beginning of a new season. A sense of motivation and hope can result from this.

Social Networks

Spring is a period for parties, like Easter, Passover, and graduations. People can benefit from these events’ opportunities to connect with friends and family, which can improve mental health.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Even though many people find that the arrival of spring lifts their spirits, it’s important to keep in mind that some people may suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during the winter and have trouble adjusting to the arrival of spring. Individuals who exhibit signs of depression or anxiety should seek professional assistance whenever possible.

Gardening

Gardening is a popular springtime activity that has been linked to better mental health and lower levels of stress. Gardening and other activities that require concentration, such as time in nature, have been shown to improve mood and overall well-being in studies.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness, which entails being fully present and engaged in the present moment, can be beneficial in the spring. People can lower their levels of stress and experience more feelings of calm and relaxation by taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of spring.

Exercise and Diet

People may be more motivated to exercise because of the longer days and warmer temperatures.
Spring is an extraordinary opportunity to zero in on good dieting propensities, like integrating more foods grown from the ground into your eating regimen. A well-balanced diet can benefit mental and physical health simultaneously.

Conclusion

In conclusion, spring can have many positive effects on mental health. Serotonin and vitamin D levels can rise as a result of longer days and warmer weather, which can help alleviate depression symptoms. Individuals may also find inspiration and motivation in the germination of new life and flowers. Outdoor activities like gardening and hiking can also help people get more exercise and have better mental health. It’s vital to take note that while spring can decidedly affect psychological wellness, people with prior emotional well-being conditions ought to keep on looking for proficient assistance and backing on a case-by-case basis. Generally speaking, exploiting the positive parts of spring can be an important instrument for advancing by and large prosperity and working on psychological well-being.

Effects of Colors on Human Behavior Part 2

Colors influence our taste

Did you know food color can increase our appetite and impact our taste? Orange is known to increase appetite and is often used for food packages and in fast-food restaurants. Blue triggers disgust and loss of appetite because there are no natural foods in (bright) blue. These implicit color expectations may alter how we respond to food or beverages.

For example, Nestle recently launched a Matcha Green Tea flavored version of the KitKat chocolate bar in Europe. Green is not usually a color associated with chocolate, dessert, and sweetness. Instead, if a (dairy) product turns green it indicates that it turned bad. Therefore, this color association might keep some Europeans from trying and enjoying this version of the chocolate bar.

Colors of clothes influence how we perceive people

The color of a person’s clothes influences which attributes and characteristics we link to her. It can be culturally biased through historic events or political groups, but that depends on the context.

Often, black is related to power, strength, and authority. Think of black doctorate robes (intellectual power) or a black belt in karate (physical and mental strength). However, sports teams whose uniforms are black receive more penalties, and the players are associated with negative qualities such as aggression.

Color influences the perception of temperature

Whether you are feeling warm or cold can depend on the color tone of your environment. In a room painted in a warm color temperature will feel higher than the same temperature in a cool-colored room.

If you think of temperature-related associations with these colors, this is not surprising. Blue represents winter, ice, water, freshness, rain, and wind, and your lips turn blue when you’re cold. Warm colors like red or yellow produce images like fire, sun, and summer in your mind. There are not called ‘warm’ and ‘cool’ colors for nothing.

Colors influence our decisions

The color of your product can be the reason for a customer to buy it. Colors excite emotions in people. The effects of color often go through emotions. Our brain relies highly on emotions and feelings when making a decision.

The use of warm colors in your campaigns or logo generally evokes trust and a positive attitude toward your brand. As a consequence, it leads to loyalty and increases purchasing intentions.

Colors influence our performance

Another study assessed the effect of colors on performance. Students who had to wait in a red-painted room before taking an exam showed significantly lower test results.

The same pattern of impaired performance caused by literally seeing red is present in sports games and competitions. In a study, teams that faced opponents wearing a red outfits lost more often than when the opponents were wearing blue.

Warm colors such as red and orange seem to activate the survival mode, increasing speed and force but decreasing patience and creativity.

Cool colors like blue seem to have opposing calming effects. They are relaxing and enhance creativity. Installing blue-colored lights in train stations or streets can even reduce the crime rate.

Colors influence the perception of time

Red initializes a survival reaction to cope with potential danger. The perception of time in those situations shifts. Remember a situation in which you were nervous and cautious; the time just felt endless. Evolutionary, allows you to pay attention to greater detail and act more precisely in this moment of danger. Thus, our ancestors were aware enough to grab the spade to protect themselves from the tiger just in time.

Colors influence us physiologically

Color does not only affect our psychological and emotional state but also our body. Consistent with psychologically preparing for danger, red is known to heighten physiological alertness. It activates our nervous system and thus increases the heart rate and the amount of adrenaline circulating in our bloodstream. This fight-or-flight response enables us to react faster.

Also, the previously mentioned relaxing effect of cool colors like blue and green leads to physiological changes. They calm the body, and for example, reduce respiration and lower blood pressure. Therefore, surgeons often dress in green or blue.

The effects of colors on behavior go even further. The color of a medical drug seems to have an impact on its effectiveness. Red, yellow and orange pills are associated with stimulating effects; blue, green, and purple with relaxing, or even numbing effects.

A study investigated the impact of color on the placebo effect. All participants believed that they were given stimulating drugs, even though they all got placebos. One group got warm-colored pills, and the other group got cool-colored ones. The findings showed that the placebo effect was stronger in people receiving pills of warm colors than in those who received cool-colored ones.

Conclusion

Different colors have different affect on person’s mood just like warm colors evoke feelings of happiness, optimism, and energy. Cool colors create a sense of peace and relaxation. The brighter and lighter color will make you feel happy and hopeful. Black, white, brown, and beige provide the basic neutrals. Color can play an important role in giving information to human, creating different kinds of moods, and even influencing the decisions people make. Color affect person’s emotions, their memory, creativity, energy level. It also affects our taste, Colors of clothes influence how we perceive people, influence our decisions, our performance and influence us physiologically.

References
  • https://neurofied.com/effects-of-color-on-behavior/

Effects of Colors on Human Behavior Part 1

Every color creates different emotions and feelings in a person. Colors can make us feel happy or sad, and they can make us feel hungry or relaxed. These reactions are rooted in psychological effects, biological conditioning, and cultural imprinting.

Color psychology is the study of how different colors affect human mood and behavior. It explores how colors can influence emotional responses, as well as how responses to color are affected by factors such as age and cultural background.

Symbolic Color Meanings

Symbolic meanings that are often associated with different colors:

  • Red: Passion, excitement, love
  • Pink: Soft, reserved, earthy
  • Purple: Mysterious, noble, glamorous
  • Blue: Wisdom, hope, reason, peace
  • Green: Nature, growth, freshness
  • Yellow: Hope, joy, danger
  • Orange: Warmth, kindness, joy
  • White: Truth, indifference
  • Black: Noble, mysterious, cold
How warm colors affect a person’s mood
  • Colors such as red, orange, and yellow are known as warm colors.
  • Heat colors typically evoke feelings of happiness, optimism, and energy.
  • Warm colors advance towards the eye, these colors work well to help people feel relaxed and safe in wide spaces.
  • Warm colors can be calming. And, as stated above, to give a sense of urgency, such as with red clearance signs, as well as optimism and cheerfulness, advertisers also use warm colors.
How cool colors affect a person’s mood
  • Cool colors such as blue, green, and light purple have nearly the opposite effects of warm colors.
  • Cool colors receding from the eye may make a room appear wider and more spacious.
  • Cool colors, in addition, offer a sense of peace and relaxation.
  • By evoking a sense of well-being, tranquility, and wisdom, cool colors also affect people.
  • Blue, purple, and green is used in ads to express trustworthiness and reverence, causing people to rely on the ad and get convinced more easily.
Difference between happy and sad colors
  • Bright, warm colors such as yellow, orange, pink, and red are happy colors.
  • Pastel shades may also have an uplifting effect on your moods, such as peach, light pink, or lilac.
  • The brighter and lighter the paint, the more it will make you feel happy and hopeful.
  • Another way colors can generate pleasant emotions is for a youthful, vibrant effect by mixing several primary and secondary colors together.
  • Sad colors are colors that are dark and subdued.
  • Grey is the quintessential sad hue, but depending on how they are used, dark and subdued cool colors like blue, green, or neutral colors like brown or beige may have a similar effect on feelings and emotions.
How neutral colors play a role in enhancing a person’s mood
  • Black, white, brown, and beige provide the basic neutrals.
  • White is sometimes connected to cleanliness and is pure and innocent.
  • Black is sophisticated and stylish but can be sad and reflective of death and mourning as well.
  • Gray can be seen as sophisticated and strong, but if used the wrong way, it can also come across as dull.
  • Brown is strong and durable, and, depending on the way in which it is used, may be associated with nature.
Cultural Differences

One area where designers need to be particularly careful in their work is in considering cultural differences in color meaning. For example, in most western cultures, white is associated with innocence and black is associated with death and mourning. But in other cultures, particularly China, Japan, Korea, and other Asian countries, white is associated with death and mourning, and even bad luck.

Color can Affect in different ways
  • Memory. If there is a lot of red around, you’re more likely to recall negative words. Green, tends to make you hold on to positive ones. That may help you have a happier view of your life and a healthier state of mind.
  • Your relationships. We all want the people around us to be happy, and painting the walls of your home pink, green, or white may help you tune into those feelings.
  • Your emotions. The color green seems to make positive emotions stronger and negative emotions weaker. 
  • Creativity. The color green can help get the creative juices flowing. 
  • Your energy level. You may be happier and less tired after you exercise around the color green.
  • Helps to relieve Migraine. You may find you want to avoid light. Different colors, or “wavelengths,” of light blue, amber, and red all seem to make migraines worse. All except green, that is, which actually seems to help.
References
  • https://www.webmd.com/balance/ss/slideshow-colors-affect-you
  • https://spectrapublications.wixsite.com/spectra/post/how-do-colors-play-a-role-in-enhancing-a-person-s-mood
  • Yang J, Shen X. The application of color psychology in community health environment designJ Environ Public Health. 2022;2022:7259595. doi:10.1155/2022/7259595
  • https://www.toptal.com/designers/ux/color-psychology