Positive psychology traditions in Europe

Positive psychology traditions in EuropeCsaba Pléh : 

Positive psychology traditions in EuropeCsaba Pléh Center for Cognitive Science, Budapest U. of Technology and Economicpleh@itm.bme.hu

The prehistory of the positive tradition : 

The prehistory of the positive tradition Utilitarianism vs self rewarding motivation systems J.S. Mill: knowledge and love Stern and is petrsonalism Early ethology: the role of activity

Reappearing aspects of positive psychology : 

Reappearing aspects of positive psychology Central role of non-utilitarian motivations The positive feedback view of knowledge Self initiated activity The role of curiosity and boredom in human life All motivations homeostatic Knowledge is nondistributed Reactive organisms Fear and anxiety are the basic motives

John Stuart Mill: Under two stars – Bentham and Coleridge : 

John Stuart Mill: Under two stars – Bentham and Coleridge

John Stuart Mill: aspects of the human mind that do not work in a distributed and distributive way. : 

John Stuart Mill: aspects of the human mind that do not work in a distributed and distributive way. Knowledge is a non-divisive property Love is a non-utilitarian either The goals of life: self perfection A romantic vision of human life

Utilitarian vision of human mind : 

Utilitarian vision of human mind Universal human nature with few parameters. Ideas and values combined through association Social life reduced to underlying tendencies. Selfish, rational, economic man

Slide 7: 

Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure. It is for them alone to point out what we ought to do, as well as to determine what we shall do. ... The principle of utility recognizes this subjection, and assumes it for the foundations of that system, the object of which is to rear the fabric of felicity by the hands of reason and of law. Systems which attempt to question it, deal in sounds instead of sense, in caprice instead of reason, in darkness instead of light. Jeremy Bentham (1789/1948): An introduction to the principles of morals and legislation. p. 1-2

Challenging utilitarian unity : 

Challenging utilitarian unity Wilhelm von Humboldt (1767-1835) The cultivation of individuality, personality as self-sufficient goals The cult of individuality a balance against the mechanical features of hassociative mechanics The psychologist of liberty

Non-zero sum aspects of life : 

Non-zero sum aspects of life Shortage economy actors have a zero sum game : if A has more B has less Knowledge and Love as exceptions If I know more, that does not take away anything from your knowledge These aspects are the most individual-bound ones. Can I love for you?

From ludic aspects to cultivation of personality : 

From ludic aspects to cultivation of personality For Mill, knowledge for its own sake and love in a romantic way are two self-rewarding non-distributive aspects of human happiness.  Ludic vision of the mind and cultivating personality for its on sake. European traditions developed along these two possible interpretations, towards “personality” and surplus motivation

William Stern: integration and inner meaning in personality : 

William Stern: integration and inner meaning in personality

Stern’s attitudes to personality research from 1911 on : 

Stern’s attitudes to personality research from 1911 on Trait analysis and individuality      Traits: variation correlation    Individuality: psychography comparative research

Unified study of personality : 

Unified study of personality Personalistics: is the study of the whole human person. Psychology is a part of this.  The substratum of mind must be something that has existence going beyond or prior to the differentiation into the mental and the physical, thereby certifying the orginal unity of the individual.

Convergence theory of development : 

Convergence theory of development Environment shapes the unfolding of internal programs. Development is more than realizing a blueprint. All personality is shaped by both factors. Rediscovery: D. Krech, learning and early experience

Karl Bühler and early ethology : 

Karl Bühler and early ethology

The unifying program of Bühler : 

The unifying program of Bühler unity of mind in sign behavior all behavior is ‘meaningful’ self initiated activities: animals are no mere reactive beings Three layers of selection: instincts habits intellect

The joy of knowledge : 

The joy of knowledge Self-rewarding aspects of knowing from Mill The cognitive motivation trend is foreshadowed by the integhrative knowledge views Development as an intrinsic knowledge shaping from Stern and Piaget on The paradox of the use of useless activities