Abstract

Positive psychology has flourished in the last 5 years. The authors review recent developments in the field, including books, meetings, courses, and conferences. They also discuss the newly created classification of character strengths and virtues, a positive complement to the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (e. g., American Psychiatric Association, 1994), and present some cross-cultural findings that suggest a surprising ubiquity of strengths and virtues. Finally, the authors focus on psychological interventions that increase individual happiness. In a 6-group, random-assignment, placebo-controlled Internet study, the authors tested 5 purported happiness interventions and 1 plausible control exercise. They found that 3 of the interventions lastingly increased happiness and decreased depressive symptoms. Positive interventions can supplement traditional interventions that relieve suffering and may someday be the practical legacy of positive psychology.

Keywords

Positive psychologyPsychological interventionHappinessPsychologyClinical psychologyAssociation (psychology)PsychotherapistSocial psychologyApplied psychologyPsychiatry

MeSH Terms

Depressive DisorderDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersHappinessHumansInternetPersonalityPsychologyPsychotherapySocial ValuesStressPsychological

Affiliated Institutions

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Publication Info

Year
2005
Type
article
Volume
60
Issue
5
Pages
410-421
Citations
5734
Access
Closed

Social Impact

Social media, news, blog, policy document mentions

Citation Metrics

5734
OpenAlex
407
Influential
3670
CrossRef

Cite This

Martin E. P. Seligman, Tracy A. Steen, Nansook Park et al. (2005). Positive Psychology Progress: Empirical Validation of Interventions.. American Psychologist , 60 (5) , 410-421. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066x.60.5.410

Identifiers

DOI
10.1037/0003-066x.60.5.410
PMID
16045394

Data Quality

Data completeness: 81%