How Positive Psychology Can Help Us Respond to White Christian Nationalism

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How Positive Psychology Can Help Us Respond to White Christian Nationalism

In August 2017, the United States was shocked to see white supremacist supporters openly advocating for their agenda while carrying torches and chanting anti-Semitic slogans in Charlottesville, Virginia. The physical violence around that demonstration led to the death of a counter protester, Heather Heyer. In the five years since the “Unite the Right” rally there have been many instances of violent white males attacking women and minorities often while issuing political manifestos explicitly endorsing an ideology of White Christian Nationalism (WCN), including the January 6th attack at the US Capitol. While some label this “populism,” this movement is more than that. White Christian Nationalism seeks to end the separation of church and state and envisions the creation of a government under a fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible rather than the constitution due to their view on American History. The rise of WCN and the political violence of the movement demands a response. To change hearts and minds requires an affirmative approach drawn from the strengths of positive psychology.

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Using Positive Psychology to Connect in a Polarized World

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Using Positive Psychology to Connect in a Polarized World

The last several years have shown how political polarization has harmed our nation; perhaps most specifically in the damage done to our relationships and social connections. However, positive psychology also has something to offer that can help enhance wellbeing in our communities. While interventions at the micro-level are the focus of much of positive psychology, since its founding positive psychology has also been interested in flourishing at the societal level (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). Over the last year I have been able to apply a MAPP Capstone project in Midland, Michigan. In this article I will outline my own personal journey with using positive psychology to help enhance my connections across the political divide, and how our community has also worked to build bonds among individuals with political differences.

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The Saga of the Scrolls: A Story of Hope

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The Saga of the Scrolls: A Story of Hope

Any student or practitioner of Positive Psychology has studied the works of Positive Psychology pioneer Charles R. Snyder, the founder of Hope Theory. Hope Theory suggests that hope is a cognitive skill that helps a person work towards and achieve a goal, and to overcome obstacles, challenges, and adversity that may get in the way of achieving that goal. While studying the theory in the classroom or applying it in the clinic is valuable, experiencing its power in “real life” is one of the contributions that Positive Psychology seeks to make to the world. My story below is one such experience.

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Positive Psychology in Schools - Making Positive Psychology Accessible to All Secondary School Students

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Positive Psychology in Schools - Making Positive Psychology Accessible to All Secondary School Students

After working with students inside and out of the classroom to help them develop as leaders over my career as an educator, I increasingly saw the need to expand my work by helping students use the tools positive psychology has to offer, not only as leaders, but in their personal lives as well. Almost as soon as I was accepted into MAPP, I knew that one of the first actions I wanted to take was to create a positive psychology course at my school. While I want to continue expanding my work in positive education and using positive psychology in leadership contexts, the class I now offer my students has proven valuable to them, and also to other educators in spreading these resources and knowledge.

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Strengths Development in Action

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Strengths Development in Action

On February 28, 2022, a 56-year-old woman in Shanghai went to a fever clinic with fever and other symptoms. On March 1, she became the first case of local infection without a transmission source in the new round of Covid in Shanghai. The following month, the outbreak spiked exponentially. For over two months, Shanghai went through a mandatory lockdown where distant-learning, remote working, group shopping of food and supplies, and frequent Covid testing became the new norm. On April 27th, Beijing also issued a Notice of School Closure and Online Learning due to a new round of Covid outbreak. In both cities, students of all grades completed the entire semester through online learning. Online learning fatigue was real. Emotional stress of the whole family was real. The impact on emotional and social wellbeing for the students was also real. What could positive psychology do to help these kids tap into resilience and develop strengths? The Integrated Development Group (IDG) conducted six summer camps in Shanghai and Beijing over the summer, covering different age groups. This article presents a few highlights.

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Behind the Mic – Two Years of Better Than Fine

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Behind the Mic – Two Years of Better Than Fine

“Have you ever thought about starting a podcast?”

It seems like such an innocuous, even kind, question. When Mika Opp, an Assistant Instructor for the University of Pennsylvania’s Master in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program, asked me that little question in December of 2019, I was driving north from New York City, heading home for a holiday party. We were so engrossed in conversation I nearly ran out of gas on the highway, but that moment was a pivot. Many MAPP Alumni have such pivot moments. A moment that someone believes in them more than themselves and sparks a change. This isn’t my only MAPP Memory Gem, but it’s a big one.

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MAPP Alumni Grant Program: We Have Lift Off!

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MAPP Alumni Grant Program: We Have Lift Off!

The MAPP Alumni Grant Program launched in 2017, based on the belief that by investing “seed money” in alumni passion projects, the MAPP Alumni Association could both help move alumni forward and accelerate positive impact in the world. After four years, the MAPP Alumni Board of Directors and the Grant Committee gathered in early 2021 to take a look back at the grant program and the impact it is having within our alumni association and around the world. I have to say, we were positively shocked! And, we would like to share the good news with you here so you can be shocked as well!

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Opportunities for Practitioners in the Positive Psychology of Science

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Opportunities for Practitioners in the Positive Psychology of Science

When I was an undergraduate majoring in chemistry, a guest professor warned our qualitative organic analysis class that chemistry can often be very frustrating. Experiments fail. Results disappoint. My R&D work over more than thirty years indeed brought me much frustration, but also satisfaction. In my many episodes of reflection I’ve pondered the traits, the attitudes and the behaviors that got me and my more prolific peers over obstacles to bring discoveries and inventions that often matter. I strongly suspected that it was more than intelligence or talent, but particular strengths, as well as grit. In this article, I want to take a broader look at opportunities for application of positive psychology in the physical sciences. Acting on those opportunities will first benefit scientists like me who still have a deep desire to build their abilities to do quality work. The eventual outcomes I suggest will be profound at a critical time in view of the urgent need for progress on the pandemic and climate change.

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MAPP16 Capstone Roundup: Well-Being in Focus During COVID-19

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MAPP16 Capstone Roundup: Well-Being in Focus During COVID-19

The journey of the University of Pennsylvania MAPP16 (or Sweet 16 as we call ourselves) was different from the start. The class of 2020-2021 was the first all-remote MAPP program, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. To undertake the study of positive psychology during a global crisis was surreal, difficult, and ultimately, an amazing gift. The fear around our own well-being, and the well-being of others, was omnipresent as we watched country after country struggle through the pandemic. We experienced the victory of vaccines being developed and becoming available! Most importantly, well-being took on new meaning for each of us as we shifted our thinking on what it means to flourish and thrive.

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Do One Thing! MAPP Alumni Board President’s 2022 Letter

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Do One Thing! MAPP Alumni Board President’s 2022 Letter

Welcome to a great 2022 in the MAPP Alumni Association! I am looking forward to an exciting year with new programs and opportunities that speak to the many passions of our 600+ alumni around the world, and create high-quality connections within our community and with those we serve.

We maintain our vibrant community through the volunteer efforts of alumni who give their time and talent to our great organization, year after year. Many of our individual services and initiatives are made possible due to the efforts of a single alumni. The community grows accustomed to and familiar with programs and resources without recognizing and supporting the effort it takes to serve our growing community. Sharing the responsibility for making programs happen also reduces burnout that can occur when one person does it all.

The board would like to step up to this challenge, working from both directions, resulting in greater connection and collaboration with YOU!

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Mastermind Growth Groups for Good

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Mastermind Growth Groups for Good

The term Mastermind was coined by author Napoleon Hill in his 1925 book The Law of Success. Like now, Mastermind groups were developed to help members receive advice from other group members. Billionaire tycoon Andrew Carnegie credited his great success to his mastermind groups. Hill, Carnegie, Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison stated that a Mastermind group could focus special energy on your effort. Today, members of the UPenn MAPP Community use Mastermind groups to learn and grow both personally and professionally, and these groups can be established to help anyone in the form of knowledge, resources, and spiritual energy.

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Applying Positive Psychology to Race Work - Part II

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Applying Positive Psychology to Race Work - Part II

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have evolved since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Much of the focus has been on education, training, and awareness building at the individual level. Productive race work begins with self-awareness but it does not end there. What organizations haven’t devoted equal attention to is how to change the system of work—business policies and practices—to create a racially diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. But how?

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Learning for a Better Future: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Book Groups

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Learning for a Better Future: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Book Groups

The past year has been difficult, terrible, and tragic in too many ways. As positive psychology practitioners, we look for opportunities to make the world better, be it in the wake of COVID or acts of hate. The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and too many others, at the hands of police, highlighted for everyone in America and around the world what so many Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) have experienced for centuries: Racism and inequities traumatize and kill. Graduates of the Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program at the University of Pennsylvania cannot end the pain. But we can recognize the suffering and work to change the world in positive ways.

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An Inclusive Journey to Happiness -- And Understanding -- Through Film

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An Inclusive Journey to Happiness -- And Understanding -- Through Film

In 2019, we organised the world’s first Happiness Film Festival (which MAPP Magazine covered here). It was completely sold out, with close to 1,500 participants over a three-day period. As we were gearing up for the next edition of the film festival, we had a long thought about what themes we should focus on for the next festival.

Happiness Initiative is a social enterprise that focuses on promoting the science of happiness and well-being in Singapore. We have always believed that the work we do has to be accessible and inclusive. We cannot talk about building a happier society, but yet restrict access to an exclusive group of people that can afford the resources for it.

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Bach and the Fine Art of Job Crafting

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Bach and the Fine Art of Job Crafting

In 1722, the committee seeking a new Music Director for the St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany, was in a quandary. This renowned position had been established in 1518, and, having been vacant for six months, it was crucial to fill it as soon as possible. At least three “top” choices had all turned the job down. The committee reluctantly agreed to hire their last choice, considered by some on the committee to be “a mediocrity.” His name? Johann Sebastian Bach.

Although reluctant, Bach took the position, but he also continually sought other employment opportunities until his “advanced years” prevented him from leaving his position at Leipzig, and he remained there as Music Director for over 30 years, to the end of his life. What does one do when stuck in a less-than-satisfactory job for over 30 years? One job crafts! Job crafting is a relatively new term used to describe workplace innovations that have actually been occurring for centuries, and possibly since the eons of time.

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Out With the Old, In With the New: Use the Science of Habits to Make Your Goals Stick This Time!

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Out With the Old, In With the New: Use the Science of Habits to Make Your Goals Stick This Time!

We tend to blame ourselves when we are unsuccessful at changing our behavior, whether it is instilling a good habit, such as introducing more physical activity into our day, or breaking an unproductive habit, such as overeating or drinking too much alcohol. We berate ourselves for not having enough willpower or self-control, we beat ourselves up over how weak or uncommitted we are, we end up feeling bad about ourselves and, sooner or later, we revert to our old behaviors.

Sound familiar? Well, stop it! Instead of playing the blame game, says social psychologist Wendy Wood, Provost Professor of Psychology and Business at the University of Southern California, learn how habits work, and apply those research-based principles to form habits that enrich your life, rather than detract from it. Wood, author of Good Habits, Bad Habits: The Science of Making Positive Changes that Stick, presented research on habits at the annual University of Pennsylvania Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) alumni Summit the weekend of October 23-24, 2021.

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On the Science of the Arts and the Humanities: An Interview with Dr. James Pawelski

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On the Science of the Arts and the Humanities: An Interview with Dr. James Pawelski

The latest issue of MAPP magazine focused on the topic of the Positive Humanities. After publishing it, we received a great deal of positive feedback. To learn more about the latest happenings in the field of the Positive Humanities, I interviewed Dr. James Pawelski, the director of the Humanities and Human Flourishing Lab at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and founding director of UPenn’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Program.

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Applying Positive Psychology to Race Work

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Applying Positive Psychology to Race Work

“If we are basically all the same, isn’t our work done?” That was the question a senior leader at a U.S. wealth management firm (we’ll call her Joan) asked us. Joan had offered to read an early draft of our book, The Business of Race*, and provide constructive feedback before we hit the send button to our publisher. Her question stopped us in our tracks, particularly when she added, “Serious question, not snarky.”

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