Psychology review

Psychology is famous for its fads, some of which develop into proper scientific disciplines, while others drop by the wayside. Martin Seligman popularised ‘positive psychology’ in the late 1990s. Positive psychology aims to restore the more positive features of human nature, such as happiness, virtue and altruism, within the study of psychology. This has undoubtedly helped to highlight what is often neglected in traditional psychology, i.e. that we are actually far more able to cope with life’s traumas than we are given credit for. As psychologist Scott Lilienfeld acknowledges, most people are surprisingly resilient in the face of extreme trauma, even horrific events such as earthquakes, floods and wartime combat.

However, Lilienfeld does warn against the mistaken belief that positive psychology is for everyone, claiming that such ‘one-size-fits-all’ interventions are rarely helpful. For example, social psychologist Julie Norem, in her book The Positive Power of Negative Thinking, explains how being a defensive pessimist is a better solution for some people. We all know someone who drives us mad by worrying about how badly they are going to do in their exams, yet ends up with straight As. For such people, worrying about upcoming challenges is a healthy coping strategy that helps them prepare for adversity. Force them to look on the bright side and their grades plummet.