Psychology in Action

What do you want out of life? If you are like the vast majority of people who have been asked this question, your answer probably includes a desire to be happy. Often, though, we do not have a clear sense of what would make us happy. For more than thirty years, psychologists studying positive psychology have asked this very question: What makes people happy? And the research they have undertaken has provided clear answers.

In this course, you will learn about the field of study known as positive psychology, which is the scientific study of “valued subjective experiences” such as happiness, well-being, satisfaction, hope, and optimism, as well as positive traits such as creativity, courage, and wisdom that contribute to meaning in life. Positive psychology focuses on the psychological states – contentment, happiness, and hope – individual traits – intimacy, creativity, integrity, altruism, and wisdom – and social institutions — schools and places of worship – that enable us to live our best life.

In this course, you will learn about the history of positive psychology, beginning with the work of William James, continuing through the theory and research of contemporary positive psychologists. There is extensive coverage of the factors that determine our happiness, subjective well-being, and life satisfaction. Learners are given ample opportunities to engage in the activities that research has shown provide valuable self-care, including expressing gratitude, helping others, engaging in mindfulness, and finding meaning.

Later in the course, we present cross-cultural research on how well-being is measured across different societies and countries, cultural differences in desired levels of happiness, and how policy informs these factors. Last, research has demonstrated that helping others contributes to our levels of happiness. This course explains the factors that influence why we help, when we help, and how to increase helping behavior.

The course has a dual focus; in addition to learning about the field of positive psychology and its research findings, you will learn what proactive steps you can take to boost our own levels of happiness, well-being, and life satisfaction.

Contributors

Editorial Advisors

Dr. Susan A. Nolan, Seton Hall University

Dr. Denée Mwendwa, Howard University

Content Developer

Dr. Alan Strathman, American Psychological Association

Instructional Designer

Dr. Sharon Gan, American Psychological Association

We make thousands of decisions each day, though we may not always be consciously aware of each one. Many decisions seem straightforward—when to wake up, what to eat, what to wear, what activities to do—but research suggests that even simple decisions are influenced by other people and by the context in which the decisions are made. More significant decisions such as who we befriend, who we choose as a long-term partner, and what career we pursue are similarly influenced by psychological factors. ****

This course will separate the varied psychological factors that affect decisions into several categories. Some psychological factors are intrapersonal, meaning they occur in our own mind. These include cognitive factors such as schemas and attributions, and motivational factors such as the influence of psychological needs. Other factors are interpersonal, acknowledging that other people have powerful influences on our decisions. Another section focuses on the unique influence of group dynamics, suggesting our decisions are influenced by conformity, groupthink, and group polarization. Finally, we cover intergroup influences on decision making, such as prejudice and discrimination.

The goal of this course is to introduce you to the many psychological influences on decision making. Knowing more about the psychological factors underlying decision making will help you make more informed decisions and help you analyze how other people make decisions and the factors that contribute to those decisions. If you are an employee, this course can help you understand how your supervisor makes decisions and how you can affect those decisions. If you are a parent, the course can help you better understand the factors that affect your children’s decision making and perhaps help you shape their decision making. A better understanding of the psychological influences on decision making can help improve decision making in personal and professional lives.