The positive psychology movement grew out of the research of psychologist Martin Seligman in the 1990s and has generated a substantial amount of evidence backing its strengths-based approach, as well as educational and practical tools. Positive psychology emphasizes developing strategies for thriving by finding meaning and fulfillment in life—not just through cognitive restructuring.
Resources
“Resilience Skill Set.” University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center. Posted February 13, 2019. https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/resilience-programs/resilience-skill-set
Seligman, Martin. Learned Optimism: How to Change your Mind and your Life. New York: Pocket Books, 1991.
According to Dr. Kristin Neff, a leading researcher on self-compassion, we must first acknowledge that we are in fact suffering, then extend the same understanding and kindness to ourselves that we show towards others. Most importantly, we will show more compassion towards ourselves when we recognize that suffering, failure and imperfection are truly all part of the human condition—from which we are not individually exempt.
Self-compassion involves acting the same way towards yourself when you are having a difficult time, fail, or notice something you don’t like about yourself. Instead of just ignoring your pain with a “stiff upper lip” mentality, you stop to tell yourself “This is really difficult right now,” and reflect on how can you can comfort and care for yourself in that moment.
The Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIque) was developed by K.V. Petrides, PhD, from the London Psychometric Laboratory at the University College of London. The TEIque is one of the few EI self-assessments that has been empirically validated. While the full assessment consists of 153 questions, the short form version consists of only 30 questions and takes only 15 minutes to complete. Both assessments measure six dimensions of EI, including emotional awareness, impulse control, empathy, conflict management, motivation, maturity, and self-esteem.
Mikolajczak, M., Luminet, O., Leroy, C., & Roy, E. (2007). Psychometric properties of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire. Journal of Personality Assessment, 88, 338-353.
Petrides, K. V. (2009). Technical manual for the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaires (TEIQue). London: London Psychometric Laboratory.
Cooper, A. & Petrides, K. V. (2010). A psychometric analysis of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF) using Item Response Theory. Journal of Personality Assessment, 92, 449-457.
Researchers building on Dweck’s work have found that people exhibiting a fixed mindset tend to avoid information and experiences that challenge their beliefs, particularly about themselves and their binary understanding of success and failure. Those people with growth mindsets tend to embrace learning as a challenge in and of itself, perceiving its value regardless of performance—and are thus better able to take on and manage any self-perceptions that limit them from growing. In other words, as people that hold a growth mindset, they are more likely to believe mindsets are malleable.
Resources
Yeager, D.S. and Carol S. Dweck. “Mindsets That Promote Resilience: When Students Believe That Personal Characteristics Can Be Developed.” Educational Psychologist, 47 no.4 (2012): 302–314. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2012.722805
Klein, Gary. May 1, 2016. “Mindsets: What they are and why they Matter.” Posted May 1, 2016. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/seeing-what-others-dont/201605/mindsets
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