Executive Health & Wellbeing Positive Psychology Workshop 2010 Maria Ruberto Consultant Psychologist 1
Definitions 2
Authentic Happiness +5 +4 +3 +2 +1 0-1 -2-3 -4-5 3
Positive Psychology Framework Life Satisfaction = Happiest People Pursuit of Engagement + Pursuit of Meaning The Pleasant Life Positive Emotion Feeling Well The Engaged Life Positive Character Strengths The Meaningful Life Positive Institution Purpose The Flourishing Life Sustaining Optimism & Celebrations 4
Affectivity Humans are designed to experience and process all emotions Depression and mood disorder was not meant to be the norm It is what we choose to focus on, that determines our mental capacity and wellbeing; it is what determines our outcomes and success Among our birthrights as humans is the experience of the subtle and fleeting pleasant feelings of positivity Barbara Fredrickson, 2009 5
Activity Who is the most positive person you know? What do you notice about them? 6
Happiology? They are the higher order experiences that signal safety, provide opportunity to build and consolidate psychological skills that can later be used to good effect [Nakamura & Csikszentmihalyi 2002] 7
Positive Perceptions The question is not What s wrong, but what are we missing? 8
The Brain Response Current Brain Research Neurological changes in brain dictates functional response Adrenaline Cardiovascular systems redirects oxygenated blood to larger muscles Cortisol To mobilise more energy by increasing glucose into the bloodstream & aids muscular repair 9
The Changing Brain The Prefrontal Cortex is Responsible for Executive Function Rational thought and reason Planning & Decision making Working memory Selective attention Problem solving Self-regulation Social Cognition 10
Negative Embodiment 11
Heart Research Myocardial Ischemia 12
Contrived vs Authentic Zygomaticus Major Obicularis Oculi 13 Duchenne Smile
Broaden & Build Theory Barbara Fredrickson 2004 Positive emotions undo the physiological effects of negative emotion [Tugade & Fredrickson 2004] 14
The House of NeuroScience Evidence that Positive Emotion builds Cognitive Capacity Positive Emotions show cognitive changes Broader Attention Greater Working Memory Enhanced Verbal Fluency Increased Openness to Information Increased Creativity Increased Engagement [Fredrickson & Branigan 2005] 15
Positivity resilience People who live positively, live up to 10 years longer 16 [Fredrickson 2009]
Action Research 17
Cultivating Positive Emotion 18
Optimistic Language Yes, but... Yes, and... I notice that I can see that I wondered about how you were feeling today I saw this afternoon how you I see you may need some help in Tell me about your feelings with You seemed upset / disappointed / distant today I was wondering how you were 19
10 Positive Affects Joy Gratitude Serenity Interest Hope Inspiration Awe Love Pride Amusement We can cultivate and create positivity by using the thinking that sparks that emotion 20
The Piano Key Effect Fleeting Fragile 21
Positivity Ratio Positive emotions higher transiency The trick is not to grasp them too tightly Focus on increasing the frequency Positive 3 Negative 1 22
3:1 Ratio Positive & authentic statements Efficacy based focus Positive inquiry learning questions Negative statements Deficiency focus Self advocacy statements The Upward Spiral Optimistic Language I Can, I m OK Language 3:1 The Downward Spiral Pessimistic Language I m not OK, I m not worthy Language HEALTHY FORMS OF NEGATIVITY Anger Guilt Fear These are specific and correctable TOXIC FORMS OF NEGATIVITY Disgust Contempt Shame These are gratuitous and global 23
Losada s New Research on High Performing Teams HIGH PERFORMING + 6:1 Ratio of positive (strength-based and opportunity) focused dialogue to negative (deficiency focus) dialogue. Tipping Point 3:1 Ratio LOW PERFORMING 1:3 Ratio one positive statement in the team for every three deficiency focused statements. +2:1 Ratio of inquiry (learning focused questions) versus advocacy (closed positions) type conversation. 1:20 Ratio one inquiry (open-learning type questions) for every twenty remarks based on advocacy. 24
Seligman Resources Learned Helplessness [1975] Abnormal Psychology [1992] What You Can Change & What You Can t [1993] The Optimistic Child [1995] Learned Optimism [2001] Authentic Happiness [2002] Character Strengths and Virtues [2004] Free Hugs 25