PBH110

Course Description

This course is about positive psychology, which encompasses the study of positive experiences, positive character strengths, positive relationships, and the institutions and practices that facilitate their development. Positive experiences include mental states of flow and mindfulness and emotions about the present (pleasure, contentment, laughter), past (e.g. nostalgia, satisfaction, pride), and future (e.g. hope, optimism). The distinction between the pleasant life, the good life, and the meaningful life will be drawn. The classification of character strengths and the strengths themselves will be explored. This course also reviews the history of positive psychology and the contributions this new field has made to traditional mainstream psychology. The course is largely experiential and will include classroom activities, discussions as well as practical exercises to increase wellbeing, which will supplement our theoretical and empirical understanding of important questions in positive

Course Details