Positive Psychology and Well-Being

Year
4
Academic year
2020-2021
Code
01741038
Subject Area
Psychology
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
ECTS Credits
4.0
Type
Elective
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

All previous subjects and good domain of the language.

Teaching Methods

Dynamic teaching methods with theory and practice, lectures , followed by students’ group reflection, supported by learning material indicated or given by the teacher. Analysis and discussion of texts and practical situations are examples of other methods used.

Learning Outcomes

This curricular unit promotes a reflection about the conceptual and practical knowledge necessary to understand optimal human functioning. There is a focus on issues related to the lifelong personal and interpersonal development, highlighting the many facets of human behavior (from the emotional, social vocational, educational, health and organizational points of view), as well as the main  paradigms that preceded it in the counseling domain.

This curricular unit has the main following pedagogical goals:

- To understand the new epistemological paradigm of Positive Psychology.

- To know and understand the historical roots of the positive approach in Psychology and its developments.

- To articulate the concepts of mental health/illness and of well-being.

- To master the applications of positive psychology in the educational, social and health dimensions.    

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Introduction to Positive Psychology (and Well Being): a brief overview.

2. Historical roots

2.1 Psychological roots (the humanistic school)

2.2 Philosophical roots (from ancient Greece to the present)

3. Positive Psychology and Well Being: characterization.

3.1 The study of positive emotions

3.2 The study of positive traits

3.3 The study of positive institutions

4. Positive Psychology: Current state and future perspectives

5. Multidimensionality in research and intervention

6. Positive Psychology and Well Being: relations and interactions in the understanding of happiness.

7. Evolutionary and neuropsychological perspectives of happiness

8. Positive counselling and psychotherapy

9. Positive health

10. Positive childhood

11. Positive aging

12. Positive organizations and institutions

13. Positive psychological assessment

14. Research methods in Positive Psychology

15. Positive Psychology: from every day to specialized intervention

Head Lecturer(s)

Joaquim Armando Gomes Alves Ferreira

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Project: 10.0%
Synthesis work: 90.0%

Bibliography

Gardner, H., Csikszentmihalyi, M, & Damon, W. (2002). Good Work: When Excellence and Ethics Meet. New York: Basic Books.

Joseph, S. (2015). Positive Psychology in Practice: Promoting Human Flourishing in Work, Health, Education, and Everyday Life. Hoboken, NJ.: John Wiley & Sons.

Pearsall, P. (2003). The Beethoven factor: The new positive psychology of hardiness, happiness, healing and hope. Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads.

Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification. Washington, D.C.: APA Press and Oxford University Press.

Seligman, M. E. P. (1990). Learned optimism: How to change your mind and your life. New York: Pocket Books.

Snyder, C. R., & Lopez, S. J. (Eds.) (2002). Handbook of positive psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.

A restante bibliografia será indicada nos sumários/The remaining reference list will be provided in the summaries of each class.