Foundations

2.2 Discussion: Positive Psychology Compared to Traditional Psychology

Getting Started

What do you know about current elements in psychology? Do you know how they compare to more traditional ways of “doing” psychology? Because positive psychology and the strengths perspectives have been around for only a couple of decades, it’s important to have a sound understanding of methods that have traditionally been employed and why or how other methods came to be. You’ll also want to understand how to evaluate them for their usefulness.

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

· Evaluate strengths-based and positive psychology approaches and compare to traditional approaches.

Resources

· Article: Positive Psychology as a Resource for Pastoral Theology and Care: A Preliminary Assessment

· Article: Strengths-Based Reflective Practices for the Management of Change: Applications from Sport and Positive Psychology

Background Information

For this discussion, you will examine and compare positive psychology and strengths-based psychology with traditional psychology. It helps to have an understanding of the history of psychology and traditional methods that have been used, along with how aspects of the field are changing to include positive and strength-based perspective.

Instructions

1. Read the following articles (please note if you are not already logged in to the Jackson Library, you will be prompted to log in when you click the links below):

a. “ Positive Psychology as a Resource for Pastoral Theology and Care: A Preliminary Assessment ”

b. “ Strengths-Based Reflective Practices for the Management of Change: Applications from Sport and Positive Psychology ”

2. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion prompts:

a. Identify at least two differences in how you would work with a client using positive psychology and how they are different from a traditional approach.

b. Identify at least two differences in how you would work with a client using a strengths-based approach and how they differ from a traditional approach.

c. Describe limitations using a positive psychology or strengths-based approach.

3. Your initial post:

a. Should be between 400 and 500 words.

4. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.

c. Be posted on three different days during the workshop.

5. Use the Activities button to access the discussion forum.

2.1 Discussion: Love on Trial

Getting Started

You have seen him in town with the people. You have heard of his power to heal, to make the blind see, the lame walk, the broken-hearted to live again. You have come to respect him and to even “love him.” You also know he is a dangerous sort to be around. So you have stayed away from him, kept your distance. Still, you have nothing against him. He has done great things for others, and you hope and pray that his healing ministry will continue to spread far and wide. He hasn’t hurt anyone. He has done nothing wrong. Well, not that you know of.

Then you hear of a sudden and unexpected twist going on in high places. People are running to the courtyards. There is fear and dread—and an evilness that has not been felt before—hanging in the air, moving throughout the city.

What is happening?

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

· Share your perspective of love.

Resources

· Bible

Background Information

Someone whispers in the darkness: “Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged! The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” They slapped him in the face!

You run to the court and stand with the other Jewish people:

Pilate comes out and says to you and the crowd gathered there,  “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

You are frozen with fear. You feel as though this must be a dream, a nightmare. Nothing like this has ever happened before. You listen to the crowd become hostile, loud, violent:

The people shout, “Crucify! Crucify!”

You are shocked when you hear Pilate’s response:  “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, you hear the Jewish leaders insist,  “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

You watch as Pilate disappears back inside the palace. Pilate whispers in a fierce, desperate voice to Jesus.  “Where do you come from?” he asks Jesus, but Jesus gives him no answer. “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate says, “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

Jesus finally answers.  “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore, the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

You look at the angry, hostile crowd. You see Pilate’s palace. Frantically, you begin to run. You decide to run home and hide—there isn’t anything you can do. There isn’t anything you can do.

Or is there?

Who has wronged you? Who has misjudged your heart, your intentions? Who has found you guilty when you had done nothing wrong? How did you react to being wrongly accused? Taken further, has there ever been a time when you only wanted to do something good for someone else and it backfired? When perhaps your intentions were misunderstood? What was this like and what did you do in response?

Instructions

1. Read this devotional, “Love on Trial” (the Introduction and Background Information sections on this page).

2. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following:

a. Describe a time you experienced your “love on trial.”

b. Identify three ways you reacted to the experience of being misjudged and found guilty even though you were innocent.

c. Write a letter or poem (or even a brief essay) about being misjudged. You can share it with your colleagues if you choose to do so.

3. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.

2.3 Assignment. Positive Psychology and the Interview Process

Getting Started

Traditional methods in industrial and organizational (I/O) psychology often focused on identifying problems and determining how to resolve those problems. While this can be important and meaningful at times, it sidesteps the idea of valuing employees, many of whom are attempting to do their best while dealing with challenges they may feel they have little power to do anything about. As an I/O psychological consultant, you may choose to focus on employee and organizational strengths. How might you overcome resistance among organizational staff to using this perspective, and which aspects of positive psychology would you want to utilize in an interview? You will explore these issues and more in this assignment.

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

· Describe how to utilize foundational principles of positive psychology with organizations during the interview phase.

Resources

· eBook:  Positive Organizational Scholarship: Foundations of a New Discipline

· eBook:  Positive Psychology 101

· Website: OCLS Introduction to Research Guide

· Website: OCLS Article Databases

· Website: Academic Writer

· Website: OCLS Evaluating Resources Page

Background Information

For this assignment, you will begin exploring how to utilize aspects of positive psychology during an interview with individuals in an organization.

Instructions

1. In the IWU Library eBook  Positive Organizational Scholarship: Foundations of a New Discipline, read:

a. This chapter provides an overview of some of the major works regarding positive psychology and organizations.

b. This chapter provides an overview of aspects of virtuous organizations, including the way the Values in Action: Classification of Strengths (VIA) questionnaire was created. The VIA is one way to classify strengths in the workplace.

c. Chapter 1, “Foundations of Positive Organizational Scholarship”

d. Chapter 3, “Virtues and Organizations”

2. In the IWU Library eBook  Positive Psychology 101, read:

a. This chapter provides a brief history of the beginnings of positive psychology as well as the author’s own forays into studying gratitude.

b. This chapter begins with an evaluation of the  DSM then explores the virtues of a good life.

c. Chapter 1, “Foundational Concepts and Issues of Positive Psychology: The What and Why of Happiness”

d. Chapter 2, “Cataloging the Good Life: The Strengths of Happiness”

3. Write a minimum two-page,  APA Style  formatted paper describing how you will use principles of contemporary positive psychology during your interview process when working with organizations. The page count does not include the reference list.

a. As part of the paper, you will need to identify sources that support your main points. Please include two outside references in addition to references from your readings.