Harvard Open Course: Positive psychology Lecture 4 & 5 Note

Continue talking premises mentioned in Lecture 3.

Personal change is possible. How about socielty?

All history is a record of the power of minorities, and of minorities of one.
The power of one. Human networks as exponential. (You can also change the world. Or you change can make this world different.)

Premise 3
Internal factors primary determins happiness VS. Happiness is primarily a function of external circumstance.

Previous study ponited out happiness levels are not determined by income (but has to up to certain level. However, not a high level), generations, and place of residence. It is determined by state of mind.

Premise 4
Human nature must be obeyed VS. Human nature must be perfected.

"Human nature must be obeyed" means people need regulations to constrain their behaviors.
"Human nature must be perfected" means people can find their own way to perfect themselves. (Idealist?)

Vision of psychology:
Human nature immutable
Role is to understand nature and make best use of it.

So do not try to be perfect. Allow yourself to be human. Accept yourself. Rejecting nature leads to unhappiness. Accetance means to understand your characterisitics, emotion, ability, and reality. Interpret and handle them in the best way.

Premise 5
Happiness is and ought to be our ultimate end VS. Happiness should be a secondary pursuit.

Some people feel guilty when they feel good because other people may suffer now.
It is OK. Spread out happiness. Happiness is a positive sum game.

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the lift of the candle will not be shorten. Happiness never decreses by being shared.....Buddha.

Helping ourselves and helping others
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Another topic

Belief creates reality.
How people treat you can change you, and also how you think about yourself matters.

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make our world.....Buddha.

Positive priming: pictures, pleasant objects, and quotes.