Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.  ~John Dewey

What is Positive Psychology?

Positive Psychology is, in short, the science of what makes life worth living. 

Traditionally, psychology focused on what goes wrong with people's minds, in terms of mental illness and disorder. During his term as American Psychological Association President, Professor Martin Seligman turned this around by founding a movement called Positive Psychology. He refers to it as the "scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive". In his latest theory Flourish, he believes that they key to thriving life is to focus on PERMA:
  • Positive Emotions 
  • Engagement
  • Relationships
  • Meaning
  • Achievement

What is Positive Education?

Positive Education is the application of positive psychology into the world of education. While academic achievement might still be a huge priority of schools, the need for psychological skills to help students prepare themselves for challenges ahead and tools they can have to lead a flourishing, thriving life are also crucial for their continued success in the world. Positive education thus brings back the balance into the achievement-oriented focus and teaches well-being (PERMA) through direct teaching of skills and infusion into the curriculum. 

With Positive Education, the skills of well-being can exist in parallel to the skills of achievement i.e. students can continue to focus on cognitive learning while simultaneously building up their psychological capacity for the future.

Benefits of Positive Education

  • Reduced depression
  • Increased ability to cope with stress and trauma
  • Increased well-being
  • Enhanced performance in school
  • Better school adjustment