Positive Psychology Theory:
A Way to Understanding Literature and the Creative Process
Emily Bencsics
Indiana University South Bend
ENG-L 680 Psychology and Literature
Professor Joe Chaney
July 12, 2012
Positive Psychology Theory:
A Way to Understanding Literature and the Creative Process
While most branches of psychology
focus on specific mental ailments of the patient such as depression, anger
management issues, and a whole host of other neuroses; it is the emphasis on
self-potential and fulfillment that sets the positive psychology theory apart
from all of the others. Born from the
Humanistic approach in the 1950s, positive psychology has emerged as being one
of the only modern day theories that center on a person’s internal happiness,
rather than a person’s dysfunction or abnormal behavior. Focusing on holistic health, positive
psychology has been described as a way “to build thriving individuals,
families, and communities” (Cherry, 2012, para. 2). Mainly, positive psychology concerns itself
with the optimistic aspects of one’s life.
Developed in the 1990s, positive
psychology was originally thought to deal with three main issues: “First …well-being, flow, joy, optimism, and
hope. Second …studying personality
traits of thriving individuals…focusing on character strengths and virtues…Finally,
identifying, studying, and enhancing those qualities of social institutions
that sustain and enhance positive subjective experiences…” (Robbins, 2008, p.
96). Upon first examination, it may be
easy to assume that positive psychology ignores the very tangible psycho-social
issues afflicting people today. However,
this assumption is far from accurate.
Positive psychology primes people to search for their own inner strengths,
and gets one away from a “woe is me – everything is wrong” attitude. Refreshing
in its assurance, positive psychology may very well offer more than an
optimistic outlook; it may very well reveal insights into one’s creative
process as well.
For many writers, accessing the
chaotic, dramatic, and downright disturbing parts of the mind is, well,
relatively easy and/or common. Positive
psychology suggests that retrieving the optimistic, altruistic, and
spiritualistic aspects of one’s psyche is not only of equal importance, but
could actually result in a more satisfying outcome for the artist/writer. In other words, the writer who recognizes
some of the base positive emotions that come out of the act of writing should
exhibit a more confident and fulfilled nature; therefore, the act of writing in
itself propels the author to produce thereby continuing a contented cycle of
rewarding behavior.
In addition to understanding the
positive emotions linked to the creative process, there is one in particular
that deserves attention and is a focal point in positive psychology – mindfulness. According to Dean Robbins (2008), a “fully
functioning person [has] qualities such as being nondefensive and open to
experience; fully living in the moment…recognizing his or her freedom…being
creative, reliable, and constructive…”(p.98).
Without sounding like a Buddhist-based self-help book, being mindful is
paramount to the writer’s creative process.
Generally, writers are extremely purposeful in their creations, and the
literature to come from such authors expresses attention to detail, the overwhelming
need to share, and a spirituality that speaks to doing something bigger than
oneself. Obviously, there are exceptions
to the rule as many a writer has produced less than mediocre effort because the
mind wasn’t fully present in the work.
Perhaps this is one of those pieces, but then again, perhaps this author is hopeful.
References
Cherry, K. (n.d.).
What is positive psychology? Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/branchesofpsycholog1/a/positive-psychology.htm
Robbins, D.
(2008). What is the good life? Positive
psychology and the renaissance of Humanistic psychology. Humanistic
Psychologist, 36(2), 96-112.
doi: 10.1080/08873260802110988
