Positive approach

Acknowledgement of free will

• Believes humans are in charge of their emotions and have free will to change how they direct their emotions
• Contrast to deterministic approaches
• We are self directing and adaptive, and that the good life can be experienced if we use our signature strengths
• Seligman: happiness not due to genes or good luck but recognising own strengths
• Supported by Diener and Seligman looking at why people are happy and found students amount of time invested in family and friends effected this. Strongest ties were happier
• We can control our happiness by choosing to engage in activity that we know will make us happy

Authencity of goodness and excellence:

• Feelings of happiness and goodness are as natural as feelings of anxiety and stress, therefore psychologists need to pay equal attention to these emotions
• Seligman: triats such as virtue and happiness are as authentic as negative traits 
• Seligman: we have triats called 'signature strengths' such as kindness, genorosity and humour. We need these to enhance lives
• Change from focus on negative state to positve
• Role of therapist is to focus on these traits and help develop them to achieve fulfilment and well being.
• Acts as a buffer against mental health problems
• Relating to relationship formation: feelings of love etc are authentic and is why relationships are formed, allows individuals to use these signature strengths and develop them to strive towards a happier life

Focus on 'The Good Life':

The good life are factors that contribute to a well-lived life.

Seligman distinguishes 3 desirable lives

• The pleasant life- pursuing positive emotions
• The good life- pursuing activities that positively engage us
• The meaningful life- happiness comes from deep sense of fufilment by living for a purpose greater than oneself

In order to reach the good life we must do 3 things

• Positive connection to others
• Positive individual traits
• Life regualtion qualities

Relating to relationships, people strive towards the good life which involves positive connections to others, pursuing social relationships does this.