Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science

This course is part of Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization

Instructor: Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

4.9

(6,115 reviews)

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

Approx. 16 hours

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

4.9

(6,115 reviews)

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

Approx. 16 hours

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

Understand the scientific foundations of Positive Psychology
Explain how skills of well-being can be learned and taught
Describe why mind and body flourish together
Discuss inspiring new developments in the field of Positive Psychology

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Assessments

8 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization

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There are 4 modules in this course

Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman—renowned worldwide as the “father of Positive Psychology”—has led visionary leaps in the scientific research, empirical data and personal understandings of human flourishing. This course explores the past, present and future of positive psychology as a journey through the key scientific leaps led by Dr. Seligman and his colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania's Positive Psychology Center and Master of Applied Positive Psychology program.

In this module, Dr. Martin Seligman introduces the scientific foundations of positive psychology and key research findings that led to a revolutionary understanding of what makes people flourish. Participants will learn about research-based skills and exercises to increase well-being and begin to practice these skills in their own lives.

What's included

10 videos5 readings2 assignments1 peer review4 discussion prompts

10 videosTotal 61 minutes

Course Introduction1 minutePreview module
Module 1 Introduction1 minute
Positive Psychology: Toward a Balanced, Empirical Understanding of Well-being7 minutes
What Do We Mean by the "Positive" in Positive Psychology?6 minutes
Seeds of Flourishing: The Personal in Parallel with a Developing New Field7 minutes
How Do People Explain Bad Events? Risk Factors and Protective Factors for Depression5 minutes
Health is a Skill: Learned Optimism6 minutes
Laying the Foundation: Defining, Measuring, and Testing Happiness and Flourishing8 minutes
Building Blocks: PERMA: Defining Wellbeing12 minutes
Try This At Home: Building the Skill of Gratitude. Suggested Exercise: What Went Well?3 minutes

5 readingsTotal 33 minutes

Dr. Martin Seligman Biography5 minutes
Key Point: Learned Helplessness3 minutes
Key Point: Optimism can be learned0 minutes
PERMA Overview15 minutes
Which Character Strengths Are Most Predictive of Well-Being?10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 40 minutes

Try This At Home: What Went Well10 minutes
Module 130 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 105 minutes

In Your Life: Strengths and Well-being105 minutes

4 discussion promptsTotal 60 minutes

Imagine your life as a garden.15 minutes
What makes life worth living?15 minutes
Dimensions of PERMA15 minutes
What went well today?15 minutes

In this module, Dr. Martin Seligman shares the great leaps in scientific understanding that created the foundation for a science of well-being at individual, communal, and global levels.

What's included

13 videos2 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

13 videosTotal 80 minutes

Module 2 Introduction1 minutePreview module
Building Skills to Flourish7 minutes
Positive Interventions: Testing What Works2 minutes
Stage 1: Teaching Skills for Wellbeing Proactively Can Prevent Anxiety and Depression in Children8 minutes
Stage 2: The Leap from Research to Policy in the United Kingdom3 minutes
Stage 3: The Science of Grit and a New Understanding: How to Foster Flourishing in Schools3 minutes
Stage 4: Transcending Curriculum to Transform Culture in Schools7 minutes
Stage 5: From Whole Schools to Whole Communities4 minutes
Stage 6: Whole Force Resilience11 minutes
Positive Education: Teaching Academic Success and Well-Being9 minutes
Positive Education: Taking It to Scale9 minutes
Positive Education: Replicating Success Worldwide7 minutes
Try This At Home: Building Positive Relationships Through Active Constructive Responding4 minutes

2 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Review of Flourish by Richard Layard15 minutes
Well-being and Public Policy15 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 30 minutes

Try This At Home: ACR10 minutes
Module 220 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 45 minutes

Increasing Your Well-being15 minutes
Share Your Experience with ACR30 minutes

In this module, Dr. Martin Seligman shares key research questions from the field of Positive Psychology, and the answers turn some conventional assumptions on their head. Are we shaped by the future vs. the past? And what does science tell us about mind/body flourishing? What gets better as we age?

What's included

10 videos7 readings2 assignments3 discussion prompts

10 videosTotal 67 minutes

Module 3 Introduction1 minutePreview module
Drawn By the Future: A Revolution in Psychology9 minutes
Drawn By the Future: A Revolution in Psychology Part 26 minutes
Drawn By the Future: The Science of Prospection8 minutes
Positive Health: Mind and Body Flourish Together6 minutes
New Directions in Mental and Physical Health8 minutes
Positive Aging: Creativity and Strengths Throughout Life4 minutes
Creativity and Imagination10 minutes
Creativity and Imagination Part 28 minutes
Try This At Home: Know and Grow Your Strengths3 minutes

7 readingsTotal 102 minutes

Watch This Video: Can You Believe Your Eyes?2 minutes
Homo Prospectus Review10 minutes
More about the Selective Attention Test20 minutes
Optimistic Minds and Healthy Hearts20 minutes
The Creative Life and Well-Being20 minutes
What Are Your Signature Strengths vs. What's Your Type?20 minutes
Share Your Strengths10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 40 minutes

Know and Grow Your Strengths10 minutes
Module 3 Quiz30 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 75 minutes

Can You Believe Your Eyes?15 minutes
Share Your Top 5 Character Strengths30 minutes
Apply and Share Experiences30 minutes

In this module, Dr. Martin Seligman discusses some of the most inspiring recent and future developments in the field of Positive Psychology, in particular those that transcend individual experience and have the potential to transform our world.

What's included

10 videos3 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

10 videosTotal 91 minutes

Module 4 Introduction1 minutePreview module
The Future of Positive Psychology: Key Topics3 minutes
Constructive Journalism22 minutes
Constructive Journalism - some Q&A with Cathrine Gyldensted15 minutes
Positive Psychology and Spiritual Experience7 minutes
Positive Psychology and Spiritual Experience Part 26 minutes
World Well-Being and Big Data10 minutes
World Well-Being and Big Data Part 217 minutes
Try This at Home: Fun Vs. Philanthropy3 minutes
Drawn by the Vision of a Flourishing Future3 minutes

3 readingsTotal 48 minutes

Learn More about Constructive Journalism15 minutes
Truly Awe-some Science15 minutes
What Your Tweets Say about You and Your World18 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 40 minutes

Try This At Home: Fun vs. Philanthropy10 minutes
Module 430 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 30 minutes

Share Your Experience: Fun vs. Philanthropy30 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

4.9 (1,434 ratings)

Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.

University of Pennsylvania

2 Courses134,038 learners

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

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4.9

6,115 reviews

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Showing 3 of 6115

Reviewed on Aug 19, 2019

This course has been an eye opener for me to the possibilities and options of changing culture and behavior, not solely basing on past experience of individuals but with more focus on future choices.

Reviewed on Oct 28, 2017

I love this course very much! It helps me become a better person, it made me examine my daily experiences. I learned techniques to improve my dealings with others. :)Thank you very much, Dr Seligman!

Reviewed on Aug 26, 2018

Glad to learn lot of experimental positive psychology tools to use in day to day life and helped to practice positive psychology coaching through this course. Thank you Coursera for this opportunity.

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