Positive Psychology: Applications and Interventions

Ends in 3 days! Save 40% on your access to 10,000+ programs and make a real impact in your career. Save now.

Positive Psychology: Applications and Interventions

This course is part of Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization

Instructor: James Pawelski, Ph.D.

64,936 already enrolled

Included with Learn more

Ask Coursera

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

No prior experience required

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Understand the Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Interventions
Use strategies for classifying character strengths and virtues
Choose goals that support your personal well-being
Describe why it's important to cultivate a healthy emotional life

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

8 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

Positive interventions are one of the building blocks for the application of positive psychology in our day-to-day lives. In this course taught by Dr. James Pawelski, we explore positive interventions through theory, research and practice. We provide learners the basic tools for using and measuring positive psychology in professional or personal contexts. Suggested prerequisite: Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science.

What's included

23 videos9 readings2 assignments

23 videosTotal 71 minutes

1.1 Welcome to the Course2 minutes
1.3a Why Positive Interventions?4 minutes
1.3b How to Live Our Lives Well3 minutes
1.4 Assignment 1 minute
1.7a A Thought Experiment Part 14 minutes
1.7b A Thought Experiment Part 23 minutes
1.7c A Thought Experiment Part 3 4 minutes
1.9a The Origins of Positive Psychology5 minutes
1.9b What This Course Covers2 minutes
1.10 Assignment: Three Good Things1 minute
1.12a What are Positive Interventions5 minutes
1.12b How Positive Interventions are Tested, Part 13 minutes
1.12c How Positive Interventions are Tested, Part 23 minutes
1.12d How Positive Interventions are Tested, Part 34 minutes
1.13 Assignment: PANAS1 minute
1.16a Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Interventions Part 14 minutes
1.16b Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Interventions Part 2 4 minutes
1.18a Cultivating Positive Emotions Part 14 minutes
1.18b Cultivating Positive Emotions Part 24 minutes
1.18c Cultivating Positive Emotions Part 34 minutes
1.18d Cultivating Positive Emotions Part 42 minutes
1.18e Cultivating Positive Emotions Part 53 minutes
1.19 Assignment: Cultivating Emotion1 minute

9 readingsTotal 85 minutes

1.2 How to Get the Most Out of This Course5 minutes
1.5 Journal Prompt: Making Connections to Creating Change 10 minutes
1.6 Biography of Dr. James Pawelski10 minutes
1.8 Journal Prompt: Thought Experiment10 minutes
1.11 Journal Activity: Three Good Things10 minutes
1.14 Journal Prompt: PANAS 10 minutes
1.17 Journal Activity: Positivity Ratio Scale 10 minutes
1.20 Journal Activity: Cultivating Emotion10 minutes
1.21 Journal Prompts and Readings for Module 110 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

1.22 Module 1 Quiz30 minutes
1.15 Practice Quiz 1 30 minutes

What's included

21 videos8 readings2 assignments

21 videosTotal 59 minutes

2.1a The Positive in Positive Psychology, Part 15 minutes
2.1b The Positive in Positive Psychology, Part 23 minutes
2.2 Assignment: Competing Positives1 minute
2.4a Are Positive Emotions Always Positive? Part 17 minutes
2.4b Are Positive Emotions Always Positive? Part 25 minutes
2.5 Assignment: Rethinking Positive Emotions1 minute
2.7a Emotional Intelligence Part 14 minutes
2.7b Emotional Intelligence Part 23 minutes
2.7c Emotional Intelligence Part 34 minutes
2.8 Assignment: Emotional Intelligence1 minute
2.11a Savoring Part 13 minutes
2.11b Savoring Part 23 minutes
2.11c Savoring Part 34 minutes
2.12 Assignment: Savoring1 minute
2.14a Savoring the Future3 minutes
2.14b Savoring the Past3 minutes
2.15 Assignment: Savoring Strategies0 minutes
2.17a World-Focused Savoring4 minutes
2.17b Self-Focused Savoring3 minutes
2.17c Savoring and the Humanities3 minutes
2.18 Assignment: Savoring and the Humanities1 minute

8 readingsTotal 80 minutes

2.3 Journal Prompt: Competing Positives 10 minutes
2.6 Journal Prompt: Rethinking Positive Emotions 10 minutes
2.9 Journal Activity: Emotional Intelligence 10 minutes
2.13 Journal Activity, Savoring10 minutes
2.16 Journal Prompt: Savoring Strategies10 minutes
2.19 Journal Prompt: Savoring and the Humanities10 minutes
2.21 Optional Reading: Happy Together 10 minutes
2.22 Journal Prompts and Readings for Module 210 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

2.20 Module 2 Quiz30 minutes
2.10 Practice Quiz 2 30 minutes

What's included

19 videos6 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt

19 videosTotal 57 minutes

3.1a Introduction to Character Strengths and Virtues Part 12 minutes
3.1b Introduction to Character Strengths and Virtues Part 25 minutes
3.2 Assignment: Character Strengths1 minute
3.4a VIA Classifications of Character Strengths and Virtues Part 14 minutes
3.4b VIA Classifications of Character Strengths and Virtues Part 25 minutes
3.5 Assignment: Values in Action Survey on Character Strengths0 minutes
3.7a Signature Strengths Part 15 minutes
3.7b Signature Strengths Part 22 minutes
3.8 Assignment: Sharing Your Strengths2 minutes
3.10a Using Signature Strengths Part 13 minutes
3.10b Using Signature Strengths Part 22 minutes
3.10c Using Signature Strengths Part 33 minutes
3.11 Assignment: Using Your Signature Strengths1 minute
3.14a Strengths at Work, Home, and Play Part 13 minutes
3.14b Strengths at Work, Home, and Play Part 23 minutes
3.15 Assignment: Strengths Matrix1 minute
3.17a Strengths in Romantic Relationships Part 17 minutes
3.17b Strengths in Romantic Relationships Part 27 minutes
3.18 Assignment: Having Strengths Conversations2 minutes

6 readingsTotal 60 minutes

3.3 Journal Prompt: Character Strengths 10 minutes
3.6 Journal Prompt: Values in Action Survey on Character Strengths10 minutes
3.9 Journal Prompt: Sharing Your Strengths10 minutes
3.16 Journal Activity: Strengths Matrix10 minutes
3.19 Journal Activity: Having Strengths Conversations10 minutes
3.21 Journal Prompts and Readings for Module 310 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

3.20 Module 3 Quiz30 minutes
3.13 Practice Quiz 3 30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

3.12 Use Your Signature Strengths in New Ways10 minutes

What's included

19 videos7 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

19 videosTotal 49 minutes

4.1a Introduction Part 12 minutes
4.1b Introduction Part 23 minutes
4.2 Assignment: Goal Setting0 minutes
4.4a Choosing Life Goals Part 14 minutes
4.4b Choosing Life Goals Part 23 minutes
4.4c Choosing Life Goals Part 32 minutes
4.5 Assignment: Creating Life Goals1 minute
4.7a Choosing Goals to Support Well-Being Part 15 minutes
4.7b Choosing Goals to Support Well-Being Part 25 minutes
4.8 Assignment: Goals for Well-Being1 minute
4.10a Following Through on the Goals We Choose Part 13 minutes
4.10b Following Through on the Goals We Choose Part 25 minutes
4.10c Following Through on the Goals We Choose Part 34 minutes
4.11 Assignment1 minute
4.14a Flow Part 14 minutes
4.14b Flow Part 23 minutes
4.15 Assignment: Creating Flow1 minute
4.17 Review and Conclusion2 minutes
4.18 Assignment: Course Takeaways1 minute

7 readingsTotal 70 minutes

4.3 Journal Prompt: Goal Setting10 minutes
4.6 Journal Prompt: Creating Life Goals10 minutes
4.9 Journal Activity: Goals for Well-Being10 minutes
4.12 Journal Activity Hope Scale Survey10 minutes
4.16 Journal Prompt: Creating Flow10 minutes
4.19 Journal Prompt: Course Takeaways10 minutes
4.22 Journal Prompts and Readings for Module 410 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

4.20 Module 4 Quiz30 minutes
4.13 Practice Quiz 4 30 minutes

2 discussion promptsTotal 20 minutes

4.9 Assignment10 minutes
4.16 Assignment10 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

James Pawelski, Ph.D.

University of Pennsylvania

1 Course64,960 learners

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

Explore more from Psychology

Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Positive Psychology: Martin E. P. Seligman’s Visionary Science
Course
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills
Course
Status: Free Trial
University of Pennsylvania
Positive Psychology Specialization Project: Design Your Life for Well-being
Course
Status: Bestseller
University of Pennsylvania
Foundations of Positive Psychology
Specialization

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.