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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142,828 already enrolled

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

6,375 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

6,375 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

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

Skills you'll gain

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Assessments

8 assignments¹

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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 videos Total 62 minutes

Course Introduction 2 minutes
Module 1 Introduction 1 minute
Positive Psychology: Toward a Balanced, Empirical Understanding of Well-being 7 minutes
What Do We Mean by the "Positive" in Positive Psychology? 7 minutes
Seeds of Flourishing: The Personal in Parallel with a Developing New Field 8 minutes
How Do People Explain Bad Events? Risk Factors and Protective Factors for Depression 6 minutes
Health is a Skill: Learned Optimism 7 minutes
Laying the Foundation: Defining, Measuring, and Testing Happiness and Flourishing 8 minutes
Building Blocks: PERMA: Defining Wellbeing 13 minutes
Try This At Home: Building the Skill of Gratitude. Suggested Exercise: What Went Well? 3 minutes

5 readings Total 33 minutes

Dr. Martin Seligman Biography 5 minutes
Key Point: Learned Helplessness 3 minutes
Key Point: Optimism can be learned 0 minutes
PERMA Overview 15 minutes
Which Character Strengths Are Most Predictive of Well-Being? 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Try This At Home: What Went Well 10 minutes
Module 1 30 minutes

1 peer review Total 105 minutes

In Your Life: Strengths and Well-being 105 minutes

4 discussion prompts Total 60 minutes

Imagine your life as a garden. 15 minutes
What makes life worth living? 15 minutes
Dimensions of PERMA 15 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 videos Total 80 minutes

Module 2 Introduction 1 minute
Building Skills to Flourish 7 minutes
Positive Interventions: Testing What Works 3 minutes
Stage 1: Teaching Skills for Wellbeing Proactively Can Prevent Anxiety and Depression in Children 9 minutes
Stage 2: The Leap from Research to Policy in the United Kingdom 3 minutes
Stage 3: The Science of Grit and a New Understanding: How to Foster Flourishing in Schools 3 minutes
Stage 4: Transcending Curriculum to Transform Culture in Schools 8 minutes
Stage 5: From Whole Schools to Whole Communities 5 minutes
Stage 6: Whole Force Resilience 12 minutes
Positive Education: Teaching Academic Success and Well-Being 9 minutes
Positive Education: Taking It to Scale 9 minutes
Positive Education: Replicating Success Worldwide 7 minutes
Try This At Home: Building Positive Relationships Through Active Constructive Responding 4 minutes

2 readings Total 30 minutes

Review of Flourish by Richard Layard 15 minutes
Well-being and Public Policy 15 minutes

2 assignments Total 30 minutes

Try This At Home: ACR 10 minutes
Module 2 20 minutes

2 discussion prompts Total 45 minutes

Increasing Your Well-being 15 minutes
Share Your Experience with ACR 30 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 videos Total 68 minutes

Module 3 Introduction 1 minute
Drawn By the Future: A Revolution in Psychology 10 minutes
Drawn By the Future: A Revolution in Psychology Part 2 6 minutes
Drawn By the Future: The Science of Prospection 8 minutes
Positive Health: Mind and Body Flourish Together 7 minutes
New Directions in Mental and Physical Health 8 minutes
Positive Aging: Creativity and Strengths Throughout Life 5 minutes
Creativity and Imagination 10 minutes
Creativity and Imagination Part 2 8 minutes
Try This At Home: Know and Grow Your Strengths 4 minutes

7 readings Total 102 minutes

Watch This Video: Can You Believe Your Eyes? 2 minutes
Homo Prospectus Review 10 minutes
More about the Selective Attention Test 20 minutes
Optimistic Minds and Healthy Hearts 20 minutes
The Creative Life and Well-Being 20 minutes
What Are Your Signature Strengths vs. What's Your Type? 20 minutes
Share Your Strengths 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Know and Grow Your Strengths 10 minutes
Module 3 Quiz 30 minutes

3 discussion prompts Total 75 minutes

Can You Believe Your Eyes? 15 minutes
Share Your Top 5 Character Strengths 30 minutes
Apply and Share Experiences 30 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 videos Total 91 minutes

Module 4 Introduction 1 minute
The Future of Positive Psychology: Key Topics 3 minutes
Constructive Journalism 22 minutes
Constructive Journalism - some Q&A with Cathrine Gyldensted 15 minutes
Positive Psychology and Spiritual Experience 8 minutes
Positive Psychology and Spiritual Experience Part 2 7 minutes
World Well-Being and Big Data 11 minutes
World Well-Being and Big Data Part 2 17 minutes
Try This at Home: Fun Vs. Philanthropy 3 minutes
Drawn by the Vision of a Flourishing Future 3 minutes

3 readings Total 48 minutes

Learn More about Constructive Journalism 15 minutes
Truly Awe-some Science 15 minutes
What Your Tweets Say about You and Your World 18 minutes

2 assignments Total 40 minutes

Try This At Home: Fun vs. Philanthropy 10 minutes
Module 4 30 minutes

1 discussion prompt Total 30 minutes

Share Your Experience: Fun vs. Philanthropy 30 minutes

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(1,513 ratings)

Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.

University of Pennsylvania

2 Courses 153,418 learners

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University of Pennsylvania

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Reviewed on Oct 22, 2021

A rewarding course on the introduction of Positive Psychology. Lot's of hands on tasks to practice and engage in and real life examples of implementing strategies that improve positive wellbeing.

Reviewed on Feb 26, 2023

This life will change your life. This is how I truly feel about this course and encourage everyone to listen to what Dr. Seligman has to say. This has made my life happier and mentally healthier.

Reviewed on Sep 28, 2020

Thank you Dr Seligman for a wonderfully insightful and efficient course on Positive psychology. This was the perfect course to take during COVID, when we could all use some positivity in our lives

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