Martin Seligman: Biography And Theories In Positive Psychology
Nowadays, the development and application of positive psychology is booming as that branch of psychology responsible for the scientific study of the optimal functioning of human beings and the development of their potential and well-being, seeking their happiness.
One of the pioneers in developing this type of psychology is Martin Seligman, who is also widely known for his studies on depression and the concept of learned helplessness. This author has made, and in fact continues to make, multiple contributions to the field of psychology throughout his life. That is why in this article We will review the biography of Martin Seligman
This well-known author has played an important role in the study of disorders such as depression and, more recently, well-being and happiness. Below we will see a brief summary of the stages of his life, his theories and his greatest contributions to psychology.
Birth and academic training
Martin Elias Peter Seligman was born on August 12, 1942 in the New York state of Albany, in the United States. In Albany he would study during primary and secondary education. Once this was completed, he would enroll at Princeton University to study Philosophy in 1960.
He graduated in 1964, doing so with highest honors with the title Summa cum laude. After that he would receive offers from various universities to continue his studies with them, the author choosing the University of Pennsylvania. He studied Animal Psychology, receiving a doctorate in psychology in 1967
Seligman then began a fruitful career as a researcher.
Professional performance and contributions to psychology
Initially, Martin Seligman served as an assistant professor at Cornell University, and later at Pennsylvania University, where he would rise to become a professor of psychology. In 1980 he was named director of the clinical training program at the latter university, working for years in the treatment and research of depression and other disorders. Throughout his career he made important contributions that would lead him to be widely recognized and receive multiple awards.
However, the author would be aware that clinical psychology in general tends to focus only on the aspects that generate dysfunction and suffering of the person and treat them, there is no optimistic vision focused on reinforcing the elements that generate well-being In 1990, the researcher turned his career around in order to focus on the study of happiness.
On the other hand, Seligman has developed several theories and contributions to the world of psychology. Let’s see what they were.
About depression
Throughout his years of study he would be influenced by one of his professors, the famous psychologist Aaron Beck, from whom he would be inspired to study the functioning of depressive disorder.
According to his theory of depression, this condition is a consequence, in part, of a problem with the perception of reality, related to the feeling of loss of control and with how causes are attributed to positive or negative experiences: The negative ones seem to be caused by oneself, and the positive ones are the result of chance and the effects of others. This idea is related to attribution theories.
Once he received his doctorate, in 1967 he began research at the University of Pennsylvania. I would start researching with animals, specifically dogs under a paradigm based on operant conditioning.
During these experiments, in which electrical stimulation was used, Seligman was able to observe how animals subjected to a previous experience in which they could not escape from the aversive stimulation stopped trying to do so even when at other times they could, manifesting passivity.
These experiments led to the birth of the theory of learned helplessness which would be associated with the absence of activity typical of depressed subjects: the depressed subject has learned that his action does not change events and has no results, so he stops acting.
This theory would be an important contribution that would allow progress in the generation of explanatory theories of different aspects of depression and work focused on combating helplessness. Likewise, he participated in the creation of various methods to treat this disorder based on confrontation and changing negative automatic thoughts.
Presidency of the APA and birth of Positive Psychology
During the year 1996 Martin Seligman He was named president of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), a presidency that would mean the opportunity to open new avenues of research and work for this science. His main objective during his mandate was to combine theoretical and practical knowledge.
In 1998 he proposed the search for a more positive psychology, not so focused solely on the pathological aspects of the psyche and behavior and that would seek to study the aspects that make us feel well-being and happiness. Therefore, in 2000, positive psychology was founded as a scientific study of optimal human functioning, which since then has contributed to expanding, and the Virtues and Strengths of Character Manual. Another relevant initiative was the prevention of war or ethnopolitical conflict.
During 2002 developed the theory of authentic happiness, in which he proposed the development of one’s own strengths and characteristics to achieve it. During 2003, the Master of Applied Positive Psychology was created under his direction. As of 2005 he was appointed chair of the psychology department at the University of Pennsylvania.
In 2010 he reformulated his theory of authentic happiness, appearing the theory of well-being and the PERMA model, which studies what people choose to increase their level of well-being, including positive emotion, positive relationships, involvement, meaning and commitment.
Present
In recent years Martin Seligman has published numerous publications (such as Flourish, in 2011) and given different conferences.
He currently continues to serve, at the age of 75, as director of the Penn Positive Psychology Center and professor in the psychology department of the University of Pennsylvania (specifically with the title of Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology). He is also director of the Master of Applied Positive Psychology and continues to serve as a consultant in different organizations.
