(2011-08-25) Should We Dispense With Happiness A Review Of Marty Seligmans New Book Flourish

Should We Dispense With Happiness? A Review of Martin Seligman's New Book, Flourish. Running through Flourish are two critical themes. The first is that positive psychology - the study of optimal human functioning - must be grounded in the most rigorous science. The second take-home message is one that many scholars pay lip service to but routinely set aside and even disdain - namely, that researchers don't exist solely to engage in abstract intellectual cogitations but have a calling to make the world a better place.

assorted ventures in "positive education" have involved creating and implementing curricula to develop character strengths (kindness, leadership), build grit (passion, perseverance), and enhance positive emotions (happiness, gratitude) among both schoolchildren and undergraduates

The most impressive effort discussed by Seligman, however, is the cutting-edge Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program currently being implemented across the million-plus members of the U.S. Army community.

building resilience in several critical life domains (emotional, social, family, spiritual).

After dispensing with "happiness" in Chapter 1, Seligman proposes a new "well-being theory" to motivate the remainder of the book. He posits that well-being (aka flourishing) has four elements or pillars - positive emotion (happiness, satisfaction, engagement), meaning, positive relationships, and accomplishment (mastery). Essentially, he argues, human beings yearn to flourish; in addition to wanting happiness, they desire to master something, to have fulfilling relationships, and to have meaning in their lives.

the theory has notable weaknesses that detract from its ability to sustain the weight of the entire book.

confuses the elements of well-being with the contributors and consequences of well-being

no statistical evidence exists to support a unifactorial structure - that is, whether the pillars always "go together."

not clear whether Seligman's conceptualization of well-being is culturally shared

If happiness is "all in one's head," as Seligman asserts, then so are some of the four pillars.