About 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. There are no prerequisites.
Who is this class for: Everyone interested in the topic of positive psychology.
Created by: University of Pennsylvania
Taught by: Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D., Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology & Director, Positive Psychology Center
Positive Psychology Center
| Basic Info |
Course 1 of 5 in the
Foundations of Positive Psychology Specialization.
|
| Level | Beginner |
| Commitment | 4 weeks of study, 4-6 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Positive Psychology Introduction by Dr. Martin Seligman
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.
10 videos, 5 readings
- Video: Course Introduction
- Video: Module 1 Introduction
- Video: Positive Psychology: Toward a Balanced, Empirical Understanding of Well-being
- Reading: Dr. Martin Seligman Biography
- Video: What Do We Mean by the "Positive" in Positive Psychology?
- Discussion Prompt: Imagine your life as a garden.
- Video: Seeds of Flourishing: The Personal in Parallel with a Developing New Field
- Reading: Key Point: Learned Helplessness
- Video: How Do People Explain Bad Events? Risk Factors and Protective Factors for Depression
- Video: Health is a Skill: Learned Optimism
- Discussion Prompt: What makes life worth living?
- Reading: Key Point: Optimism can be learned
- Video: Laying the Foundation: Defining, Measuring, and Testing Happiness and Flourishing
- Reading: PERMA Overview
- Discussion Prompt: Dimensions of PERMA
- Video: Building Blocks: PERMA: Defining Wellbeing
- Reading: Which Character Strengths Are Most Predictive of Well-Being?
- Video: Try This At Home: Building the Skill of Gratitude. Suggested Exercise: What Went Well?
- Discussion Prompt: What went well today?
Graded: In Your Life: Strengths and Well-being
Graded: Try This At Home: What Went Well
Graded: Module 1
WEEK 2
The Skills of Well-being Can Be Learned, Taught, and Transformative
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.
13 videos, 2 readings
- Video: Module 2 Introduction
- Video: Building Skills to Flourish
- Video: Positive Interventions: Testing What Works
- Discussion Prompt: Increasing Your Well-being
- Video: Stage 1: Teaching Skills for Wellbeing Proactively Can Prevent Anxiety and Depression in Children
- Video: Stage 2: The Leap from Research to Policy in the United Kingdom
- Reading: Review of Flourish by Richard Layard
- Video: Stage 3: The Science of Grit and a New Understanding: How to Foster Flourishing in Schools
- Video: Stage 4: Transcending Curriculum to Transform Culture in Schools
- Video: Stage 5: From Whole Schools to Whole Communities
- Video: Stage 6: Whole Force Resilience
- Reading: Well-being and Public Policy
- Video: Positive Education: Teaching Academic Success and Well-Being
- Video: Positive Education: Taking It to Scale
- Video: Positive Education: Replicating Success Worldwide
- Video: Try This At Home: Building Positive Relationships Through Active Constructive Responding
- Discussion Prompt: Share Your Experience with ACR
Graded: Try This At Home: ACR
Graded: Module 2
WEEK 3
Being Whole: Mind/Body Flourishing Throughout Life
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?
10 videos, 7 readings
- Video: Module 3 Introduction
- Video: Drawn By the Future: A Revolution in Psychology
- Reading: Watch This Video: Can You Believe Your Eyes?
- Discussion Prompt: Can You Believe Your Eyes?
- Video: Drawn By the Future: A Revolution in Psychology Part 2
- Video: Drawn By the Future: The Science of Prospection
- Reading: Homo Prospectus Review
- Reading: More about the Selective Attention Test
- Video: Positive Health: Mind and Body Flourish Together
- Video: New Directions in Mental and Physical Health
- Reading: Optimistic Minds and Healthy Hearts
- Video: Positive Aging: Creativity and Strengths Throughout Life
- Video: Creativity and Imagination
- Video: Creativity and Imagination Part 2
- Reading: The Creative Life and Well-Being
- Video: Try This At Home: Know and Grow Your Strengths
- Reading: What Are Your Signature Strengths vs. What's Your Type?
- Reading: Share Your Strengths
- Discussion Prompt: Share Your Top 5 Character Strengths
- Discussion Prompt: Apply and Share Experiences
Graded: Know and Grow Your Strengths
Graded: Module 3 Quiz
WEEK 4
Future Directions in Positive Psychology
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.
10 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Module 4 Introduction
- Video: The Future of Positive Psychology: Key Topics
- Video: Constructive Journalism
- Video: Constructive Journalism - some Q&A with Cathrine Gyldensted
- Reading: Learn More about Constructive Journalism
- Video: Positive Psychology and Spiritual Experience
- Video: Positive Psychology and Spiritual Experience Part 2
- Reading: Truly Awe-some Science
- Video: World Well-Being and Big Data
- Video: World Well-Being and Big Data Part 2
- Reading: What Your Tweets Say about You and Your World
- Reading: Participate in the World Well-Being Project (optional)
- Video: Try This at Home: Fun Vs. Philanthropy
- Discussion Prompt: Share Your Experience: Fun vs. Philanthropy
- Video: Drawn by the Vision of a Flourishing Future
Graded: Try This At Home: Fun vs. Philanthropy
Graded: Module 4
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
Each course is like an interactive textbook, featuring pre-recorded videos, quizzes and projects.
Help from Your Peers
Connect with thousands of other learners and debate ideas, discuss course material, and get help mastering concepts.
Certificates
Earn official recognition for your work, and share your success with friends, colleagues, and employers.
Creators
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.
Pricing
| Audit | Purchase Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to course materials | Available | Available |
| Access to graded materials | Not available | Available |
| Receive a final grade | Not available | Available |
| Earn a shareable Course Certificate | Not available | Available |
Ratings and Reviews
A very interesting and engaging MOOC supervised by the father of Positive Psychology. What else could we ask for?
Loved it! Introduction to the principles and research behind positive psychology as well as tricks for your own life and new, very interesting developments in the field
I learned so much through this course! The material was very interesting and the teachers very inspiring and engaging. I had a lot of fun and feel like I did not only benefit academically, but also personally. Thanks a lot! :)
Coursera provides universal access to the world’s best education, partnering with top universities and organizations to offer courses online.
© 2017 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
YC
This is an eye-opening course!