Martin Seligman

Martin Seligman: Biography

Martin Seligman is an American psychologist born on August 12th, 1942, in Albany, New York. He attended public school before enrolling at The Albany Academy, a private preparatory school in New York state. Seligman studied at Princeton University, where he earned a BA in philosophy. He had several offers after graduation, including a full scholarship to continue his philosophy studies at Oxford University. Seligman chose instead to pursue psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated with a Ph.D. in psychology from the school in 1967.

Martin Seligman: Positive Psychology

Much of the field of psychology has been focused on correcting and treating things that go wrong. Overall, the field investigates psychological disorders in order to understand them, isolate their cause, and work out the best treatment. But what about when everything is ordered? This is the question that has fueled Seligman's research. With so much research on the nature of disorders, there was a lack of inquiry about the nature of order, or positive characteristics, qualities, and attributes. This is the domain of positive psychology.

This field focuses on character strengths, like integrity, intimacy, and altruism, psychological states like optimism and contentment, and institutions and habits that promote subjective well-being.

Seligman is referred to as the "father of positive psychology" and is often thought to be one of psychology's leading researchers in general. There are three pillars in the field of positive psychology that lead to overall well-being. The first pillar is a union of happiness in the present, satisfaction with the past, and optimism for the future. The second pillar is focused on character, and the exploration of creativity and positive traits like compassion, wisdom, self-control, and courage. The third pillar focuses on positive groups and communities, with an emphasis on meaningful social engagement.

Fig. 1 - Woman smiling.

Seligman has outlined three components for happiness-- pleasure and gratification, the embodiment of strengths and virtues, and meaning and purpose.

Pleasure and Gratification

Pleasures come through our sensory processes and are felt immediately. While pleasures are enjoyable, they should not outshine gratification. Gratification is what we feel when we embody our strengths or virtues.

The embodiment of Strengths and Virtues

This component is about discovering our unique qualities and virtues. All of our strengths have to be cultivated. If we have an inclination toward the creative arts, we have to develop these strengths. The same is true of virtues like compassion and courage. Some of our happiness comes from living the qualities that we value.

Meaning and Purpose

A key component of happiness is taking our strengths and applying them in a purposeful way. This involves active engagement with our community and other people. This might involve taking our skills and finding employment that uses them to create something greater.

Martin Seligman: Experiment

Seligman conducted a particularly interesting experiment that illustrates the phenomenon of learned helplessness, one of Seligman's topics of expertise.

Seligman's experiment used dog's as test subjects. Some of the animals were outfitted in harnesses and were given shocks that they were unable to stop or avoid. The other dogs were given shocks, but they were able to move and escape the situation. Later, the first group of dogs were again administered shocks, but they were not restrained and could escape the situation at any time.

However, the dogs were hopeless and cowered in resignation to the shocks. They exhibited that they learned that the situation was hopeless, and they resigned themselves to it. The second group of dogs, who were able to spare themselves from the shocks, reacted differently. In the first situation, these dogs felt like they were in control because they were able to get themselves out of the unpleasant situation. In this second scenario, they again took control and escaped the shocks.

Learned helplessness goes a long way in preventing us from living a life of quality and fulfillment. It contributes to a psychological state of pessimism that Seligman warns us against. Cultivating positive traits like optimism is not only essential to our overall satisfaction in life, it actually keeps us physically healthier. Countless studies have shown that self-reported optimists have a reduced risk of heart disease and hypertension and a lower level of stress hormones like cortisol. Seligman used his findings about learned helplessness to advocate for better treatment for depression.

Fig. 2 - Stack of books.

Martin Seligman: Books

Seligman has written over 20 books and over 250 scientific articles. He has contributed significantly to research on depression, learned helplessness, pessimism, optimism, and positive psychology.

His 2004 book, Authentic Happiness, sums up the pillars of positive psychology nicely in the following quote.

In an effort to provide a positive counterpart to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), psychology's book of disorders and their treatment, Seligman wrote the books Learned Optimism and What You Can Change and What You Can't.

Martin Seligman: Contribution to Psychology

Martin Seligman is often credited for putting positive psychology on the map. He has worked tirelessly to promote the study and increased awareness of the field. In doing so, he has helped turn the tide of psychology to focus on more than just the things that can go wrong. By understanding the qualities that can help us live happier, more fulfilled and useful lives, we are, in a sense, engaging in a sort of preventive mental health care. We are getting out in front of potential psychological pitfalls.

Martin Seligman: Accomplishments

In 1998, Seligman became the president of the American Psychological Association (APA) with a record number of votes. He used his position within the association to encourage the study of positive psychology. The APA has honored Seligman with several awards for his many accomplishments throughout his career, including those for research, scientific contributions, and lifetime achievement.

After completing his PhD, Seligman taught as a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania for 14 years. There he founded and became the director of the Positive Psychology Center. In 2003, he established a Master of Applied Positive Psychology at the university. In addition to his education, Seligman received an honorary PhD from Uppsala University in Sweden in 1989.