Finally Something Not Depressing /// Emma Landry

 As a whole, I enjoyed reading this address because of its overarching theme: optimism. All is not grim and unchangeable; instead, hope is offered. While some mental health conditions cannot exactly be prevented, it is true that taking charge of one's life, health, and well-being by means of psychological knowledge can be preemptive measures to keep certain states of distress from happening. This mindset shows that not all is lost, and it displays the fact that developing various conditions over one's lifetime is not a foregone conclusion. Emphasizing that psychology does not have to be entirely about responding to setbacks, Seligman says that he strives for "a new social and behavioral science that seek to understand and nurture those human strengths that can prevent the tragedy of mental illness" (p. 2). I really like this approach to psychology that Seligman puts forth because it taps into the resilience and fighting nature of the human spirit. I also like how this approach puts forth a more hopeful view of life and the world while also acknowledging that everyday stress and anxiety-inducing states are valid and widespread. Ultimately, adopting the notion that many people could benefit from psychological knowledge and findings, even if we do not possess particular mental illnesses, can lead to greater inclusion in the realm of psychology. This attitude can help cultivate a deeper understanding of our personal mental health.

I commented on Emily Thullesen's and Emma Kate Patterson's posts.

Comments

  1. Bug OlsenApril 5, 2022 at 1:30 AM

    I enjoyed your post and agree that the overall hopeful tone of the essay was refreshing. My favorite point you made was the fact that even those who do not have a mental illness can benefit from psychology, even though the rise in mental illnesses has made it feel at times as though only those who have an extreme mental illness are worth psychologists' attention.

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  2. Emory CooperApril 5, 2022 at 9:36 AM

    Good post, Emma. I like how you said that psychology can help those who don't necessarily have a present mental illness by helping to prevent certain illnesses in the future. I also enjoyed Seligman's emphasis on helping individuals take control of their own well-being, instead of having to depend on others for help. This psychological "independence" appeals to me. Again, good post!

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  3. Samantha TApril 5, 2022 at 9:56 AM

    I agree with your post Emma, this reading was very refreshing. The acknowledgement of smaller issues without discounting the bigger ones of life is needed. It's important to take action before things get to the point of being labeled an illness. It's even more important to have thankfulness and hope over big and small things.

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