PSYC36H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Positive Psychotherapy, Nun Study, Prefrontal Cortex
Document Summary
Strength based approach: tenacity, strength, friends, optimism. Pleis-to-cean/glacial brain: remembers failures, notice uncomfortable situations (e. g. tongue was irritated, stone in shoe, no water in tap) fundamental negative bias: negativity more potent and pervasive. Bad impressions and stereotypes: more loss aversive than gain sensitive. Ppt: assumptions: human nature has an inherent capacity for growth, fulfillment, and flourishing. About damage control: positive emotions and traits are as authentic as symptoms. Left prefrontal cortex responsible for positive thoughts: therapeutic relationship: discussing positive emotions and strengths is also curative. Living in the wild always looking out for danger/predators. Very easily fixate on negative news (e. g. report card: 4a"s and 1b we fixate ourselves on the b vs the a"s: positive feelings are short lived! Those who have duchenne smiles have longer marriages. More positivity shows a longer impact on health. Clinical psychology --> positive psychotherapy average age of the positive nuns was 85 years old +, of 75% of the nuns.
