9420 - Human Flourishing
Course Description
Martin Seligman (one of the founders of the field of positive psychology) used the term flourishing to describe the psychological experience of positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishments. In this summer intensive, we will take a deep dive into some of the basic tenets and underlying research within the field of positive psychology. Positive psychology focuses squarely on positive emotions (e.g., happiness, gratitude, love, awe) as well as experiences like forgiveness, resilience, and flow that improve our psychological well-being. With a focus on human strengths and virtues, the difference between that which we think will make us happy compared to what will actually improve happiness, the ways in which we can improve our satisfaction with relationships, and meaningful cognitive and behavioral changes that can have a big impact on one’s psychological well-being, this class will review research on how to achieve a more satisfying life.
Although this is not a “self-help” or “self-care” course, by reviewing the scientific literature and assigning exercises for personal practice, this course will offer meaningful experiences for self-reflection and insight into how techniques can be applied to one’s own daily life. This course will be taught asynchronously with a once a week optional Zoom check in. Come ready to read deeply, discuss openly, and put into practice some of the principles of positive psychology in order to flourish.
Learner Outcomes
Following completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Understand the basics of how psychologists use the scientific method to research human functioning.
- Know the important, contemporary theorists and theories within the field of positive psychology.
- Understand how psychologists have defined a range of positive human experiences, including happiness, gratitude, meaning, love, awe, forgiveness, as well as others.
- Explain the intervention methods developed within positive psychology to increase positive emotions and the theory underlying them.
Notes
For RISD Students:
RISD Continuing Education (CE) credit is treated as transfer credit by RISD’s undergraduate degree programs. If approved, satisfactory completion of this course with a ‘C’ or better can count as 3 transfer credits toward History, Philosophy, and Social Sciences (HPSS) elective requirements. Complete the Prior Approval for Liberal Arts Credit form in etrieve before completing the online course registration.
Students from institutions other than RISD:
Students seeking academic credits are urged to contact their home institution to arrange prior approval before registering. Policies on transfer credit vary by institution and by program, and it is at the discretion of your home institution to determine what credits it will accept and how they might meet individual academic requirements.
For additional information about RISD Summer Intensives and Transfer Credit Policies, visit our webpage.
Prerequisites
Students must be an adult age 18 or older to participate.