Teaching the Good Life
Definitions and Explanations:
People's character refers to the enduring effects of life experiences on the human psyche (as cited in McCullough and Snyder, 2000). The qualities below that define "the good life" enrich our lives, make them worth living, and promote strong character.
Connections outward involve interactions with others that enhance life experiences.
Love and intimacy - meaningful relationships, including friendships that involve loving and being loved
Satisfying work/occupation - being committed to a vocation and valued through it
Helping others (altruism) - helping and being helped and supported
Good citizenship - participating in activities that have public benefit and being respected in the public arena
Spirituality - connection to a deeper meaning or reality
Forgiveness - the ability to reconcile with those who offend and avoid retaliatory aggression against the offender (McCullough, 2000).
Leadership - supporting the growth of those who will be the future leaders
Individual qualities include those that are enduring and meaningful:
Integrity and ethics - living up to the principles and dreams of life
Creativity/originality - using information in a unique way or creating new avenues of information
Play - having a sense of fun and humor
Subjective well-being - the pervasive sense that life has been and is good
Courage - being able to overcome obstacles and being willing to take risks based on principles
Humility - the accurate assessment of abilities and achievements where mistakes and limitations can be recognized. Usually humility entails an ability to accept new ideas and advice while maintaining a low self-focus and the appreciation of the value of all things (Tangney, 2000).
Life Regulation qualities involve those that guide day-to-day life:
Purposeful future-mindedness - pursuit of personal ideals and goals
Individuality - integration of personality traits into a unified and distinct whole
Self-control - the ability to alter one's states and responses, a key to the adaptation process (Baumeister and Exline, 2000).
Wisdom - capstone of the good life; the ability to navigate the issues and pragmatics of life.
Landmark Studies and Suggested Readings:
Baltes, P. B., & Staudinger, U. M. (2000) Wisdom: A metaheuristic (pragmatic) to orchestrate mind and virtue toward excellence. American Psychologist, 55, 122-136.
Baumeister, R. F., & Exline, J. J. (2000) Self-control, morality, and human strength. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 19, 29-43.
McCullough, M. E. (2000) Forgiveness as human strength: Theory, measurement, and links to well being. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 19, 43-54.
McCullough, M. E., & Snyder, C. R. (2000) Classical sources of human strength: Revisiting an old home and rebuilding a new one. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 19, 1-10.
Simonton, D. K. (2000) Creativity: Cognitive, personal, developmental, and social aspects. American Psychologist, 55, 151-158.
Tangney, J. P. (2000) Humility: Theoretical perspectives, empirical findings, and directions of future research. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 19, 70-82.
Activities and Demonstrations:
A Beautiful Day: Applying Principles of Positive Psychology
Pleasurable vs. Philanthropic Activities: Which Brings More Happiness?