1504:BasicPremisesPassiveVictimVs.ActiveAgentselfpityblamefrustrationanger___________________________________________confidenceresponsibilityhopeandoptimismforgive/forgetThePremises•BridgebuildingVs.Divisionandseparation•ChangeispossibleVs.Changeisillusive•InternalfactorsprimarilydeterminehappinessVs.Happinessisprimarilyafunctionofexternalcircumstances•HumannaturemustbeobeyedVs.Humannaturemustbeperfected•HappinessisandoughttobetheultimateendVs.HappinessshouldbeasecondarypursuitPREMISE1:BridgebuildingVS.DivisionandseparationBridgingIvoryTowerandMainStreet“Thecarefulshieldingofauniversityfromtheactivitiesoftheworldaroundusisthebestwaytochillinterestandtodefeatprogress.Celibacydoesnotsuitauniversity.Itmustmateitselfwithaction.”AlfredNorthWhiteheadTheNeedforPracticalIdealists•Thedesiretomakeadifference•Falsestereotypes–GenerousHarvardians–GenerousAmericans•Influentialpositions•GoodwillandidealismnecessarybutnotsufficientPsychologyCanHelp•Appliedresearch–intheclassroom–forincreasingself-esteem–bridgingmindandbody–inconflictresolution•Takingresearchseriously•OurresponsibilityBridgeAmongDisciplines•Enhancedlearning•Enhancedcreativity•Truetoreality•MoreinterestingPREMISE2:ChangeispossibleVS.Changeisillusive“Itmaybethattryingtobehappierisasfutileastryingtobetallerandisthereforecounterproductive.”LykkenandTellegan(1996)MinnesotaTwinStudiesChangeisPossible•Counterevidence:Peopledochange•Erroroftheaverage•Exceptionprovestherule•Detrimentalresearch•StudyingthebestGrowing-TipStatistics“Whatthiskindofresearchdesignmeansisachangeinourconceptionofstatistics,andespeciallyofsamplingtheory.WhatIamfranklyespousinghereiswhatIhavebeencalling‘growing-tipstatistics,'takingmytitlefromthefactthatitisatthegrowingtipofaplantthatthegreatestgeneticactiontakesplace...”AbrahamMaslow“Ifwewanttoknowhowfastahumanbeingcanrun,thenitisnousetoaverageoutthespeedofa‘goodsample’ofthepopulation;itisfarbettertocollectOlympicgoldmedalwinnersandseehowwelltheycando.Ifwewanttoknowthepossibilitiesforspiritualgrowth,valuegrowth,ormoraldevelopmentinhumanbeings,thenImaintainthatwecanlearnmostbystudyingourmostmoral,ethical,orsaintlypeople.OnthewholeIthinkitisfairtosaythathumanhistoryisarecordofthewaysinwhichhumannaturehasbeensoldshort.Thehighestpossibilitiesofhumannaturehavepracticallyalwaysbeenunderrated....Certainlyitseemsmoreandmoreclearthatwhatwecall‘normal’inpsychologyisreallyapsychopathologyoftheaverage,soundramaticandsowidelyspreadthatwedon’tevennoticeitordinarily.”Growing-TipStatistics•Elitist?•Doesn’texcludestudyingtheaverage•Everyonebenefits–Studyofresilience–Studyofmeditation–StudyofrelationshipsStudyingOurPersonalBest•Describeorprescribe“Fewinnumberthoughtheybe,wecanlearnagreatdealaboutvaluesfromthedirectstudyofthesehighlyevolved,mostmature,psychologicallyhealthiestindividuals,andfromthestudyofthepeakmomentsofaverageindividuals,momentsinwhichtheybecometransientlyself-actualized.”AbrahamMaslowChangingtheWorld?•TheCambridge-SomervilleYouthStudy–Afiveyearintervention–Twice-a-monthcaseworkersvisit–Academictutoring–Psychiatricattention–BoyScouts,YMCA,etc.MeasuringOutcome•Randomassignment•40yearfollowup•Shockingresults–Nodifferenceinjuvenileoffenses–Nodifferenceinadultoffenses–Nodifferenceonhealth,mortality,wellbeing–Significantdifferenceonalcoholismandjobstatus…INTHE“WRONG”DIRECTIONIsSocietalChangePossible?•Exceptionprovestherule•Practicalidealistsunite!“WhatIamsuggestingisManhattan-Project-typeattacksuponwhatIconsidertobethetrulyBigProblemofourtime,notonlyforpsychologybutforallhumanbeingswithanysenseofhistoricalurgency...”AbrahamMaslowThePowerofOne•Humannetworksasexponential“Allhistoryisarecordofthepowerofminorities,andofminoritiesofone.”RalphWaldoEmerson“Neverdoubtthatasmallgroupofthoughtful,committedcitizenscanchangetheworld.Indeed,itistheonlythingthateverhas.”MargaretMeadExponentialGrowthWeunderestimateourcapacitytoeffectchangebecauseweunderestimatethegrowthofanexponentialfunction.PREMISE3:InternalfactorsprimarilydeterminehappinessVS.HappinessisprimarilyafunctionofexternalcircumstancesSubjectiveWell-BeingResearch•Affectiveforecasting(DanGilbert)•Happinesslevels(EdDiener)–Incomematterslittle–Nochangeacrossgenerations–PlaceofresidenceirrelevantSubjectiveWell-BeingResearch–Democracyandoppression•Affectiveforecasting(DanGilbert)•Happinesslevels(EdDiener)–Incomematterslittle–Nochangeacrossgenerations–PlaceofresidenceirrelevantOurreadinessandpotentialtoexperiencehappinessismostlydependentonourstateofmind,notonourstatusorthestateofourbankaccount.Ourreadinessandpotentialtoexperiencehappinessismostlydependentonourstateofmind,notonourstatusorthestateofourbankaccount.•Ischangeillusive?•Notifthefocusisontrans-formationPREMISE4:HumannaturemustbeobeyedVS.HumannaturemustbeperfectedConstrainedUnconstrainedVisionVisionHumannatureimmutableFlawsinevitableAcceptanceChannelnature_____________________________________________CanbeimprovedPerfectibleSolutionsexistChangenature“Naturetobecommandedmustbeobeyed”FrancisBacon“Itisforself-perfectioningthatdestinycallsus”BenjaminC