By Sarah Eslick, Associate Director of The Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning

Optimism About Positive Psychology

What allows humans to thrive? What conditions, actions, or qualities contribute to well being? How do we help kids become resilient?

Historically, the field of psychology has focused on mental illness. Depression, schizophrenia, and other disorders of the mind carried far more intellectual gravitas than the psycho-emotional characteristics that lead to happiness.   Certainly these illnesses are less subtle, easier to categorize, label, and examine. In striking contrast, the field of positive psychology studies how people do well:  how we cultivate positive emotions and optimism and how we develop grit and self-regulation. It explores how we benefit from resilience and gratitude while recognizing our (more…)