Psychology today doesn’t have the well-known philosophical rock stars of yore, such as Freud or Skinner. What we do have are more complex thinkers who have spent decades researching more subtle human behaviors, such as, What kinds of behaviors, attitudes and activities lead to a happier life? What makes us feel “fulfilled” as a human being?

Those are the type of questions Marty Seligman asks… Instead of focusing on “disorders” and what makes a human being go wrong, he’s focused on what helps makes people happier. He is one of the pioneers in a movement called “positive psychology,” an area of psychology that focuses on an individual’s potential, not their deficits. I’m a great admirer of both the movement and Dr. Seligman.

Beliefnet has a great interview with Marty Seligman where you can learn more.

Dr. John Grohol is the CEO and founder of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 29 Aug 2007
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.