Positive psychology
Subject in Social Sciences
Positive psychology has come up in 1 episode across 1 podcast in TMT, including Modern Wisdom. 1 person has made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Martin SeligmanPsychologist known for learned helplessness research, author of a forthcoming book on agency
Seligman argues psychology focused on misery because NIMH funding and insurance reimbursement paid for treating disorders, not increasing happiness.
“psychology followed the money, essentially, both in getting grants and in treating people at the expense of asking the question, hey, can people flourish?”
Modern Wisdom: Positive Psychology Founder: How To Stop Your Negative Thoughts - Martin Seligman - #1167 (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 11:56
Seligman argues that psychology 60 years ago had three blind spots: happiness, thinking, and determinism, all of which proved wrong.
“psychology had that made asking questions about human happiness and human agency almost impossible. The first blind spot was happiness itself”
Modern Wisdom: Positive Psychology Founder: How To Stop Your Negative Thoughts - Martin Seligman - #1167 (Oct 24, 2026) · Listen from 0:42
Podcasts
- Modern Wisdom · 1 episode
Episodes
Positive Psychology Founder: How To Stop Your Negative Thoughts - Martin Seligman - #1167Modern Wisdom · Oct 24, 2026 · 1 h 21 min
Chris Williamson talks with psychologist Martin Seligman about learned helplessness, optimism, his new book Agency, AI and creativity, and the Axial Age.