Introduction
Positive psychology is an alternative approach within the study of psychology. Psychology tends to focus on dysfunction throughout society. Positive psychology, on the other hand, focuses on the happiness within an individual. Positive psychology believes that positive emotions are the underlying cause of happiness. Attachment theory also touches on the happiness of the individual. Attachment theory state that positive emotions are the result of emotional support within an individual. Both theories focus on how certain aspects in life effect the future well-being of the individual. The following discusses the benefits of positive psychology and how incorporating it into attachment theory can further benefit children.
Discussion
Positive psychology
Positive psychology is considered the study of happiness. Positive psychology has expanded psychology to include factors that help promote happiness within an individual. This is a different branch of psychology. Psychology generally tends to focus on dysfunction and mental illness. However, positive psychology is a different branch of psychology that examines how individuals can be happier and live more fulfilled lives. Positive emotions have been shown to have a direct impact when it comes to the happiness within an individual (Lambert et al, 2015).
Negative emotions has been shown to provoke to negative actions. Positive emotions, on the other hand, increase thought-action tendencies. Thus, positive emotions increase the way an individual processes information and increases the amount and type of activities that individual wants to pursue. Positive emotions can help a child when it comes to their actions and behaviors. Positive emotions have been shown to increase thought-action tendencies in children. This decreases the likelihood for children with positive emotions to participate in negative actions, such as street fights. Increasing thought-action tendencies helps a child rationally analyze a situation and appropriately respond. Negative emotions, on the other hand, lead to impulsive and negative behaviors, such as fighting. Furthermore, positive emotions encourage children to participate in positive activities. Research has shown that positive emotions within children does increase the amount of activities the child wants to pursue. This can help them learn more about themselves which will better prepare them for the adult world (Schiffrin, 2013, p. 1063).
Positive emotions have also been found to effect an individual’s attention, perception and cognitive processes. “Cognitive broadening associated with positive emotions has also been found to be beneficial during more complex tasks including creative problem solving” (Schiffrin, 2013, p. 1063). Thus, positive emotions help an individual with complex problem solving skills. This can be beneficial for children. Encouraging children to experience positive emotions can help them with their problem solving skills. This can benefit them throughout adolescence.
Research has also shown that people who experience positive emotions tend to have increased social interactions and more willingness and openness when it comes to trying new experiences. “People experiencing positive emotions are more likely to affiliate with others and report higher quality social interactions” (Schiffrin, 2013, p. 1063). Therefore, positive emotions help an individual build social relationships that can be useful in times of need. This is very beneficial for children. Building social relationships is crucial in childhood. It helps the child understand social interactions and help them build meaningful relationships that will help them adjust throughout life. Encouraging a child to experience positive emotions can help them with social relationships throughout their life. Thus, a child can thoroughly benefit from positive emotions.
Positive emotions have also been show to help build psychological resources within an individual which helps prevent the individual from experiencing negative emotions. Furthermore, positive emotions have been associated with resilience when it comes to negative life events (Bertisch et al, 2014, p. 573). In other words, positive emotions help an individual flourish when they are faced with a difficult life decision. “Additionally, optimism has been identified as a protective factor against depression” (Schiffrin, 2013, p. 1063). This can benefit a child in several ways. Some children are faced with life changing events. If a child experiences positive emotions throughout their childhood, then that child will be better able to handle those life altering events.
Children with secure attachments tend to have cognitive advantages. This is due to the fact these individuals have the opportunities to learn and export the environment. Research has shown that individuals who have secure attachments styles have cognitive advantages from infancy throughout later adolescence. “In addition, children with secure attachment have demonstrated specific cognitive advantages in terms of better language skills and better academic performance, including higher grade point averages” (Schiffrin, 2013, p. 1063). Furthermore, research has shown that individuals who have secure attachment styles tend to seek out support from others in order to combat negative moods. Individuals with insecure attachment styles, on the other hand, tend to use less adaptive strategies when it comes to combatting negative moods (p. 1063).
Attachment theory
According to attachment theory, caring and supportive relationships are crucial when it comes to the formation and maintenance of satisfying relationships throughout one’s life. Attachment also promotes reliance when it comes to conflict resolution. Attachment theory starts during infancy and lasts throughout one’s life (Van de Horst et al, 2008, p. 370).
In 1958, Harry Harlow conducted a series of experiments consisting of monkeys and surrogate mothers. The surrogate mothers were wire structures that contained a bottle to feed the monkey. The wire monkey offered the baby monkey everything that a regular mother would give their baby, except love and touching. Harlow’s theory was attempting to disprove the cupboard theory. This theory stated that babies only attached to their mothers because the mother was the baby’s food source. In other words, the food source was what gave babies positive feelings. Harlow wanted to prove that babies need more from their mothers than just food. There are other aspects of the bond between a mother and a baby than just food. Harlow’s studies proved just that. At the end of his studies, the monkeys who were given wire mothers were unable to properly attach to their mothers. They were unsuccessful when they attempted to cuddle with her. They also had issues when it came to gaining weight. Thus, the monkey’s needed the motherly attachment in order to properly adapt (Ottaviani et al, 2007, p. 37).
Attachment theory focuses on what aspects of attachment lead to positive emotions. Positive psychology focuses on how positive emotions effect the well-being of an individual. Positive psychology can help children when it comes to attachment. Encouraging positive emotions throughout a child with insecure attachment styles can help them overcome the negative aspects of insecure attachment. Positive psychology can also help children with secure attachment styles flourish even more through adolescence. Both positive psychology and attachment theory state that how positive emotions benefit children. For children who do not get the positive emotions from their attachment style, using positive emotions could help that child deal with the difficulties they might experience throughout their life.
Implication for children
Positive psychology can benefit with attachment for children. Positive psychology can help a child gain positive emotions when they do not receive them through their attachment style. Integrating the concepts of positive psychology with attachment styles would only benefit children. Secure attachment styles should consist of implementing positive emotions throughout a child’s daily life. This can help the child not only gain the benefits from secure attachment styles, but the child would also benefit from positive emotions.
Positive emotions and secure attachment styles have been shown to increase cognitive abilities, social relationships, and social interactions. Children can benefit from all of these. However, children with insecure attachment styles can most benefit from positive psychology. Giving these children the tools needed in order to experience positive emotions can help prepare them for the rest of their life.
Conclusion
Positive psychology focuses on what makes people happy. Positive emotions have been shown to bring people happiness and help them handle negative situations throughout their life. Children can benefit from positive psychology. It can help them gain the resilience needed in order to deal with the difficulties that may come along with life. Attachment theory also focuses on what makes a child grow into a well behaved adult. According to attachment theory, caring and supportive relationships are crucial when it comes to the formation and maintenance of satisfying relationships throughout one’s life. For children who do not have the proper attachment style, positive psychology can help prepare these children for the struggles they may endure throughout adulthood.
References
Bertisch, H., Rath, J. & Long, C. (2014). Positive psychology in rehabilitation medicine: a brief report. Neuro Rehabilitation, 34(3), 573-585.
Lambert, L., Passmore, H. & Holder, M. (2015). Foundational frameworks of positive psychology: mapping well-being orientations. Canadian Psychology, 56(3).
Ottaviani, J. & Meconis, D. (2007). Wire mothers: Harry Harlow and the science of love. Publishers Weekly, 25420, 37-38.
Schiffrin, H. (2013). Positive psychology and attachment: positive affect as a mediator of developmental outcomes. Journal of Children & Family Studies, 23, 1062-1072.
Van de Horst, F., LeRoy. H. & Van der Veer, R. (2008). “When strangers meet”: John Bowlby and Harry Harlow on attachment behavior. Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science, 42(4), 370-388.
