Well said, Gregg. Cole Butler TPAC Project Coordinator University of Maryland UMD ADHD Lab <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.umdadhd.org_cole&d=DwIFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=RUwHwTHzQT-Ezt5IYzX0mTGlMVD18t8sj_k3lsZTP_I&s=BHf-aa3sgKPNJ0-dZ5ipZ0l5UzOpIvJMyHTaZAbcbu8&e=> 2103W, Cole Field House | College Park, MD 20742 tel 301.405.6163 On Wed, Apr 22, 2020 at 11:34 AM Henriques, Gregg - henriqgx < [log in to unmask]> wrote: > Chris, > > > > First let me acknowledge that I have a pretty unique and mixed view > regarding psychology in general. Indeed, the first two chapters of my book > represent a critical analysis of the institution and what I call > “mainstream empirical psychology”. My critique of positive psychology would > be similar. And, let me be clear that it is coming from a bit of an unusual > “metapsychology” point of view. > > > > A summary of my critique positive psychology is “empirical variable > aggregate” psychology of a list of things associated with “the positive” in > psychology. In other words, it studies well-being, life satisfaction, > savoring, gratitude, various virtues like humility or courage, and > prosocial attitudes and behaviors like kindness or generosity. Surely, > these are interesting variables and we can gain knowledge studying them. > But it is a deep and profound mistake to think about something like human > virtue or foundational values or what really is the good (or positive) in > the human condition by quantifying variables and studying how they generate > a correlational matrix in a population of people. And then use that to > offer simple things like the idea that people should have grit of a do a > gratitude journal. (see here > <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.psychologytoday.com_us_blog_theory-2Dknowledge_201409_why-2Dpsychology-2Dthinks-2Dyou-2Dare-2Daverage&d=DwIFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=RUwHwTHzQT-Ezt5IYzX0mTGlMVD18t8sj_k3lsZTP_I&s=18d_SrE9HQ_yHXegcsyt1-HRRs-Y8y2weUmkkefCLd4&e=> > for a blog on why aggregate variable psychology is a problem if it is not > also combined with a theory of the individual and a more general model of > what a person is). > > > > A short hand critique that gets at these issues is…if X is positive > psychology, is the rest of the field *negative psychology*? This is a > quip designed to get people to recognize that the field of psychology is a > disjointed set of topics and paradigms rather than a coherently organized > set of ideas. > > Although not directly related to positive psychology, here is a chapter > <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.gregghenriques.com_uploads_2_4_3_6_24368778_clinical-5Fpsychology-5Fand-5Fpolitics1.pdf&d=DwIFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=RUwHwTHzQT-Ezt5IYzX0mTGlMVD18t8sj_k3lsZTP_I&s=0ZwUiyzXCIp5J3jegDQv2w2eYl-k3xVhFHayS5Jgeio&e=> > I did with fellow TOK member Steve Quackenbush exploring the complicated > relationship between clinical psychology and politics and political values. > The fundamental point is that there is a lot more than meets the eye when > we are doing basic empirical investigations and making inferences about > what is the good life. > > > Best, > Gregg > > > > *From:* tree of knowledge system discussion < > [log in to unmask]> *On Behalf Of *Christopher Hadnagy > *Sent:* Wednesday, April 22, 2020 12:14 PM > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: What mentally strong people do > > > > Greg I am curious, you state – “you have mixed feelings about positive > psychology” can you tell me why you have mixed feelings? > > > > Chris > > > > > > > > *From: *tree of knowledge system discussion < > [log in to unmask]> on behalf of "Henriques, Gregg - > henriqgx" <[log in to unmask]> > *Reply-To: *tree of knowledge system discussion < > [log in to unmask]> > *Date: *Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 10:27 AM > *To: *"[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]> > *Subject: *What mentally strong people do > > > > Hi List, > > > > FYI, here is the most popular blog on PT. > > > https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.psychologytoday.com_us_blog_the-2Dpulse-2Dmental-2Dhealth_202004_10-2Dthings-2Dmentally-2Dstrong-2Dpeople-2Ddo-2Dduring-2Dpandemic&d=DwIFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=RUwHwTHzQT-Ezt5IYzX0mTGlMVD18t8sj_k3lsZTP_I&s=zvVFO-HRNzUv9Z4B5y1CvRLDPBNNdQu4LvJ2VzKu5ic&e= > <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.psychologytoday.com_us_blog_the-2Dpulse-2Dmental-2Dhealth_202004_10-2Dthings-2Dmentally-2Dstrong-2Dpeople-2Ddo-2Dduring-2Dpandemic&d=DwMGaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=YhMZmz8bylhK59uuOqt6EYP1AcORWrG-1WoOr00Yolo&s=_a420oHE9PRZD9IgJLJpHocG2w-RenvvR8mp5NXMzMk&e=> > > > > As those who know the Unified Framework know, I tend to have mixed > feelings about positive psychology and prescriptions for happiness. But I > do think that the recent framing that is evident in this blog in terms of > character adaptation that tends to be associate with anti-fragile > resilience is reasonable. That is, I am generally fine with the basic frame > of trying to teach people what “mentally strong” (i.e., resilient, > anti-fragile, not overly reactive or easily overwhelmed). As such, I am > sharing it here and welcome considerations. > > > Best, > Gregg > > ############################ > > To unsubscribe from the TOK-SOCIETY-L list: write to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] or click the > following link: > http://listserv.jmu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=TOK-SOCIETY-L&A=1 > > All information transmitted hereby is intended only for the use of the > addressee(s) named above and may contain confidential and privileged > information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution of > confidential and privileged information is prohibited. 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