Evidencias teóricas y empíricas entre la psicología positiva de "Seligman" y la psicología humanista-existencial de "Frankl"

Abstract

For a long time positive psychology has studied human trauma, disturbances and miseries. On the other hand, this doctoral research, based on Seligman and Frankl, aims to present a new approach to address the psychology of the XXI century. Both theorists have opted for optimism, as opposed to despair, having realized that for some people happiness was not much an ephemeral state, but a way of life. Therefore, from the theoretical framework of positive psychology and logotherapy, this study seeks to understand human happiness through a scientific approach. This is considered essential, in our view, to build a consistent theoretical body on the subject and one which is able to aid the development of mental health programs of preventive character. Thereby, life satisfaction was investigated in a sample of 1,242 pre-university Spanish and Brazilian subjects. However, to examine the general objective of this research three concepts considered essential for achieving such purpose were used: the meaning of life, true happiness, and subjective well-being, which were measured with instruments previously validated by el Test PIL -Purpose In Life, developed in the United States (Crumbaugh, 1969); SSQ-Signature Strengths Questionnaire, built by professors Seligman, Park, and Peterson (2004) and SLS-Satisfaction with Life Scale, developed by professors Diener, Emmons, Larsen, and Griffin (1985). From the literature we reviewed on the meaning of life and happiness as well as the empirical evidence observed, we can say that there are many paths that can lead to a meaningful and happy life. In the first conceptualization, the path of values in Frankl, requires that individuals be intrinsically motivated by the desire for purpose in life as well as that their aspirations are consistent with some categories of values. On the second theoretical model, i.e. true happiness, it is required that individuals invest in a constant effort to potentialize their strengths and virtues to achieve the realization of their goals. Keywords: logotherapy - positive psychology - life satisfaction - happiness