Professor Lea Waters—Positive Psychology
Lea Waters is interested in youth well-being, which is a sub-field of positive psychology. Around a quarter of youth have symptoms of mental illness. Traditionally, this has been dealt with by a ‘treatment approach’, which aims to reduce symptoms. Complementing this is a ‘prevention approach’, which tries to stop symptoms developing in the first place. Lea Waters’ approach is of the latter sort.
She spoke of the work of Corey Keyes into the factors that contribute to well-being. It is possible to reduce negative states like anxiety and depression, but this does not create well-being. There is also a need to promote positive states such as hope, optimism, empathy, courage and gratitude. If we only work on the negative pathway, then people can backslide more easily than if we work on the positive as well.
95% of research in psychology over the past century has been on reducing negative states. However, research on positive states is increasing. The area of positive psychology is only 15 years old.
Positive psychology looks at the factors that help individuals, groups and organizations to thrive. It focuses on ‘strengths’ and ‘virtues’ rather than ‘deficits’. It is ‘growth-based’, ‘solutions-focussed’ and change is by building strengths.
Lea Waters is interested in positive psychology in schools (‘positive education’), which involves teaching children at an early age to manage well-being. Schools can reach large numbers of people early in life. She has reviewed the results of positive psychology programs in schools and found that these not only increase well-being but also lead to better learning and improved relationships at school. A large US study found that children improved 11% on their grade point average after a positive psychology program. These programs also have a contagion effect—like a ‘positive virus’—where benefits spread to other students.