Advancing the Study of Positive Psychology: The Use of a Multifaceted Structure of Mindfulness for Development
Positive psychology, as a distinctive paradigm, focuses on the remedy of pathologies and, by contrast, the promotion of positive experiences and conditions in life (e.g., encouraging a state of flourishing). Positive psychology, in its simplistic form, may provide evidence and insightful understandi...
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doaj-122a3695d3984d4da9125a9c683626802020-11-25T03:28:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782020-07-011110.3389/fpsyg.2020.01602559072Advancing the Study of Positive Psychology: The Use of a Multifaceted Structure of Mindfulness for DevelopmentHuy P. Phan0Huy P. Phan1Huy P. Phan2Bing H. Ngu3Si Chi Chen4Lijuing Wu5Sheng-Ying Shi6Ruey-Yih Lin7Jen-Hwa Shih8Hui-Wen Wang9School of Education, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, AustraliaDepartment of Education, National Taipei University of Education, Taipei, TaiwanGraduate Institute of Asian Humanities, Huafan University, New Taipei City, TaiwanSchool of Education, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, AustraliaDepartment of Education, National Taipei University of Education, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Education, National Taipei University of Education, Taipei, TaiwanGraduate Institute of Asian Humanities, Huafan University, New Taipei City, TaiwanDepartment of Industrial Engineering and Management Information, Huafan University, New Taipei City, TaiwanDepartment of Buddhist Studies, Huafan University, New Taipei City, TaiwanDepartment of Asian Philosophy and Eastern Studies, Huafan University, New Taipei City, TaiwanPositive psychology, as a distinctive paradigm, focuses on the remedy of pathologies and, by contrast, the promotion of positive experiences and conditions in life (e.g., encouraging a state of flourishing). Positive psychology, in its simplistic form, may provide evidence and insightful understanding into the proactivity of human agency (Seligman, 1999; Seligman and Csíkszentmihályi, 2000). Drawing from this emphasis, we have developed the theory of optimization, which attempts to explain the achievement of optimal functioning in life (e.g., optimal cognitive functioning: academic performance). By the same token, in the course of our research development into the theory of optimization, we have also delved into a comparable theoretical orientation, namely: the multifaceted nature of mindfulness, consisting of three interrelated components – the psychological component of mindfulness, the philosophical component of mindfulness, and the spiritual component of mindfulness. This conceptualization of mindfulness is rather unique for its incorporation of both Western and Eastern knowledge, philosophical viewpoints, and epistemologies into one holistic framework. The main premise of this conceptual analysis article is to advance the study of positive psychology by specifically introducing our recently developed model of mindfulness, in this case, the multifaceted structure of mindfulness with its three distinct components. Importantly, we make attempts to highlight the significance of this multifaceted model by situating it within the theory of optimization for academic learning. Using philosophical psychology and personal-based teaching and research reasoning, we provide a valid rationale as to how aspects of our proposed model of mindfulness (e.g., reaching a state of enlightenment) could act to facilitate and optimize a person’s state of functioning (e.g., cognitive functioning). Moreover, we posit that our rationale regarding mindfulness as a potential “optimizing agent” for the purpose of optimal functioning could, indeed, emphasize and reflect the salient nature of positive psychology. In other words, we contend that an explanatory account of mindfulness from the perspectives of Confucianism and Buddhism could, in this analysis, coincide with and support the meaningful understanding and appreciation for the study of positive psychology in educational and non-educational contexts. We conclude the article by exploring the complex issue of methodology – that is, for example, how would a researcher measure, assess, and/or empirically validate the multifaceted nature of mindfulness?https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01602/fullBuddhismConfucianismpositive psychologymindfulnessmeditationoptimal best |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Huy P. Phan Huy P. Phan Huy P. Phan Bing H. Ngu Si Chi Chen Lijuing Wu Sheng-Ying Shi Ruey-Yih Lin Jen-Hwa Shih Hui-Wen Wang |
spellingShingle |
Huy P. Phan Huy P. Phan Huy P. Phan Bing H. Ngu Si Chi Chen Lijuing Wu Sheng-Ying Shi Ruey-Yih Lin Jen-Hwa Shih Hui-Wen Wang Advancing the Study of Positive Psychology: The Use of a Multifaceted Structure of Mindfulness for Development Frontiers in Psychology Buddhism Confucianism positive psychology mindfulness meditation optimal best |
author_facet |
Huy P. Phan Huy P. Phan Huy P. Phan Bing H. Ngu Si Chi Chen Lijuing Wu Sheng-Ying Shi Ruey-Yih Lin Jen-Hwa Shih Hui-Wen Wang |
author_sort |
Huy P. Phan |
title |
Advancing the Study of Positive Psychology: The Use of a Multifaceted Structure of Mindfulness for Development |
title_short |
Advancing the Study of Positive Psychology: The Use of a Multifaceted Structure of Mindfulness for Development |
title_full |
Advancing the Study of Positive Psychology: The Use of a Multifaceted Structure of Mindfulness for Development |
title_fullStr |
Advancing the Study of Positive Psychology: The Use of a Multifaceted Structure of Mindfulness for Development |
title_full_unstemmed |
Advancing the Study of Positive Psychology: The Use of a Multifaceted Structure of Mindfulness for Development |
title_sort |
advancing the study of positive psychology: the use of a multifaceted structure of mindfulness for development |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Psychology |
issn |
1664-1078 |
publishDate |
2020-07-01 |
description |
Positive psychology, as a distinctive paradigm, focuses on the remedy of pathologies and, by contrast, the promotion of positive experiences and conditions in life (e.g., encouraging a state of flourishing). Positive psychology, in its simplistic form, may provide evidence and insightful understanding into the proactivity of human agency (Seligman, 1999; Seligman and Csíkszentmihályi, 2000). Drawing from this emphasis, we have developed the theory of optimization, which attempts to explain the achievement of optimal functioning in life (e.g., optimal cognitive functioning: academic performance). By the same token, in the course of our research development into the theory of optimization, we have also delved into a comparable theoretical orientation, namely: the multifaceted nature of mindfulness, consisting of three interrelated components – the psychological component of mindfulness, the philosophical component of mindfulness, and the spiritual component of mindfulness. This conceptualization of mindfulness is rather unique for its incorporation of both Western and Eastern knowledge, philosophical viewpoints, and epistemologies into one holistic framework. The main premise of this conceptual analysis article is to advance the study of positive psychology by specifically introducing our recently developed model of mindfulness, in this case, the multifaceted structure of mindfulness with its three distinct components. Importantly, we make attempts to highlight the significance of this multifaceted model by situating it within the theory of optimization for academic learning. Using philosophical psychology and personal-based teaching and research reasoning, we provide a valid rationale as to how aspects of our proposed model of mindfulness (e.g., reaching a state of enlightenment) could act to facilitate and optimize a person’s state of functioning (e.g., cognitive functioning). Moreover, we posit that our rationale regarding mindfulness as a potential “optimizing agent” for the purpose of optimal functioning could, indeed, emphasize and reflect the salient nature of positive psychology. In other words, we contend that an explanatory account of mindfulness from the perspectives of Confucianism and Buddhism could, in this analysis, coincide with and support the meaningful understanding and appreciation for the study of positive psychology in educational and non-educational contexts. We conclude the article by exploring the complex issue of methodology – that is, for example, how would a researcher measure, assess, and/or empirically validate the multifaceted nature of mindfulness? |
topic |
Buddhism Confucianism positive psychology mindfulness meditation optimal best |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01602/full |
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