Describe what positive psychology is, and discuss its ...

[strangeaffliction]

Describe what positive psychology is, and discuss its relationship to the field of social psychology.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a way in which evolutionary theory explains prosocial behavior?
 
  a. social exchange
  b. kin selection
  c. the reciprocity norm
  d. group selection

[shaquita]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: The newly emerging field of positive psychology, spearheaded by psychologist Martin Seligman, focuses on the study of strengths and virtues, including topics such as the nature of healthy human functioning, how to define and categorize human strengths, and how to improve people's lives. While this focus is a necessary corrective to some areas of psychology (such as clinical psychology, which has tended to focus on disease and negative behaviors), social psychology has a long history of focusing on the positive as well as the negative aspects of behavior. For example, while social psychology has examined factors that lead to unreasoning and harmful obedience to authority, the failure to help when a person is in need, and the existence of prejudice, it has also examined factors that lead to resistance to unjust authority, to increased helping, and to decreased expressions of prejudice.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: A

[strangeaffliction]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[scottmt]

Gracias!