3/31/2025 6:50:19 AM	PSYC 14 Course Outline as of Fall 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  PSYC 14	Title:  INTRO TO POSITIVE PSYCH
Full Title:  Introduction to Positive Psychology
Last Reviewed:11/4/2024

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade Only
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  PSYCH 14

Catalog Description:

Students will focus on critically analyzing empirical investigations on human potential, strengths, and well-being. Emphasis on analyzing research methods, empirical evidence, and theories across multiple dimensions including own life experiences, cross-cultural comparisons, and cultural-historical-political context. Topics include positive emotions, strengths, motivation, accomplishment, flow, health, flourishing, creativity, resilience, religiosity/spirituality, culture, and institutions. Students will practice application of findings to their lives, including identifying and developing their strengths, finding meaning in life and career, practicing gratitude and mindfulness, and cultivating positive relationships.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL C1000 or EMLS 10 or equivalent or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Students will focus on critically analyzing empirical investigations on human potential, strengths, and well-being. Emphasis on analyzing research methods, empirical evidence, and theories across multiple dimensions including own life experiences, cross-cultural comparisons, and cultural-historical-political context. Topics include positive emotions, strengths, motivation, accomplishment, flow, health, flourishing, creativity, resilience, religiosity/spirituality, culture, and institutions. Students will practice application of findings to their lives, including identifying and developing their strengths, finding meaning in life and career, practicing gratitude and mindfulness, and cultivating positive relationships.

(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL C1000 or EMLS 10 or equivalent or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates.
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 2020	Inactive:
Area:	D	Social and Behavioral Sciences
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	D	Social Science		Fall 2020
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2020	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2020	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of major theories, concepts, and research findings in positive psychology.

2. Analyze research methods in positive psychology, including evaluation of the validity of empirical claims in contemporary positive psychology research.

3. Demonstrate critical and creative thinking, personal reflection, skeptical inquiry, toleration of ambiguity, and reflection of other values and skills that are the underpinnings of psychology as a science.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Define the scope of the Western positive psychology discipline and analyze its origin in its historical, cultural, and political context and compare it to other cross-cultural definitions of well-being including Indigenous traditions.

2. Evaluate qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods of studying well-being, including multi-dimensional models of well-being.

3. Critically analyze subjective well-being and life satisfaction as indicators of well-being.

4. Describe the factors that support the different states of leisure, flow, and peak performance.

5. Define the different types of loving relationships and describe factors that support positive relationships and conflict resolution.

6. Demonstrate an understanding of the biological and psychological factors that support positive health.

7. Compare stage models of human development that include positive dimensions, the importance of meaning making, and resiliency.

8. Describe the different religious and spiritual emotions and experiences, including mindfulness, transcendence, meaning, and purpose.

9. Evaluate factors that support positive institutions and communities.

Topics and Scope

For each of the following topics, students will explore the definitions, research, theories, and application to their lived experience.

 

I. Positive Psychology

    A. Definition and Scope

     B. Cultural, Historical, and Political Context within Humanistic Psychology

    C. Cross Cultural Comparisons

II. Research Models of Well-being

    A. Components of Emotion

    B. Motivation

    C. Mental Processes and Optimism

     D. Strengths and Virtues

    E. Assessment measures

    F. Multidimensional Models of Well-being (e.g. Seligman)

III. Subjective Well-Being

    A. Measurement

    B. Positive Emotions (e.g. gratitude, empathy)

    C. Genetic Factors

    D. Cultural Factors and Materialism

    E. Cultivating Happiness and Life Satisfaction (e.g. kindness, money)

IV. Leisure and Accomplishment

    A. Relaxation

    B. Flow and Optimal Experience

    C. Peak Performance

V. Positive Relationships

    A. Romantic Love

    B. Sex Positivity

    C. Positive Couples and Families (e.g. Gottman, Robins)

    D. Application and Conflict Resolution (e.g. forgiveness)

VI. Positive Health

    A. Biological Factors

    B. Psychological Factors

    C. Stress and Positive Coping

    D. Resilience & Hardiness

    E. Efficacy of Prevention and Intervention

VII. Well-being across the Lifespan

    A. Stage Models and Well-being

    B. Storytelling and Meaning Making

    C. Resiliency and Traumatic Growth

VIII. Religion, Spirituality, and Well-being

    A. Religion and Well-being

    B. Religious/Spiritual Emotions (e.g. humility, awe)

    C. Mindfulness

    D. Religious/Spiritual Experiences

    E. Meaning and Purpose

IX. Positive Institutions and Work

     A. Engagement

     B. Career with Meaning

    C. Positive Communities

     D. Applied Positive Psychology in Organizations

Assignments:

1. Read approximately 35 pages per week

2. Writing assignment(s) (a total minimum of 1,250 words) such as:

    A. Research

    B. Personal reflection

    C. Experiential

    D. Response

    E. Project

3. Quizzes and/or exams

4. Presentation(s) and/or group project(s) may be assigned

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 10 - 50%
Writing assignment(s)
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 40 - 70%
Quizzes and/or exams
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 40%
Presentation(s) and/or project(s) (if assigned)

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology. Snyder, C. R. and Lopez, S. J and Edwards, L. M. and Marques, S. C. Oxford University Press. 2021.

Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness and Flourishing. Compton, William and Hoffman, Edward. Sage Publications. 2023.

Positive Psychology: The Science of Wellbeing and Human Strengths. Carr, Alan. Routeledge. 2022.

Positive Psychology: The Scientific and Practical Explorations of Human Strengths. Lopez, Shane and Teramoto Pedrotti, Jennifer and Synder, C. R. Sage Publications. 2018. (classic).

Print PDF