Today there is a boom in the development and application of positive psychology as that branch of psychology in charge of the scientific study of the optimal functioning of the human being and the development of his potential and well-being, seeking his happiness.

One of the pioneers in developing this type of psychology is Martin Seligman, who is also widely known for his studies on depression and the concept of learned helplessness. This author has made, and in fact continues to make, multiple contributions to the field of psychology throughout his life. That is why in this article we will review the biography of Martin Seligman .

Brief biography of Martin Seligman

This well-known author has played an important role in the study of disorders such as depression and, more recently, that of well-being and happiness. The following is a brief summary of the stages of his life, his theories and his major contributions to psychology.

Birth and education

Martin Elias Peter Seligman was born on August 12, 1942 in the New York state of Albany, in the United States. In Albany he would study during primary and secondary school. Once he finished his primary and secondary education, he enrolled at Princeton University in 1960 to study philosophy.

He graduated in 1964, doing so with the highest honors with the title Summa cum laude. After that, he received offers from several universities to continue his studies with them, choosing the University of Pennsylvania as the author. He studied Animal Psychology, obtaining his doctorate in psychology in 1967 .

Seligman then began a successful career as a researcher.

Professional performance and contributions to psychology

Initially, Martin Seligman was an assistant professor at Cornell University, and later at Pennsylvania University, where he rose to become a professor of psychology. In 1980 he was appointed director of the clinical training program at the latter university, working for years in the treatment and research of depression and other disorders. Throughout his career he made important contributions that would lead him to be widely recognized and receive multiple awards

However, the author would be aware that clinical psychology in general tends to focus only on the aspects that generate dysfunctionality and suffering of the person and treat them, , and there is no optimistic vision centered on reinforcing the elements that generate well-being . In 1990 the researcher turned his career around in order to focus on the study of happiness.

On the other hand, Seligman has developed several theories and contributions to the world of psychology. Let’s see what they were.

About depression

Throughout his years of study he would be influenced by one of his teachers, the famous psychologist Aaron Beck, from whom he would draw inspiration to study the functioning of depressive disorder.

According to his theory on depression, this condition is partly the result of a problem of perception of reality, related to the feeling of loss of control and to how causes are attributed to positive or negative experiences : the negative ones seem to be caused by oneself, and the positive ones are the result of chance and the effects of others. This idea is related to attribution theories.

Learned helplessness

After receiving his doctorate, in 1967 he began his research at the University of Pennsylvania. He would start researching with animals, specifically dogs , under a paradigm based on operant conditioning.

During these experiments, which used electrical stimulation, Seligman was able to observe how animals subjected to a previous experience in which they could not escape aversive stimulation stopped trying to do so even when they could have at other times, demonstrating passivity.

These experiments led to the birth of the theory of learned helplessness , which would be associated with the absence of activity typical of depressed subjects: the depressed subject has learned that his performance does not change events and has no results, so he stops acting.

This theory would be an important contribution that would allow progress in the generation of explanatory theories of different aspects of depression and work focused on combating helplessness. Likewise, he participated in the creation of various methods to treat this disorder based on confrontation and the change of negative automatic thoughts.

Presidency of the APA and the birth of Positive Psychology

In 1996, Martin Seligman was appointed president of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) , a presidency that would open up new avenues of research and work for this science. His main objective during his term was to bring together theoretical and practical knowledge.

In 1998 he proposed the search for a more positive psychology, not so much centred solely on the pathological aspects of the psyche and behaviour and that sought to study the aspects that make us feel well and happy. Thus, in the year 2000, positive psychology was founded as a scientific study of optimal human functioning, which has since contributed to its expansion, and the Manual on Virtues and Strengths of Character. Another relevant initiative was the prevention of war or ethno-political conflict.

During 2002 he developed the theory of authentic happiness , in which he proposed the development of the strengths and characteristics to achieve it. During 2003 the Master of Applied Positive Psychology was created under his direction. From 2005 he was appointed director of the department of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.

In 2010 he reformulates his theory of authentic happiness, appearing the theory of well-being and the PERMA model, in which he studies what people choose to increase their level of well-being, including positive emotion, positive relationships, involvement, meaning and commitment.

News

During the last years Martin Seligman has made numerous publications (like Flourish, in 2011) and given different conferences.

Today, at age 75, he continues to serve as director of the Penn Positive Psychology Center and professor in the department of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania (specifically the Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology). He is also director of the Master’s Program in Applied Positive Psychology and continues to serve as a consultant to various organizations.