The course, Authentic Happiness, by Martin Seligman empowers clinicians with the tools to develop nurturing sets of strengths, competencies, and virtues in people; such as future-mindedness, hope, interpersonal skills, courage,the capacity for 'flow,' faith, and developing a work ethic.

According to Seligman, Positive Psychology has three pillars. The first is the study of positive emotion. The second is the study of positive traits, foremost among them the virtues, but also 'abilities' such as intelligence and athleticism. Third is the study of positive institutions that support the virtues, such as democracy, strong families, and free inquiry. He argues that psychology has neglected the study and analysis of virtue over the past half-century, philosophy and religion have not. From religion and philosophy, Seligman identifies six core virtues and explores the means that they can be developed within the lives of adults and children. The book provides strategies for increasing the sense of gratification in work, love, and raising children. Seligman believes it is possible to increase optimism and hope into pervasive and permanent values for dealing with the world.

Educational Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the clinician will be able to:

• Identify and understand the factors and variables to the Happiness Formula
• Identify the three ways happiness about the past can be generated
• Understand how permanence and pervasiveness affects optimism.
• Identify the six universal virtues
• Identify the twenty-four signature strengths
• Understand the concept of 'flow' and how to use it to increase life satisfaction
• Identify the eight techniques for building positive emotions in children

Syllabus / Course Instructions

• The Course consists of reading the selected book, successfully completing an online posttest and filling out a course evaluation.
• The book is not included. It must be purchased separately. We have supplied a link to Amazon.com for your convenience.
• Purchasing your course will give you access to both a printable copy of the test and an online version. Print the test to use as a companion as you read the book and answer the questions.
• You cannot exit the online test once you begin, so have your answers available.

Additional Resources On This Site for CE

• Learned Optimism
  by Martin E.P. Seligman, PhD: 9 CE Credits
• The Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice (Fifth Edition)......................[This Course is not available for CE for psychologists]
  by Dennis Saleebey: 8 CE Credits
• Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion
  by Robert W. Firestone, PhD, Lisa A. Firestone, PhD, Joyce Catlett, MA: 15 CE Credits
• Caring for Ourselves
  By Ellen K. Baker: 6 CE Credits

Additional Resources Not On This Site

• Authentic Happiness Website University Pennsylvania
  http://www.ppc.sas.upenn.edu/index.html
• Dr. Seligman's Speaking Engagements
  http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/books.aspx?id=157

Bio: E. P. Seligman

Martin Seligman received his A.B., Princeton University, Summa Cum Laude (Philosophy), in 1964 and his Ph.D. from University of Pennsylvania (Psychology), in 1967.

His research on helplessness, depression, optimism and pessimism, has been on the forefront of positive psychology. He is currently the Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.

His bibliography includes more than 20 books and 170 articles on motivation and personality. Among his better-known works are Learned Optimism(Knopf, 1991), What You Can Change & What You Can't(Knopf, 1993), The Optimistic Child (Houghton Mifflin, 1995), Learned Helplessness (Freeman, 1975, 1993) and Abnormal Psychology (Norton, 1982, 1988, 1995, with David Rosenhan).
Dr. Seligman's research and writing has been broadly supported by a number of institutions including The National Institute of Mental Health (continuously since 1969), the National Institute of Aging, the National Science Foundation, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation. His research on preventing depression received the MERIT Award of the National Institute of Mental Health in 1991. He is the network director of the Positive Psychology Network and Scientific Director of the Values-in-Action Project of the Mayerson Foundation.

In 1996 Dr. Seligman was elected President of the American Psychological Association, by the largest vote in modern history. His primary aim as APA President was to join practice and science together so both might flourish a goal that has dominated his own life as a psychologist. His major initiatives concerned the prevention of ethno political warfare and the study of Positive Psychology.

Since 2000 his main mission has been the promotion of the field of Positive Psychology. This discipline includes the study of positive emotion, positive character traits, and positive institutions. As the science behind these becomes more firmly grounded, Dr. Seligman is now turning his attention to training Positive Psychologists, individuals whose practice will make the world a happier place.