Is positive psychology relevant and useful in today's society, or is it an over-claimed luxury?
Contemporary debate for the positive approach: the relevance of positive psychology in today's society. Arguments for and against, with a judgement.
An Eduqas A-Level Psychology answer to the positive approach's contemporary debate, the relevance of positive psychology today. Covers the arguments for (wellbeing crisis, evidence-based interventions, prevention) and against (measurement, cultural bias, ignoring distress), and how to reach a judgement on the Past to Present paper.
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What this dot point is asking
The relevance of positive psychology in today's society is the contemporary debate attached to the positive approach in Component 1. You must outline the arguments for and against its relevance, and reach a judgement.
The answer
What the debate is about
Arguments for relevance
- A wellbeing crisis. Rising rates of stress, anxiety and depression make a focus on wellbeing and prevention timely.
- Evidence-based interventions. Strengths exercises, gratitude and mindfulness improve wellbeing in controlled studies.
- Complements the medical model. It promotes flourishing rather than only treating illness, filling a gap.
- Wide application. It has been used in schools, workplaces and therapy with positive outcomes.
Arguments against relevance
- Measurement. Happiness and the good life are hard to define and measure objectively, weakening scientific credibility.
- Cultural bias. It may favour Western, individualist values, so its ideas of flourishing may not generalise.
- Risk of ignoring distress. It can underplay serious mental illness or imply people are to blame for their own unhappiness.
- Modest effects. Some interventions have small or short-lived effects.
Reaching a judgement
A balanced conclusion is that positive psychology is relevant and useful, but as a complement to (not a replacement for) treating disorder, provided its claims are evidence-based and culturally sensitive. The answer is qualified relevance, not uncritical endorsement or outright dismissal.
Examples in context
Example 1. Mindfulness in schools and workplaces. Mindfulness and strengths programmes have been rolled out widely and show wellbeing benefits in trials, supporting the relevance argument, but effects vary and some are modest, which feeds the criticism about effect sizes.
Example 2. Cultural bias. An individualist focus on personal happiness and self-chosen strengths may not fit collectivist cultures that prioritise the group, illustrating the cultural-bias criticism and why the judgement calls for cultural sensitivity.
Try this
Q1. State one argument that positive psychology is relevant today. [2 marks]
- Cue. Rising rates of stress, anxiety and depression make a focus on wellbeing and prevention timely, and positive psychology offers evidence-based interventions (gratitude, strengths, mindfulness).
Q2. Explain one criticism of the relevance of positive psychology. [3 marks]
- Cue. Its concepts (happiness, the good life) are hard to measure objectively, or it may be culturally biased toward Western individualist values, or it risks ignoring serious mental illness.
Q3. State a balanced conclusion to the debate. [2 marks]
- Cue. Positive psychology is relevant and useful as a complement to treating disorder, provided its claims are evidence-based and culturally sensitive.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC Eduqas exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
Eduqas 201910 marksOutline arguments for and against the relevance of positive psychology in today's society. [10 marks]Show worked answer →
An item testing both sides of the debate (AO1/AO3).
For: rising rates of stress, anxiety and depression mean a focus on wellbeing and prevention is timely; positive psychology offers evidence-based interventions (signature-strengths exercises, gratitude, mindfulness) shown to improve wellbeing; it complements the deficit-focused medical model by promoting flourishing; and it has been applied successfully in schools, workplaces and therapy.
Against: key concepts (happiness, the good life) are hard to define and measure objectively, weakening scientific credibility; it may be culturally biased toward Western, individualist values; it risks ignoring serious mental illness or implying people are responsible for their own unhappiness; and some interventions have modest or short-lived effects.
Markers reward developed points on both sides, with examples, and a contrast.
Eduqas 202212 marksDiscuss the contemporary debate about the relevance of positive psychology in today's society. [12 marks]Show worked answer →
A discussion item (AO1 plus AO3) reaching a judgement.
A strong answer outlines the debate (positive psychology promises to improve wellbeing and prevent distress, but its scientific and cultural credentials are questioned), then develops both sides: a wellbeing crisis, evidence-based interventions and prevention against measurement problems, cultural bias, the risk of ignoring distress, and modest effect sizes.
It then reaches a judgement: positive psychology is relevant and useful as a complement to, not a replacement for, treating disorder, provided its claims are evidence-based and culturally sensitive, so the answer is qualified relevance rather than uncritical endorsement or dismissal.
Markers reward balanced development and a justified conclusion.
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Sources & how we know this
- Eduqas GCE A Level in Psychology (A290) specification — Eduqas (2015)