Positive psychology interventions (PPIs) are evidence-based practices designed to enhance wellbeing by cultivating strengths, fostering gratitude, and promoting positive emotions. Developed primarily through research by Martin Seligman, Barbara Fredrickson, and others since the late 1990s, these interventions shift focus from fixing problems to building what's best in people. The PERMA model (Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment) provides a foundational framework for understanding wellbeing dimensions. A crucial insight: research shows that person-activity fit—matching interventions to individual preferences, values, and strengths—significantly predicts effectiveness, meaning the "best" intervention is the one that resonates most with you personally and that you'll actually practice consistently.
What This Cheat Sheet Covers
This topic spans 20 focused tables and 123 indexed concepts. Below is a complete table-by-table outline of this topic, spanning foundational concepts through advanced details.
Table 1: PERMA Model Components
| Component | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|
Practicing daily gratitude journaling | • Experiencing joy, contentment, love, and other pleasant feelings; • Broaden-and-build theory shows positive emotions expand thinking and build resources • Can be cultivated through savoring, gratitude, and acts of kindness | |
Entering flow state during challenging work | • Deep absorption in activities matching skill level with challenge; • Characterized by timelessness and effortless concentration • Csikszentmihalyi's flow research shows peak performance and satisfaction | |
Active-constructive responding to good news | • Authentic connections and positive interactions with others; • Social support predicts wellbeing more than any other factor • Quality matters more than quantity of relationships |