Martin Seligman History Term Paper

Martin Seligman

Biographical

        Martin Seligman is considered to be the father of positive psychology and has held many honors. Martin Seligman was born in Albany, NY in 1942 and is currently married and lives with his wife and children. He received his B.A. in Philosophy, Summa Cum Laude, from Princeton University in 1964. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania in 1967; a Ph.D., Honoris causa, from Uppsala University, Sweden, in 1989; Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris causa, from Massachusetts College of Professional Psychology in 1997; a Ph.D., Honoris causa, from Complutense University, Spain, in 2003; and a Ph.D., Honoris causa, from University of East London in 2006 (upenn.edu, 2017).

        Seligman’s (1967) dissertation addressed the effects of unpredictable shocks. In the initial experiment, there were two groups of rats: unpredictable shock and predictable shock. Each group received signals and shocks. Those in the unpredictable shock group experienced random signals and shocks but for those in the predicable shock group, signals predicted the electrical shocks. Prior to the shock treatments, both groups learned to press a bar to receive food. The effects of unpredictable and predictable shocks were measured by bar pressing behavior and ulcer formation, commonly used to measure stress. This study contributed to the idea of learned helplessness.

        The idea of learned helplessness was further developed with the assistance of Steven Maier. Maier and Seligman found dogs exposed to shocks that were both inescapable and unavoidable, learned helplessness and generalized that helplessness onto separate situations. Therefore, when these dogs were presented with the opportunity to avoid the shocks, they failed to do so (Maier & Seligman, 1976). Seligman, Maier, and Solomon (1971) proposed that the behaviors associated with learned helplessness are due to the belief that outcomes are independent of behavior. Meaning that, if someone learns that regardless of what they do, they are unable to change the outcome, they will experience learned helplessness. Overall, evidence of learned helplessness was found in many animals, including humans (Maier & Seligman, 1976). It was also found that there are four deficits associated with learned helplessness and that how the individual attributes the cause of such helplessness can predict further instances of helplessness and depression (Abramson, Seligman & Teasdale, 1978).

        With the link between depression and helplessness established, and supported by the Reformulated Theory of Learned Helplessness (Abramson et al., 1978), Seligman sought to find ways to relief the suffering of humans (“Martin E. P. Seligman,” 2006). After years of researching pessimism as a risk factor for depression, Seligman wrote his best seller Learned Optimism, followed by many other optimism focused books, such as What You Can Change and What You Can’t, The Optimistic Child, and Authentic Happiness (“Martin E. P. Seligman,” 2006). In 1998, Seligman was elected President of the American Psychology Association and focused his efforts in joining practice and science to better serve those that could benefit from it. With help from his colleagues, Seligman has managed to push the study of positive emotions, character, and institutions (“Martin E. P. Seligman,” 2006). Additionally, we now have positive psychotherapy, academic degrees that focus on positive psychology, institutions promoting positive psychology, and websites with tests and exercises intended to increase well-being. Martin Seligman is now considered to be the expert in Positive Psychology. Currently, Seligman is the Director of the Penn Positive Psychology Center, Zellerback Family Professor of Psychology in the Penn Department of Psychology, and Director of the Penn Master of Applied Positive Psychology program (upenn.edu, 2017).