是時候把"正面"從積極心理學中拿走
It's Time to Take the "Positive"Out of Positive Psychology
是時候把"正面"從積極心理學中拿走
What is the prescription for optimalliving? The burgeoning field of positive psychology appears to have many of theanswers: We should be kind and caring to others, forgiving of transgressions,gracious and compassionate in our daily lives, and upbeat and optimistic aboutthe future. Following this simple plan should keep us happy and healthy.
到底什麼是理想生活的靈丹妙藥？積極心理學新興領域出現了很多答案：我們日常生活中應該善待並關心別人，原諒別人的罪過，親切、富有同情心，還有要樂觀，對未來充滿希望。跟隨這種簡單的建議就可以使我們健康快樂。
But as with Most things, it turns out thatthe answer might not be that simple (link is external). What's good may notalways be good, and what's bad may not always be bad. Being kind and caring isa good thing-as long as the person you are kind and caring towards deservesyour kindness. Being forgiving may produce contentment-except when the forgiverhas no plans to make amends. Being optimistic about the future may keep yourspirits up and help you feel happy-unless you are a gambler who believes thenext bet will be the big one.
但在大多數情況下，（與外部鏈接後）事實並沒有那麼簡單。好的開始並不總是好的結果，而壞的開始也並不一定總是壞的結果。善良且富同情心是好的--前提是你善待及關心的人值得你對他好。寬恕原諒可能帶來滿足--被寬恕者沒有打算贖罪除外。對未來感到樂觀可能讓你充滿精神且讓你開心--除非你是個賭徒且總是相信下一個賭注將有好結果。
We have labeled certain traits and states"positive" and others "negative" but according toresearchers Jim McNulty and Frank Fincham "psychological traits andprocesses are not inherently positive or negative; instead, whetherpsychological characteristics promote or undermine well-being depends on thecontext in which they operate."
我們把一些特點標記爲"正面"，另一部分標記爲"負面"，但根據研究者Jim McNulty和Frank Fincham, "心理特質和過程並非天生的正面或負面，取而代之，心理特徵是否促進或破化幸福感取決於他們的操作。"
How do we take the positive out of positivepsychology? According to McNulty and Fincham, we stop assuming that"positive" traits such as kindness are always beneficial forwell-being and instead dig a big deeper to figure out when, for whom, and towhat extent, being kind and caring, forgiving, or compassionate, actually leadsto greater happiness and health. What does this mean exactly?
我們怎樣把把"正面"從積極心理學中拿走？根據McNulty及Fincham，我們應停止假設"正面"性格如善良，總是對有利於得到幸福。取而代之是更深地挖掘：什麼時候、對誰、做到什麼程度，去展示友善、關懷、寬恕或憐憫，才真實地到來更大的幸福感。這到底怎麼理解呢？
They suggest three approaches:
對此他們有三個方法：
1. Consider the context. In order tounderstand when traits and processes are beneficial, we need to consider themwithin the social context. "Positive" traits and processes may not bepositive in all conditions, and under certain circumstances, they couldactually be harmful. Forgiving your spouse might strengthen your relationshipif her transgression is forgetting to turn off the lights, and it's clear shefeels bad about her forgetfulness. But if she is constantly belittling you infront of your friends, and shows no remorse for her actions, forgiveness maynot be the best approach.
考慮環境因素。爲了能瞭解什麼特徵及處理是有利的，我們需要考慮我們所在的社會環境。不是所有的情況"正面"的性格及處理方法都能帶來正面的結果，在某種情況下，它甚至會造成傷害。原諒你的配偶可能會更加鞏固你們的關係，若對方的錯誤是忘記關燈且她已經意識到自己的疏忽。但如果她不斷的在你的朋友面前貶低你並對自己的行爲沒有絲毫懊悔，原諒並不是最佳的方式。
2. Consider the sample. The positivepsychology movement helped psychologists realize that we cannot understand thewhole of the human condition if we focus only on those who have wise, we cannot understand how to promote well-being if we focus only onthose who are already happy. In order to uncover the secrets to living a happyand healthy life, we must examine the effects of psychological characteristicsnot just within samples of people who are functioning optimally, but also thosewith dysfunction. Perhaps optimism is only beneficial for those who havesomething to be optimistic about. To find out, we must conduct studies on boththe college undergraduate with the bright future and the medical patient whowas diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
細想這個例子。積極心理學運動幫助心理學家意識到若我們只聚焦在存在問題的人的身上，我們沒辦法明白人類的整體情況。同樣地，若我們只關注那些實際已經感到開心快樂的人身上，我們並不能知道怎樣促進健康。爲了揭開能快樂健康生活的祕密，我們不但要觀察身心已處於最佳狀態的人的心理特徵，我們還要觀察那些功能失調的。或許，樂觀只有利於那些有事物可讓他們感到希望樂觀的人上。爲了查明，我們進行了研究：一方是前途光明的大學生，另一方則是被確診癌症第四期的患者。
3. Consider the timeline. Most psychologicalresearch is cross-sectional (measuring how a bunch of people feel at one pointin time). To find out how psychological characteristics truly influencewell-being, we need to look at them longitudinally (sampling the same people atmany different time points throughout their lives). This is important becauseresearchers are discovering that what can be good in the short term might bedetrimental over the long run. Spouses who deal with serious relationshipproblems by being kind to each other instead of critical report feeling betterabout their relationships in the moment, but over time they become lesssatisfied relative to spouses who were more critical. Why? The critical spousesactually deal with their problems which helps to improve their relationships.
考慮到時間軸。絕大多數的心理研究都是代表性研究（測量一羣人在特定時間中的感受）。但若我們希望查明心理特徵怎樣實實在在地影響幸福感，我們需要縱向地去看（同一羣人中，在每個人人生不同的點都進行抽樣）。縱向觀察很重要，因爲研究員發現一些有利於短期的事件卻不利於長遠。在夫妻關係出現嚴重問題時，選擇善待彼此的夫妻比選擇指責批評的夫妻在短期內覺得關係更好；但隨着時間過去，（比起"指責組"）善待彼此的夫妻卻對關係更感不滿。爲什麼？因爲"指責組"實際上是在處理他們之間的問題，從而改善他們的關係。
Why does this matter? The positivepsychology movement is widespread and many of us have taken the movement toheart. Therapies, self-help books, and better living apps are now centered onthe promotion of positive characteristics, such as being more kind andforgiving. But if characteristics like kindness and forgiveness aren'tnecessarily a good thing for everyone, than we need to move forward withcaution, only promoting these characteristics in the contexts in which they arelikely to be fruitful.
爲什麼這事重要？積極心理學運動廣爲流傳，我們中有很多人已把這運動刻在心中。療法、自助書籍，協助更好生活的應用程序......已經成爲促進積極的特徵中心，如更善良和寬容。可是，如果善良、寬容這類特徵未必對每個人都是好事，那我們需要非常謹慎探索；只能在瞭解事情背景並認爲善良、寬容這類特徵會有對得到正面的成效時纔去做。
Did you hop on the positive psychologybandwagon? Do you agree it's time to take the "positive" out ofpositive psychology? Suggestions for other ways to do this?
你會指責積極心理學見風使舵嗎？你同意是時候把"正面"從積極心理學中拿走？你有其他好的建議嗎？
