Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Capstones
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Publication Ch2ROMA: A Positive Psychology Approach to Transitioning Optimally(2024) Patricia Adelfa CantuResearchers have found that enhancing strengths and using the humanities to explore and express one's emotions increases well-being. These findings are particularly important for third culture kids (TCKs). Third culture kids are children who spend their developmental years constantly relocating and estranged from their passport or their parent ́s culture. Because of their high mobility lifestyle, TCKs face two major challenges: unresolved grief and unestablished identity. In this capstone, the author proposes the implementation of a positive intervention that teaches TCKs to harness their strengths and interact with the humanities to achieve well-being. In this intervention, TCKs will complete self-reflection activities that will help them harness the power of their strengths and develop an optimistic mindset to become more resilient while relocating.Publication Measuring the weight of love: Have relationships deteriorated over time?(2019-08-09) Cheuk, Chung HWe are healthier, richer, safer, and better educated than ever before. Yet paradoxically, depression is on the rise in the United States. Given the strong emphasis that positive psychology places on the importance of social relationships, I review direct and proxy evidence that relationships are deteriorating in the United States. Additionally, I outline next steps to strengthen this hypothesis. The implications of this work point toward a need to complement the joys of modernity with interventions and policies that support strengthening our weakened relationships.Publication So She May Thrive: Psychological Flexibility As A Pathway To Flourishing For Teenage Girls(2019-08-01) Christy Curtis PetersonAdolescence is a heightened period of storm and stress due to the many developmental changes taking place during the teen years. For teenage girls, these challenges are often exacerbated by environmental stressors including impossible cultural standards of success, media overuse, and daily harassment by peers that threaten overall well-being. This capstone reviews research in positive psychology that promises to improve teenage girls’ ability to navigate life stressors, and to embrace adolescence as a time of wonder—of curiosity and exploration, passion, novelty-seeking and building new relationships. Psychological flexibility is proposed as a cornerstone of adolescent health and well-being, and its presence may help girls navigate the challenges posed by the adolescent years with greater resilience, connection and courage. Psychological flexibility refers to the ability to connect to the present moment and to change or persist in behaviors that align with deeply held personal values (Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 2012). Although a fluid construct, research suggests that emotion regulation flexibility, mindfulness, self-compassion, positivity, and valued action increase psychological flexibility and its many benefits. Targeted interventions including Mindful Self-Compassion and a modified Acceptance and Commitment Therapy training are discussed as promising strategies to help teenage girls cultivate psychological flexibility as they transition from girls into thriving adults.Publication Between the Tides of East and West: Using Character Strengths to Navigate the Iranian-American ‘Hyphenated’ Identity and Address Intercultural Conflict(2024) Ava ShahiA hyphen is used to bridge two words that do not normally belong: well-being, problem-solving, long-term. Much like the way a hyphen occupies a unique space between two words, hyphenated Americans navigate a unique space between two cultures, caught in the metaphorical tides of clashing 'Eastern' and 'Western' values. This paper seeks to broaden the understanding of well-being and the application of positive psychology interventions in these diverse and often invisible communities, focusing on the second-generation Iranian-American community. Drawing on interdisciplinary research from anthropology, sociology, and peace and conflict studies, it identifies and examines identity negotiation, discrimination, and intergenerational conflict as unique challenges to this group. The paper explores how the use of character strengths can enhance well-being and positive youth development by bridging Iranian collectivist and American individualist cultural differences. Practical applications of character strengths for Iranian-American youth in educational and familial settings are also discussed. Additionally, a novel approach integrating character strengths with intercultural conflict styles is introduced to address communication challenges. This strengths-based approach aims to reduce conflict and promote understanding between differing cultural orientations. The paper calls for further empirical research on character strengths among Iranian-Americans and other Middle Eastern American populations to advance toward a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of well-being in positive psychology.Publication The Well-Being Revolution: An Integrative, Scientific, and Practical Guide for a Happier Life(2024-07-15) Diego Burger Araujo SantosThis thesis introduces the HRG Model, a novel approach to understanding and enhancing happiness through a comprehensive framework. The HRG Model bridges the fields of well-being, offering a digestible way for well-educated laypeople to understand and apply this knowledge. It is structured around three pillars—Health (physiological), Relationships (social), and Growth (psychological)—each comprising five facets, providing a detailed prescription for enhancing well-being. The facets include exercise, meditation, time in nature, sleep, and nutrition (Health); family, romantic life, friends, work colleagues, and strangers (Relationships); and meaning, work & money, self-actualization, savoring joy, and spirituality (Growth). The model synthesizes existing literature and connects diverse theories, addressing the gap in current research which often emphasizes new theories over improving existing ones. This work critiques the deficit-based approach prevalent in academia and proposes a strength-based framework. By conducting a thorough literature review, this thesis aims to empower individuals to take actionable steps toward improving their well-being.Publication Empowering Excellence: Unleashing Agency in Black Youth(2024-08-01) Leneice RIceThis paper examines the literature on positive psychology interventions aimed at enhancing agency—specifically optimism, creativity, and efficacy—among Black youth aged 16-20, with the ultimate goal of fostering Black excellence. The review synthesizes existing research to identify three actionable interventions tailored to address the unique socio-cultural contexts and challenges Black youth face in achieving personal and collective empowerment through strong agentic thinking and actions. Drawing on studies emphasizing culturally sensitive approaches, the paper proposes a 3-intervention handbook that can be in youth centers, educational settings, homes, and community settings. These interventions can mitigate systemic barriers and promote resilience. The findings underscore the critical role of culturally competent practitioners in delivering interventions that support the holistic development of Black youth, thereby contributing to their positive psychological outcomes and collective advancement. Ultimately, the project endeavors to empower Black youth with the tools and resources needed to thrive amidst their challenges, fostering resilience and well-being for generations to come.Publication Predicting with Positivity: Investigating the Impact of Positive Psychology on Forecasting Accuracy and Human-AI Collaboration(2024-07-15) Antonio, ChristopherThis capstone explores the intersection of positive psychology and geopolitical forecasting, focusing on personality traits that support mastery among a select group known as "Superforecasters." By reviewing existing forecasting and positive psychology literature, this study reveals these fields' synergistic potential. The goal is to demonstrate that incorporating positive psychology principles can enhance predictive accuracy and decision-making, leading to more favorable outcomes across these domains. We present a comprehensive literature survey of studies on forecasting, positive psychology, and data from the Good Judgment Project, a research initiative led by Drs. Barbara Mellers and Philip Tetlock at the University of Pennsylvania. This review identifies key personality attributes that correlate with forecasting excellence, many of which align with the principles of positive psychology. Additionally, the study explores the potential optimization of forecasting by integrating human attributes and artificial intelligence (AI). We discuss how positive psychology fortifies dialectical complexity, a decisive human contribution to forecasting. This research underscores the practical significance of merging these spheres to achieve superior forecasting outcomes.Publication Enhancing Mission Critical Team Training: The Potential of Instructional Coaching Informed by Positive Psychology(2024) Diamond, SheaMission critical teams (MCTs) are high-performing groups who train to solve complex problems under extreme pressure. Often, the most effective team members are subsequently selected to become instructors for future MCTs. However, these instructors often need more formal training in teaching and learning science. This paper explores the potential benefits of implementing instructional coaching in MCT training institutions. In doing so, it weaves together literature from education and psychology, incorporates firsthand experiences and observations from MCT instructors, and presents a job proposal for an instructional coach position. The paper argues that instructional coaching, informed by positive psychology principles, can enhance instructor effectiveness, improve trainer and trainee well-being, and optimize overall training outcomes. It also discusses the limitations of existing research and suggests avenues for future investigation. Keywords: positive psychology, instructional coaching, training cadre, special operations, mission critical teamsPublication The Integrated Positive Development Model of Aging-In: A Researched Based Approach on Integrating Foster Youth into Society After Emancipation(2024) Dill-Word, AntonioEmerging adulthood is a period of intense flux as young adults (ages seventeen through late twenties) navigate the challenges of becoming adults. This period of self-identity and development is distinctive by its feelings of instability, feeling in between adulthood and adolescence, identity exploration, self-focus, and optimism. However, for foster youth “aging-out” of the foster care system, this period is completely different. It is a period of lack of support, limited opportunities, low civil engagement, and low educational attainment. This paper offers a theoretical pathway toward a sufficient and secondary system following emancipation- aging-in. It looks at the psychological needs to reach self-actualization and how to experience wellness outcomes to create a system equitable to emerging adulthood while considering the challenges foster youth face. It suggests a model centered around 5 key areas: basic needs support, personal development and skills training, mentorship and internal community engagement, external community integration and matriculation, and returning as mentors and training in natural mentorship. The Integrated Positive Development Model of Aging-in is a research based, testable model that has the transformative potential to reshape the experience of emancipation.Publication Beyond Just a Model Teammate: A New Framework to Leverage Character Strengths in Talent Identification and Athlete Development(2024-08) Rindos, JustinThis paper recommends the integration of character strengths into talent identification and athlete development processes. A pivotal element of positive psychology, character strengths offer a valuable lens to view talent identification and athlete development at all ages and stages of an athlete’s career. Incorporating character strengths into talent identification processes can provide a more comprehensive understanding of an athlete’s potential beyond physical abilities. Similarly, by integrating character strengths into athlete development programs, sports organizations can foster a more holistic growth of key psychological skills in athletes. This paper explores the relationship between character strengths, related psychological frameworks, and sports performance and offers suggestions for assessing and developing character strengths in athletes. Overall, effectively leveraging character strengths in talent identification and athlete development programs may help sports organizations improve athletic outcomes.