Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Capstones

 

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 272
  • Publication
    Toward a Positive Framework: A Framework for Scaling Wellbeing Initiatives in the Workplace (final version)
    (2023-08-06) Damien Catani
    The critical need for employee wellbeing in organizations calls for a comprehensive approach integrating positive psychology, positive organizational scholarship (POS), and implementation science and relevant pedagogical theories. This Capstone presents a transversal analysis of the scaling problem in wellbeing initiatives and proposes an innovative solution: "Positive Organizational Wellbeing Implementation Science." This framework provides a multi-faceted, systematic approach to scaling wellbeing initiatives effectively across diverse organizational contexts. It encapsulates the whole cycle of initiative development and deployment, from identifying potential interventions to executing and continuously improving them. The study uses a descriptive-analytical design, drawing from literature reviews and expert analysis. Key aspects of the framework - including the source, structure, scope, and synchronization of wellbeing content; training and pedagogy methods; organizational top-down commitment and bottom-up engagement; and robust infrastructure and continuous refinement - are examined in depth, with a particular focus on the role of content. The analysis demonstrates that a well-structured, comprehensive approach can lead to successful, scalable wellbeing initiatives. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of scientific, evidence-based methodologies in developing and deploying wellbeing initiatives. The implications of this study carry significant relevance for the employee wellbeing industry, providing a robust model for creating and managing scalable initiatives.
  • Publication
    The Well-being Paradox in Latin America: Identifying, Protecting, Capitalizing, and Replicating What Works Well
    (2023-08-24) Mariangela Rodriguez Badel
    Self-reported measures of subjective well-being in Latin America consistently indicate higher levels than predicted, despite various societal, economic, and political challenges. This project examines three significant elements that emerge when Latin Americans report on their well-being: the importance of interpersonal relationships, the unexpectedly elevated levels of positive affect, and a tendency to adopt an optimistic outlook on life. Warm and fulfilling relationships with family and friends play a crucial role in the experience of high levels of positive emotions, and alongside a positive view of life situations, contribute to explaining well-being in the region. Evidence shows positive relationships, positive emotions, and optimism are associated with several positive outcomes and are essential to enhance well-being. The findings discussed in this paper have practical applications for public policy, education, coaching, and therapeutic contexts. Preserving these cultural values and practices within Latin American societies is of utmost importance. Furthermore, sharing the unique aspects of Latin American culture regarding well-being can provide valuable lessons that can be applied in different cultures and contexts.
  • Publication
    Positive Physical Education: Teaching Well-Being Skills Through Sport
    (2023-08-15) Danny Fung
    The prevalence of mental health problems in young people is a serious issue globally. To expand the reach of well-being education within and beyond the school (and the classroom) environment, this capstone poses two big questions: "Can sport teach well-being?" "If so, which sports, and for what skills?" Focusing on the mind-body connection, this capstone leverages the inherent well-being benefits of physical activity and investigates the potential to incorporate explicit teaching of well-being skills through sport. Positive Physical Education (PPE) is introduced, and it aims to teach well-being skills to school-aged children through sport. PPE incorporates sports-based positive psychology interventions, that harness both physiological and psychological benefits, to form an ‘upward spiral’ towards improved well-being. This capstone will spotlight three sports and physical activities - hiking, boxing, and basketball – as vehicles to teach optimism, mindfulness, and empathy. We explore the qualities of sport that make it a great avenue to teach well-being skills, such as handling setbacks and adversities, the presence of coaches and teammates, body awareness, and stress regulation through our nervous systems, to name a few. The goal of this capstone is to inspire schools and sports educators to integrate well-being skills into their sports curriculum.
  • Publication
    Thriving Cybersecurity Professionals: Building a Resilient Workforce and Psychological Safety in the Federal Government
    (2019-08-01) Houston, Rephael
    Cybersecurity professionals in the federal government work on complex problems in organizations where they have multiple competing roles. In addition, the gap between workers with cyber skills and job openings means that current cybersecurity professionals must carry a heavy load. Combined, this can lead to stress that has negative consequences for their well-being. Positive psychology can help address this, particularly through enhancing positive experiences, leveraging character strengths, developing resilience skills, and building psychological safety. Resilience skills help cybersecurity professionals increase capacity their capacity to deal with uncertainty and build strong teams. Psychological safety supports and environment of innovation and professional development. These strategies are accessible ways for cybersecurity professionals to thrive in their work, improving their well-being as well as their ability to better address the emergent threats of a volatile world. `
  • Publication
    Positive Jewish Education: A Pathway to Thriving in 21st Century Jewish Education
    (2019-08-01) Rosenblum, Sarah E.
    Jewish education has been a core value to the Jewish people throughout history and is essential to carry on Jewish tradition and values. Jewish education influences Jewish identity, engagement, and continuity. A decline in enrollment in non-Orthodox Jewish educational programs poses a real threat to the future of the Jewish community. Many young adults decide to stop participating in Jewish educational experiences after the Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience at age 13 since students often fail to find meaning, positivity, and relevance in their Jewish educational experiences, which can influence their future engagement in Jewish life. Positive psychology and positive education can serve as a pathway to propel Jewish education, enabling students to find new meaning in Jewish values and tradition. Positive education infuses academics with a focus on character strengths and well-being and can lead to academic and personal flourishing. While many secular schools have embraced positive education, the vast majority of Jewish schools have yet to adopt this growing field. A positive Jewish education framework for implementation and recommendations for interventions can strengthen the future of Jewish education and help schools and students thrive in the 21st century.
  • Publication
    Revealing Hidden Strengths at Work: Unleashing Your Employees’, Stakeholders', and Organization's Greatest Potential
    (2021-08-01) Ferguson, Duncan
    This paper presents a theory of how to best uncover and use strengths in the workplace. The discovery, understanding, and use of strengths is central to positive psychology. Strengths are vital in life and at work. Not all individuals use their strengths effectively at work. Those who do, do better for themselves and their organizations. Further, strengths can be hidden from self, others, or both. Hidden strengths can be revealed, developed, and used. Perhaps there are specific factors and contexts that can uncover a myriad of unexpected strengths for use by individuals, groups, and organizations. This paper proposes mattering, psychological safety, the Pygmalion effect, engagement with the whole system, whole systems thinking, and leveraging strengths born of difference as key factors in uncovering and utilizing strengths in the workplace. It explores how the literature supports aspects of this thesis. The overarching thesis is put forth for exploration, discussion, and investigation.
  • Publication
    Becoming the Rising Generation: Uncovering the Path to Thriving for the Next Generation in Ultra-high Net Worth Families
    (2018-08-01) Keffeler, Kristin
    Despite the common misconception that people who are born into wealth don’t (or shouldn’t) have problems, there are many challenges that rising generation family members face. Interviews with inheritors often reveal with themes of flagging self-identities, fear of failure, isolation, and lack of motivation. The roadblocks on the path towards thriving experienced by the next generation of affluent families are often unseen and generally not acknowledged. What can look like poor behavior – entitlement, disengagement, apathy, and lack of motivation – is often camouflaging deeply-felt confusion, self-doubt, fear, shame, and anxiety. Those next generation family members who adopt a mindset of hope, growth, and a willingness to persevere and find their own voice and path are referred to as the “rising” generation. This paper explores what traits and skills support inheritors to become members of the rising generation. Based on semi-structured interviews with rising generation exemplars, this research identifies four positive psychological skills or traits – growth mindset, grit, mastery experiences, and positive relationships – that are commonly present within the rising generation family members who have overcome the pitfalls of inherited wealth in which many of their peers become entrapped. Additionally, this paper outlines how both parents and their children can begin to cultivate these skills and traits.
  • Publication
    Creative Problem Solving as a Positive Intervention and Approach to Career Development
    (2018-08-01) DelPrato, Laura
    Every year, over 19 million college students in the United States face big decisions like choosing a major, securing an internship, and deciding their next steps after graduation (National Center for Education Statistics, 2018). With rapid advancements in the world of work, there are many emerging environmental factors that make these decisions complex and challenging (Callanan, Perri, & Tomkowicz, 2017). This paper explores how positive psychology and creative problem solving research can support students as they make career-related decisions and design their lives. Advancements in positive psychology build a foundation of research that supports work as a pathway to flourishing. Accordingly, research in career development theory investigates approaches that better align with the current student experience and evolving world of work. In particular, research suggests that the Creative Problem Solving process (Creative Education Foundation, 2016) cultivates flourishing and could serve as a positive career development intervention. Future directions for research include conducting empirical studies on the relationship between the Creative Problem Solving process, well-being, and career development.
  • Publication
    No Pain More Gain
    (2006-07-01) Judge, Emma; Heinz, Sasha
    A study of 6156 respondents to an online survey measuring their character strengths and virtues twice over a period of time suggests that an increase in virtue may be linked not only to eudemonic happiness, but to the hedonic as well. Happy people see more growth in character strengths than their less happy counterparts. This relationship is particularly strong for the virtues robustly associated with life satisfaction (gratitude, zest, love, curiosity, optimism/hope) and wisdom. Conversely those who are depressed and experience more negative affect see a greater decline in character strengths. The findings support the Broaden and Build theory (Fredrickson, 2001), in that the character strengths that broadened mindsets and behavioral repertoires are more affected by the subjective well-being. This may suggest an alternative approach to character development. Encouraging happiness and positive affect at the beginning of the process, may “prime” the individual for the change they wish to make happen.
  • Publication
    Acting Strengths: The Development of Resilience and Character Strengths in Actors
    (2014-08-01) Taylor, Laura E
    An actor’s work environment poses unique challenges that can drain personal resilience. Positive psychology research supports the development of resilience and the use of character strengths to bolster psychological resources that increase well-being in the face of adversity. This paper explores the history, mechanisms, and development of research on resilience and character strengths and their relationship to research on the lives of professional actors. I propose that developing character strengths and resilience creates potential pathways to cultivate well-being in actors and enables perseverance on the path to long-term career success.