Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Capstone Projects
Document Type
Thesis or dissertation
Date of this Version
8-23-2019
Abstract
In a world that is more virtually connected than ever before, social connection is waning at an alarming rate. Extensive research has demonstrated the importance of individuals’ connection to others, and community, as central for holistic well-being. In this paper, I build a bridge between positive psychology and community psychology. I introduce a recipe for authentic human connection (AHC) and present a 3x3x3 conceptual model that explores how AHC shows up at three levels of community: micro-communities of dyads and families, meso-communities of workplaces and schools, and macro-communities of neighborhoods, cities, and countries. For each level of community, I identify facilitating factors for AHC. These include eye contact, listening, virtue, psychological safety, psychological capital, play, social capital, ritual, and sense of place. I also explore inhibiting factors for AHC such as unconscious bias, fear, social and cultural norms, power structures, competition, instability, inequality, mistrust, and physical environment. Drawing on the rich resource of positive psychology, I close my paper by presenting three strategies for individuals to cultivate authentic human connection across all levels of community.
Keywords
community, connection, wellbeing, COVID, loneliness, workplaces, organizations, schools, communities
Topic
Wellbeing/Flourishing, Education, Community, Connection, Relationships, Health/Wellness, Organizations, Communities
Format
Thesis
Included in
Community Psychology Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Human Factors Psychology Commons, Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, Mental and Social Health Commons, Multicultural Psychology Commons, Organization Development Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, School Psychology Commons, Social Work Commons
Date Posted: 10 March 2022
Comments
Since the time of this research, the world has undergone a global pandemic that has changed the way we are able to build community and cultivate connection in our lives. Though this work was done primarily from the lens of building in-person connection and community, many of the themes and factors included in this framework can and should be considered as we reimagine our sense of community connection in a COVID world.