Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Capstone Projects
Document Type
Thesis or dissertation
Date of this Version
8-2015
Abstract
Law firms seeking a competitive advantage in the marketplace would do well to consider that the positive psychological resources of firm lawyers are just as important to individual and organizational performance as their intellectual resources. There is growing evidence from the fields of positive psychology and positive organizational behavior that the resources of hope, optimism, self-efficacy and resilience shape the underlying attitudes and behaviors associated with increased performance. These resources may even buffer lawyers against the occupational hazards of the profession that cut against long-term success – hazards that include depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicide. In this capstone I advocate for traditional law firm associate training programs to be enhanced to include the development of psychological capital (or “PsyCap”), a construct consisting of the components of hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism. I discuss how policies that promote lawyer strengths and well-being are good for the lawyer, good for the law firm and ultimately good for business, and I propose a brief training intervention to boost lawyer PsyCap.
Keywords
lawyer, law firm, well-being, positive psychology, psychological capital, depression, anxiety, resilience, hope, optimism, self-efficacy
Topic
Well-Being/Flourishing, Achievement, Business/Work, Other Topics
Format
Thesis
Included in
Legal Profession Commons, Performance Management Commons, Psychology Commons, Training and Development Commons
Date Posted: 16 September 2015