Schedule
- Session 1 (June 9 - 27, 2025)
- Synchronous time: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9:30 - 11 a.m. ET
Description
Psychology had three fundamental objectives at its inception: (1) cure mental illness, (2) make individual lives more fulfilling, and (3) nurture high talent. In the aftermath of World War I and World War II, the National Institute of Mental Health was founded and encouraged the research of pathology to address the needs of returning veterans who had experienced trauma in the war theater, effectively narrowing the scope of psychology to the first objective, curing mental illness. That has yielded very positive results, but the other two objectives languished. In 2000, Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, building upon earlier work in humanistic psychology, called for a complementary approach to mainstream psychology that addressed the other two objectives through the study of positive experiences, positive traits, and positive institutions: positive psychology. Positive psychology is unique in its focus on improving the human condition through increasing or maintaining the presence of what is preferred, desirable, and ‘good’ to enhance well-being at the individual, community, and organizational levels.
In this course, students will learn about theoretical approaches to well-being and different facets of the human experience that can contribute to (or detract from) flourishing—and practice implementing evidence-based strategies in their own lives. Students will engage in live (synchronous) class, via Zoom, for brief topic lectures, thought-provoking discussions, and activities that promote deep learning. Outside of class, students will complete asynchronous work—assigned readings, podcasts, videos, or varied assignments—that will require the practice of and personal reflection on course concepts.
Expected learning outcomes
- Understanding the evolution and scope of positive psychology: Students will gain an understanding of the history and purpose of psychology, particularly how positive psychology emerged as a response to the field's earlier focus on curing mental illness
- They will explore how this complementary approach broadens psychology to focus on well-being, fulfillment, and nurturing talent
- Theoretical and practical insights into well-being: Students will learn about key theoretical models of well-being and explore how different aspects of human experience contribute to flourishing
- Evidence-based strategies for enhancing well-being: Students will practice applying evidence-based strategies to improve their own well-being and understand how to foster flourishing in others
- A blend of collaborative and self-directed learning: Students will be active creators of this holistic and personalized learning experience, enhancing their independent asynchronous learning through collaboration and discussion with peers during live class sessions
Program Director: Colleen Finnerty
Colleen Finnerty is a faculty member at a New England boarding school where she teaches courses on social justice, psychology and positive psychology. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Colleen coaches three varsity athletic programs and supports residential life and student advising. She has explored the benefits of a growth mindset on student achievement, and she implements a standards-based learning approach in her classroom that focuses on progress towards learning targets rather than deficits in performance. She is interested in exploring how grit, resilience, flourishing, gratitude, and well-being can be fostered in adolescents. She believes in the power of positive education to provide an equitable way for all students to learn about themselves, tap into their individual strengths and motivations, and enhance their learning experience, and improve their overall wellbeing. Colleen is also passionate about the effects of positive education on educators.
Colleen is a 2015 graduate of Bowdoin College where she majored in psychology and French and played NCAA DIII field hockey and ice hockey, captaining both teams in her senior season. Colleen earned her Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) at the University of Pennsylvania in 2022, and she currently serves as a member of the teaching team in the MAPP program for two courses.
