Psychology
Helps people move from "Okay" to "thriving"
What is Positiv Psychology
This PERMA pillar describes being fully absorbed in an activity where time seems to disappear. Give an example (be specific)
What is Engagement
These are positive personality traits such as perseverance, kindness, and leadership that influence how we think, feel, and act.
What are character strengths
A student says, “I’m just not a math person.” This statement reflects which mindset
What is a fixed mindset
This term describes the human tendency to quickly return to a baseline level of happiness after positive or negative events.
What is hedonic adaptation
Helps people move from "struggling" to move to "Okay"
What is Traditional psycology
This PERMA pillar involves belonging to and serving something bigger than yourself. Give an example (be specific)
What is Meaning
Flow is most likely to occur when the level of challenge is balanced with this factor
What is skill level
When a student views mistakes as feedback and an opportunity to improve, they are demonstrating this mindset
What is a growth mindset
This practice can help slow hedonic adaptation by keeping positive experiences meaningful.
What is gratitude practice or keeping a gratitude journal
This psychologist is considered the founder of modern positive psychology
Who is Martin Seligman
This letter in PERMA stands for experiencing joy, gratitude, or contentment. Give and example (be specific)
What is Positive Emotion
This mental state occurs when a person is fully immersed in an activity, loses track of time, and feels both challenged and capable
What is flow
In the ABC model, an event happens, we interpret it, and then we react emotionally or behaviorally.
Name what A, B, and C each represent. (example)
A = Adversity
B = Belief
C = Consequence
Hedonic adaptation helps explain why constantly seeking material rewards often fails to increase long-term happiness.
Name one alternative focus that is more effective at improving lasting well-being.
Relationships / social connection
Meaning or purpose
Accomplishment / skill development
This concept refers to a person’s overall ability to experience meaning, positive emotion, accomplishment, and healthy relationships.
What is well-being
This PERMA element focuses on supportive connections and is strongly linked to long-term health and happiness. (example)
What are Relationships
Name one intentional strategy a student could use to increase their chances of entering a flow state during homework.
Remove distractions
Set a clear goal
Work at the right difficulty level
Break task into focused time blocks
Seek immediate feedback
The “D” and “E” were added to the original ABC model to help individuals change negative thinking patterns.
Explain what D and E stand for and how they improve the outcome.
D = Disputation (challenging the belief)
E = Energization (new emotional outcome after reframing)
After buying a new gaming console, a student feels excited for a few days but soon feels just as bored as before. She decides instead to spend time volunteering and learning guitar.
Explain how hedonic adaptation relates to her initial boredom and why her new activities are likely to increase lasting happiness.
The excitement from the console faded because of hedonic adaptation (returning to baseline happiness)
Volunteering and learning guitar provide meaning, skill development, or social connection, which are less susceptible to adaptation and support long-term well-being (PERMA elements: Meaning, Accomplishment, Relationships)
Positive psychology does NOT ignore mental illness. Instead, it complements traditional psychology by focusing on building this protective factor that helps individuals cope with stress and adversity
What is resilience
A student sets a goal to raise her math grade from a C to a B. She meets with her teacher weekly, tracks her quiz scores, adjusts her study strategies after mistakes, and celebrates when she improves her test average.
Which element of PERMA is she most intentionally developing?
What is Accomplishment
A student is writing a research paper but feels overwhelmed and keeps procrastinating. Instead of giving up, he breaks the assignment into smaller parts, sets a timer for 25 minutes, turns off his phone, and focuses on one section at a time.
Explain how his actions help create the conditions for flow.
He reduces distractions
He sets clear, manageable goals
He matches challenge to skill by breaking it down
He creates focused time
He increases engagement
A student tries out for a team and doesn’t make it. He thinks, “I’m terrible at sports. I’ll never improve.” He then decides not to try again next year.
Using the ABCDE model, explain what his belief is and how he could use disputation to change the outcome.
A (Adversity): Didn’t make the team
B (Belief): “I’m terrible. I’ll never improve.”
C (Consequence): Gives up / doesn’t try again
D (Disputation): Challenge belief — “Is that completely true? What can I improve? What feedback can I use?”
E (Energization): Renewed motivation or willingness to try again
A student notices that new sneakers make them happy for a week, then the excitement fades. To maintain happiness, they start keeping a gratitude journal, mix up workouts to try new activities, and spend time helping friends.
Which strategies to beat the hedonic treadmill is the student using, and why are these effective?
Gratitude journal → practicing gratitude
Trying new workouts → adding variety / novelty
Helping friends → giving to others / social connection
These strategies slow hedonic adaptation by keeping positive experiences meaningful and preventing happiness from quickly returning to baseline