Overview
The following list of behaviors are from the end of Shawn Achor’s TED Talk on positive psychology. Choose ONE behavior from the list to do every day for at least 3 days (you may choose more than one behavior if you choose but not required). You will reflect on the experience after the minimum 3-day period as part of the assignment. You are NOT to use a client.
· Gratitude: Each day write 3 new things for which you are grateful.
· Journaling: Spend at least 2 minutes writing about at least 1 positive experience in the last 24 hours.
· Meditation: Meditating daily allows you to focus on the task at-hand and to be present.
· Random Acts of Kindness: Do one random or conscious act of kindness, such as sending a positive email thanking or praising someone in your social support network.
Content requirements:
Title Page
Introduction
Start your paper with a brief introduction of the topic, ending with a strong thesis statement.
The first section of the paper needs to describe positive psychology, including its basic tenets, principles, and practices. This section must be in third-person.
The second section of the paper must first identify which of the behaviors you engaged in and then describe the process you undertook, including how many days you did the behavior and how you went about doing the behavior. After describing your process, you will then analyze your experience in light of the tenets, principles, and practices of positive psychology, including the promised effect noted by Shawn Achor in his TED Talk. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses or the costs and benefits of your experience with this behavior. This section should be in first-person.
The conclusion of the paper should include an analysis of the potential usefulness of the behavior you experienced with your current and future clients.
Logistical requirements:
The content of the paper (i.e. not including title page or reference list) needs to be 750-1100 words. You are required to use level 1 headings: title of paper as heading for introduction, positive psychology section heading, personal experience section heading, conclusion section heading). Write everything in the introduction and positive psychology sections in third-person. The personal experience and conclusion sections can contain first-person language.
You may cite the Shawn Achor TED Talk in your paper, but it does not count as the minimum of one scholarly source that must be cited in the paper. For the scholarly source requirement, you can cite the PowerPoint (PPT) and/or other information that I provide on Canvas or use secondary source citations as appropriate (see APA Guide PPT posted in Canvas on how to format secondary source citations). You may also cite any textbooks or academic articles you find on your own.
Suggested outline:
Title Page
Level 1 heading for Title of Assignment
Introduction paragraph with thesis statement
Level 1 heading for Description of Positive Psychology
Brief description of basic tenets, principles, and practices of positive psychology
Level 1 heading for Personal Reflection (This is just the Header - Title for this Section)- no sentences are needed. However, if you decide to type a few sentences as a reflection, you may. The next two Level 2 headings will describe what you did and your analysis.
Level 2 heading for Personal Experience
Name chosen activity and describe how you completed it. Describe the process you undertook, including how many days you did the behavior and how you went about doing the behavior.
Level 2 for Analysis of Experience
Compare to basic tenets, principles, and practices of positive psychology including the promised effect noted by Shawn Achor in his TED Talk.
Strengths/weaknesses or costs/benefits analysis of your experience with this behavior
Level 1 heading for Conclusion
Discuss potential usefulness of the behavior you experienced with clients (would you use it with clients? Why or Why not? OR With any clients or only particular clients? Why?)
References
See Positive Psychology Essay Rubric for scoring