Kevlar for the Mind: Positive psychology may change how doctors work with troops - Military Health, military health and wellness, military physical fitness - Military Times

Kevlar for the Mind: Positive psychology may change how doctors work with troops

Psychology has traditionally been an illness-focused profession that views human behavior through problem-oriented lenses.

Today, there is a significant push to revamp that perspective. It’s called positive psychology, and it has the potential to change how we work with troops before, during and after deployment.

Positive psychology focuses on three areas to boost one’s coping skills for current and future stresses:

• Positive emotions. Therapists use emotions such as happiness, enthusiasm and hope to override negative emotions such as sadness, guilt and shame. The assumption is that we all have the capacity for these positive feelings, but they must be nurtured. The goal is to instill a sense of contentment with the past, happiness in the present and optimism for the future.

• Positive individual traits. Researchers have identified 24 character strengths in humans. Positive psychology helps people identify innate strengths, develop those that are lacking, and bring awareness to those that create psychological problems. For example, instead of focusing on how a service member is nervous or fearful of an event, the focus is shifted to his inner courage that has brought him through difficult times in the past.

• Positive institutions. A unique aspect of positive psychology is its focus not only on a person’s strengths, but on the strengths necessary for building and maintaining a positive and healthy community, such as justice, tolerance and leadership.

No matter how resilient an individual is, he can’t reach his full potential without healthy supports in place.

For example, a psychologically healthy service member may be negatively affected by a toxic work environment or poor leadership. In addition to bolstering his own inner resources, the service member’s surroundings would also need to be changed.

Most service members are young, strong, motivated and hardworking. Capturing the power of these traits instead of constantly looking for problems will set them up for success.

Human character strengths

1. Creativity

2. Curiosity

3. Open-mindedness

4. Love of learning

5. Perspective

6. Bravery

7. Persistence

8. Integrity

9. Vitality

10. Love

11. Kindness

12. Social intelligence

13. Citizenship

14. Fairness

15. Leadership

16. Forgiveness and mercy

17. Humility/modesty

18. Prudence

19. Self-regulation

20. Appreciation of beauty and excellence

21. Gratitude

22. Hope

23. Humor

24. Spirituality

Source: Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification, by Christopher Peterson and Martin E.P. Seligman

———

Bret A. Moore is a board-certified clinical psychologist who served two tours in Iraq. E-mail kevlarforthemind@militarytimes.com. Names and identifying details will be kept confidential. This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to convey specific psychological or medical guidance. Readers should see a mental health professional or physician for mental health problems.