Published on October 8th, 2013
by FIUSM Staff
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Adrian Suarez-Avila/ Contributing Writer
The Center for Leadership will kickstart its leadership lectures series on Oct. 18 with a discourse delivered by Martin Seligman, professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, titled “Positive Psychology: The Cutting Edge.”
Seligman works in the field of positive psychology, which focuses on methods to allow individuals to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Elected as president of the American Psychological Association in 1998, Seligman is the author of 24 books and 250 articles related to personality and incentives.
Seligman is also the recipient of the Laurel Award of the American Association for Applied Psychology and Prevention, and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Society for Research in Psychopathology.
During the lecture, Seligman will touch upon a variety of subjects pertaining to his psychological research, including how to build and measure positive engagement, relationships, emotion and how educational and health institutions are utilizing positive psychology.
“I started reading about Seligman’s research during my freshman year and I think it’s amazing that he will be visiting. His work has so many applications,” said Marilyn Figueroa, a junior double majoring in sociology and women’s studies.
Other students also shared Figueroa’s enthusiasm.
“As college students, it’s so easy to be brought down by the pressure of doing well,” said Anais Prieto, a senior biology major. “I think this lecture will do a great deal to shed some light on the possibility of leading a happy and healthy lifestyle in college, and I’m happy knowing that it’s made accessible to students.”
Seligman’s lecture will be the first in a series of five Leadership Lectures for the 2013-2014 academic year offered by the Center for Leadership, which coordinates the lectures to allow students and others the chance to hear from prominent figures in leadership.
“Each year, especially for the leadership lectures, we try to pick businesspeople, researchers, professors or anyone in an active leadership role who can bring something to FIU and our community, offering insights on leadership,” said Headley.
“Positive Psychology: The Cutting Edge” will allow students to hear about a scientific application of motivation in every day matters that don’t necessarily involve business activity, and set the foundation for thinking about psychology in a manner that doesn’t put mental abnormalities at its core.
“When I was studying psychology, I was studying maladies: what’s wrong with people and how to fix them. But here is a perspective with a different focus, that is more meaningful today,” said Garth Headley, associate director of the Center of Leadership.
At the end of the lecture, guests will have the opportunity to ask Seligman questions concerning his philosophy and how it may be applied to achieving an effective sense of happiness in college and beyond.
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