The document discusses who or what controls the future across three phases of human history: (1) Before the 19th century it was believed a Supreme Being or God controlled the future; (2) From the 19th-20th centuries reason and science increasingly influenced human agency and impersonal forces in controlling the future; and (3) Currently and in the future, the "Age of Consciousness" involves human agency exerting control through humility, creativity, and perseverance alongside impersonal forces and chance. Positive psychology can help humanity take responsibility for consciously supporting life's evolution on Earth.

1. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Distinguished Professor of Psychology
Claremont Graduate University
ECPP 2014
AMSTERDAM

2. WHO CONTROLS THE FUTURE?
SUPREME BEING, GOD
(One – Many)
(Good – Bad – Indifferent)
HUMAN AGENCY
(Greed, Ignorance – Power)
IMPERSONAL FORCES
(CosmicTrends, Evolution,
The Market)
CHANCE
(Asteroids,Cosmic Events,Viruses)
Phase 1: Before the 19th Century
The Age of Faith

3. WHO CONTROLS THE FUTURE?
SUPREME BEING, GOD
(One – Many)
(Good – Bad – Indifferent)
HUMAN AGENCY
(Greed, Ignorance – Reason,
Knowledge)
IMPERSONAL FORCES
(CosmicTrends, Evolution,
The Market)
CHANCE
(Asteroids,Cosmic Events,Viruses)
Phase 2:The 19th and 20th Centuries
The Age of Reason & Science

4. WHO CONTROLS THE FUTURE?
SUPREME BEING, GOD
(One – Many)
(Good – Bad – Indifferent)
HUMAN AGENCY
(Humility,Creativity,
Perseverance -- Greed,
Ignorance)
IMPERSONAL FORCES
(CosmicTrends, Evolution,
The Market)
CHANCE
(Asteroids,Cosmic Events,Viruses)
Phase 3: Now and the Future
The Age of Consciousness

5. What is the Role of Positive Psychology in
the Age of Consciousness?
We are aware that we are the most complex expression of life on earth.
But we are not its masters.
We have to take responsibility for supporting the evolution of life on this
planet.
We can help by finding the best ways to coexist with:
• Impersonal forces (e.g. global warming, the market economy)
• Other life forms (e.g. plants, animals, viruses, bacteria)
• Each other, by helping to develop social, economic, cultural structures
that make continued evolution possible.

6. What do we want children to learn?
• Responsibility for Self
• Responsibility for Others
• Gratitude
• Find Joy in Life
How ShouldWeTeach Children?
• Through cooperation, not competition
• Not just knowledge, but feeling and purpose
• How to love learning for its own sake
•Through personal development, not conformity