1. EASTERN PERSPECTIVES ON
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
PROF. DR. RABINDRA KUMAR PRADHAN
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
KHARAGPUR, WB, INDIA
2.
3. INTRODUCTION
• Eastern and Western traditions have influenced the
world of science, technology and philosophy in
general, differently. The way we look at life derives
heavily from cultural influences.
• Today, the globe has become small, cultures are
mingling, information is at the fingertips, but in
earlier days, the cultures and philosophical
influences in the ‘way of life’ were very different, the
impact of which is still visible today.
• Let us try to understand what the fundamentals of
positive psychology constructs from an
eastern philosophical standpoint.
4. INTRODUCTION
• Westerners search for rewards in the physical plane
whereas easterners seek to transcend the human
plane and rise to the spiritual one.
• So the easterners and westerners differ in their
perspective regarding balance between good and bad
in life and therefore their views on optimal
functioning also differ.
• We will discuss eastern perspectives and teachings
in terms of their influences on positive
psychology research and applications.
5. CONFUCIANISM
• A tradition associated
with China
• Founder – ‘Confucius’
• Emphasis on ‘morality’
for the cure of evil
• Emphasis on welfare of
others
6. CONFUCIANISM
The attainment of virtues is the core of
Confucian teachings. The five virtues are
central to living a moral existence are:
• jen (humanity)
• yi (duty)
• li (etiquette)
• zhi (wisdom)
• xin (truthfulness)
7. TAOISM
• Associated with China
• Creator-: Lao-Tzu
• The key concept is ‘Tao’
(pronounced as “Dow”)
• Tao is roughly translated as
‘the way’
• Tao is the energy that
surrounds everyone and is a
power that envelopes,
surrounds, and flows through
all things.
8. TAOISM
• Emphasis on the harmony between contrasting concepts
like no light without dark, no male without female, and
so on.
• ‘yin and yang’ symbol also reflects ever changing
balance between contrasting forces and desires.
• Achievement of naturalness and spontaneity are
important goal in Taoist philosophy
• Virtues of humanity, justice, and temperance must be
practiced
• One who achieves transcendence do not need to think of
optimal functioning rather behaves virtuously in a
natural manner.
9. YIN YANG
The ancient Chinese subscribe to a concept called Yin
Yang which is a belief that there exists two
complementary forces in the universe. One is Yang
which represents everything positive or masculine and
the other is Yin which is characterized as negative or
feminine. One is not better than the other. Instead they
are both necessary and a balance of both is highly
desirable.
10. BUDDHISM
The four noble truths of
‘Buddhism’ are:
• Life is suffering, essentially
painful from birth to death
• All suffering is caused by
ignorance of the nature of
reality and the resultant
craving, attachment, and
grasping
• Suffering can be ended by
overcoming ignorance
• The way to relief from
suffering is the noble
eightfold path
12. BUDDHISM
Brahma Viharas (universal virtues)
• Love (maitri)
• Compassion (karuna)
• Joy (mudita)
• Equanimity (upeksa)(emotional stability)
The concept of ‘Nirvana’ (final destination)
13. HINDUISM
• Upanishads are the written source
• Emphasis on ‘interconnectedness’
of all things
Paths after death
• Reincarnation (returning to earth)
• Nirvana or no reincarnation
(highest knowledge possible
achieved)
14. EAST MEETS WEST
Cultural differences give information about
strengths identified in each culture and ways
in which positive outcomes are achieved.
The differences between the two systems on
the basis of three things –
1. Value systems
2. Orientation to time
3. Thought processes
15. VALUE SYSTEMS:
• Individualistic/collectivistic
• Independence
• Desire of stand out
• Use self as a unit of
analysis in thinking
about life
• Dependence
• Conformity
• Perception of group as
a fundamental unit of
analysis
16. ORIENTATION TO TIME
• Eastern cultures emphasise
more on learning from the
past (ancestors) and to
recognise and learn the
wisdom ancestors gained.
• Western philosophy is
future oriented. Hope,
optimism and such other
constructs which point
towards the future are
emphasized.
17. THOUGHT PROCESSES
• Put simply, the western outlook towards life is like a straight line
while that of eastern philosophy is mostly circular.
• The common westerner draws a straight line to his goal, looking
carefully for obstacles and finding possible ways around them.
His goal is to achieve this eternal happiness – a one way street
where there is no life after death and one moves only ahead.
• For an eastern philosopher, such happiness may not make sense
rather he will consider it as ‘end of unhappiness’. Good and bad,
Yin and Yang, they all exhibit a circular nature – thus placing
importance on both, positive and negative aspects of life.
18. WAYS TO POSITIVE OUTCOMES
• Both western and
eastern thinking have
different focus.
Individualism/collecti
vism
But two constructs
are common -
• Compassion
• Harmony
19. COMPASSION
• Aristotle in western perspective
noted the concept of compassion.
• Confucian concept of ‘jen’
(humanity), Buddhist concept of
‘karuna’ also gave importance to
compassion.
• Compassion as an aspect of
humanity involves looking outside
ourselves and thinking about
others.
• Compassion fosters group along
with self.
20. HARMONY
• Harmony is when multiple
seemingly different things
exist together. The world
is full of diversity but it is
the co-dependence and
interaction among the
elements that makes life
possible and flourishing.
• In eastern philosophy
harmony is viewed as
central to achieving
happiness.
• Hinduism gave the concept
of ‘interconnectedness’
21. CONCLUSION
The scientific study of psychology takes both views
into consideration where virtues and strengths are given
importance. Fundamental differences in the
philosophies are reflected by the theoretical constructs
proposed by them, but, ultimately, the realm of positive
psychology aims to identify and nurture the virtues and
strengths (including acceptance of negative emotions) to
achieve optimal functioning.
