POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND ITS FRIENDS: REVEALED

Positive psychology is the subject of debate. It has received significant criticism, to which its defenders have naturally reacted. Above all, this article, attempts to establish reasons for criticizing the bases of Positive Psychology itself: positivity and scientism. Against the strong emphasis on the benefits of positive affects, studies show that negative affects can be positive, just as positive affects can be negative. Positivity is not the positive side (because there is no such side). What Positive Psychology says it has found out scientifically about happiness does not seem to be anything that was not already known. Even its best theories, such as the Positive Activity Model and the Broaden-And-Build Theory are impressively trivial and plagued by tautologies. The clear fallacy of the positivity ratio is also shown. Finally, it is suggested that happiness is not sustainable as a principle of life (its pursuit is not universal nor the best thing to do in life) or as a scientific goal, unless at the cost of reifying the subjective experience