Positive psychology, as a formal field, emerged in the late 1990s, thanks to the work of psychologists like Martin Seligman. The goal was to shift psychology’s focus away from pathology and illness to studying the factors that contribute to human happiness, well-being, and flourishing. Interestingly, this movement gained traction at a time when Xennials (those born between Gen X and Millenials) and Gen X were coming of age, navigating young adulthood in a world of significant cultural, social, and technological change.
Culturally, the 1990s were a period of rapid change. The Internet was in its infancy, and personal computers were becoming household items. The rise of digital technology was reshaping communication, work and entertainment. Gen X and Xennials were the first to grow up with this blend of analog and digital worlds, straddling two very different eras.
Simultaneously, there was a growing sense of disillusionment with traditional systems. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked the end of the Cold War, creating a brief sense of optimism. However, the Gulf War, rising corporate culture, and political scandals like Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial fostered a more cynical outlook, particularly among Gen-X. Douglas Coupland’s novel “Generation X” as a generation seeing meaning in a world of consumerism, describing them as “twenty-somethings who can’t find meaning in a world that’s become too superficial.”
There was a growing tension between authenticity and superficiality. Positive psychology’s emphasis on happiness and fulfillment might have seemed like an antidote to the cynicism of the age. However, as an existentialism, you may have questioned whether this focus on happiness was, in itself, an escape from deep existential questions. Could this new movement ignore the angst, absurdity, and struggle of human existence? Sartre’s concept of bad faith–the idea of deceiving oneself to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths–may have echoed in the back of your mind as you navigated a world increasingly obsessed with success and self-improvement.
The 1990s were also a time when mental health conversations were beginning to open up. With a culture still rooted in the “work hard, play hard” mentality, many individuals faced burnout and stress. In this context, positive psychology appeared as a way to offer hope and strategies for resilience. Still, an existentialist might have seen this movement as focusing too much on surface-level well-being, ignoring the more complex questions of identity, freedom, and the inevitability of death.
Personally, I see existentialism and positive psychology as natural complements to each other. The study of one, leads into the other.
It’s fascinating to think about how the 1990s shaped the positive psychology that we study today. While I was on the brink of adulthood, this amazing concept was taking shape.