The Pollyanna Principle

Posted by Jerry Lopper May 7, 2007

The new and growing field of positive psychology offers much good advice with loads of tips to help your pursuit of happiness and the good life.

Research indicates that human minds at the unconscious level gravitate toward the positive, while at the conscious level we tend to focus on the negative. These findings are summarized in A Primer in Positive Psychology by Christopher Peterson.

The Subconscious

The unconscious tendency to the positive is often called the Pollyanna Principle, after the early 1900's book, Pollyanna, about a young girl who fervently held an optimistic and grateful outlook on life.

Researchers Margaret Matlin and David Stang, in 1978, provided substantial evidence of the Pollyanna Principle. Among their findings:

• People see out positive stimuli and avoid negative stimuli.
• People take longer to recognize what is unpleasant or threatening than what is pleasant and safe.
• People report they encounter positive stimuli more frequently than they actually do.

The Conscious

However, at a conscious, thinking level, people tend to focus on the negative. Perhaps this is a survival mechanism, helping us pick out and focus upon things in the environment that are potentially harmful to us.

Is positive thinking being a Pollyanna? Discover the difference.

For more Positive Psychology material see Positive Psychology Tips and Tools in the index.