Which term describes the study of human strengths such as joy, wisdom, altruism, the ability to love, and happiness?

• A. Positive Psychology
• B. Behaviorism
• C. Humanism
• D. Cognitivism

Answer: (A)

Positive psychology is the study of human strengths such as joy, wisdom, altruism, the ability to love, and happiness. It focuses on what helps people flourish—positive emotions, meaningful relationships, resilience, gratitude, and other virtuous traits—shifting attention from only treating mental illness to understanding what makes life fulfilling. This field was popularized to emphasize building well-being and strengths, not just fixing problems. The other approaches don’t fit as neatly: behaviorism looks at observable actions and learning through reinforcement, cognitivism centers on internal mental processes like thinking and memory, and humanism, while valuing personal growth and the good in people, is broader and not specifically the scientific study of strengths and well-being that positive psychology targets.