PY0536 - Positive Psychology

This module offers an engaging blend of lectures, interactive workshops, group discussions, and independent study to foster a deep understanding of Positive Psychology principles and their practical applications.

Weekly two-hour sessions include interactive lectures that introduce you to foundational theories and interventions, followed by hands-on workshops where you will actively apply these concepts. These interactive activities are designed to deepen your learning and help you connect research findings to real-world contexts, allowing you to see how Positive Psychology can enhance well-being and resilience in diverse settings. In workshops, you will explore and evaluate Positive Psychology interventions and learn to analyse their effectiveness and ethical implications. Group discussions and collaborative tasks will encourage you to think critically, communicate ideas, and respect diverse perspectives. These activities will help you to also develop essential skills in oral and visual communication, which are invaluable in both professional and academic contexts.

Independent learning is supported through curated reading lists and study prompts, which will encourage you to explore topics in greater depth outside of class. The self-directed study and reflective learning approaches will help you to cultivate critical skills that are crucial for personal and career development. Tutorials will also provide further opportunities for one-on-one guidance to ensure that you have support as you explore this meaningful and applied field.

You will have access to a wide range of academic support resources designed to enhance your learning experience on this module. Module tutors will make lecture materials, workshop resources, reading lists, and additional references available on the e-learning portal, which will enable you to review key concepts and explore Positive Psychology topics in greater depth. This portal will also host links to supplementary materials, including recommended websites and research articles relevant to the module.

To foster a supportive learning community, a dedicated discussion board will be available on Blackboard, the e-learning portal. This platform allows you to ask questions, engage in discussions with peers, and receive guidance from module tutors outside scheduled class time, helping to build a collaborative learning environment.

Technology-enhanced learning tools, such as recorded lectures on Panopto, will offer the flexibility to revisit key content at your own pace, supporting independent study.

There will be the opportunity for tutorials to provide additional one-on-one support, which will give you the opportunity to discuss module topics, address specific challenges, and gain personalised feedback from tutors. The integrated in-person and digital resources approach will ensure that you have the academic support you need to succeed and fully engage with the module.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Recognise the applications of positive psychology in the context of Clinical Psychology. as well as counselling, and community work (KF1).

• Develop the ability to critically assess theories, interventions, and research findings in Positive Psychology, helping you to foster an analytical mindset that is valuable in psychology, healthcare, and beyond (KF2).

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Build employability through the development of skills, that can be applied in a range of enviroments understanding how research-based Positive Psychology interventions can be applied to real-world contexts, thereby honing your skills in evidence-based approaches that are widely sought in clinical and non-clinical roles and respecting diverse perspectives. (MIP1)

• You will take charge of your own career development learning, through critical self-evaluation and reflection on the relevance of the module for career enhancement and future learning. (MIP2)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Demonstrate effective written, oral, and visual communication skills, which are essential for conveying ideas effectively in professional settings and the ability to adapt style to suit a range of audiences. (PVA1)

Formative assessment:
Self-assessed formative assessment is provided through the use of group presentations and discussions in class.

Summative assessment:
There are two assessments for this module.

The first assessment on this module (worth 90% of the module mark) requires you to draw on existing literature to present a 3,000-word assignment examining how a selected construct or theme in positive psychology can be designed for, implemented among, or evaluated within a specific community or group to promote well-being and flourishing. . (KF1, KF2, MIP1, PVA1)

The second assessment (worth 10% of the module mark) is a self-reflective account in which you will be asked to consider how this module has impacted on your employability and future career (MIP2; PVA1).
Feedback
Feedback is provided via written comments on assignments and general feedback provided on the e-learning portal. Cohort mean, standard deviation and distributions of marks for the assignments are provided so you can compare your performance with that of your cohort. You will be required to arrange a tutorial with your personal guidance tutor for formal feedback on your reflection.

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This module offers an engaging and immersive exploration into the science of human flourishing, addressing how individuals, groups, and communities can thrive and optimise their functioning in today’s complex world. The module will introduce you to Positive Psychology’s key themes—including happiness, kindness, gratitude, resilience, mindfulness, character strengths, and self-compassion—and delves into how these principles support well-being across diverse populations and settings. Through a dynamic blend of lectures and workshops, you will critically analyse current research and evidence-based interventions designed to build resilience, promote well-being, and protect against mental ill-health. Assessments are geared toward deep engagement and practical application: you will produce an assignment demonstrating how a chosen theme or intervention can be applied to foster well-being within a specific community. A reflective piece further captures personal insights and self-awareness as you consider how this module has impacted on your employability and future career.

This module emphasises employability and research-rich learning, equipping you with vital skills in critical thinking, communication, and evidence-based practice—highly transferable to roles in psychology, health care, counselling, and community work. The module utilises a blend of interactive group discussions and technology-enhanced learning tools to support your studies, while providing a supportive environment to build your knowledge, skills set, and competencies. This module will not only help you to gain insights into well-being practices but will also empower you to apply these insights to your own life and future career to make a meaningful impact within your chosen field.