Starting with Gestalt and Cognitive theories, psychology began to take a new course and develop more effective ways of helping people think straight and deal with the challenges of life.
A cognitive psychologist, ex president of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Martin Seligman has developed a psychology of wellness based on the virtues. His premise is that good mental health is founded on virtuous thinking and living. He describes the virtues as core qualities that make a person truly whole and give the person the possibility of living a fulfilling and meaningful life. He went outside of the realm of psychology to define the virtues and looked to philosophy and religion for guidance. He relied on Plato, Aristotle, Confucius, the Hebrew Scriptures, t he New Testament, St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas in listing six essential virtues: wisdom, courage, temperance, justice, transcendence, and humanity. Fr. Groeschel points out how this pioneering work can be used in Catholic education and religious life to lay the foundations of a very healthy and positive human formation of the individual. He describes Dr. Seligman’s work in detail and shows how it offers people the best hope for a happy well adjusted life.
Fr. Groeschel, however, points out that these natural virtues are not enough for the believer. The person of faith needs to develop Christian supernatural virtues in order to prepare for happiness in eternity.
CDAH573
7 CDs, 6 hrs.
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Author: |
Rev. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, Ed.D. |
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Copyright: |
2008 |