What makes one person grow from experiencing a trauma, another gets through it to be basically the same as they were before the trauma (resilience), and yet another fall apart? Dr. Seligman shows how training can move people towards growth as the result of the trauma. “These are the people of whom Friedrich Nietzsche said, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”
Dr. Seligman worked with the US Army to teach positive psychology through an initiative called “Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF) and consists of three components: a test for psychological fitness, self-improvement courses available following the test, and “master resilience training” (MRT) for drill sergeants. These are based on PERMA: positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment—the building blocks of resilience and growth.”
One concern about the training was that it would be see as “touchy-feely” or “psychobabble” by hardened soldiers. The initiative was extremely well received with participants giving the course a 4.9 out of 5 rating and a many say it is the best course they have ever had in the army.
Building Resilience, By Martin E.P. Seligman – Harvard Business Review, April 2011.
[Image: Flickr user familymwr]
