PSYCHOLOGICAL CAPITAL – NOTES

UNIT 1
POSITIVE Vs NEGATIVE APPROACH
Negative approach has its own disadvantages of lesser understanding of human strengths, reduced
optimal functioning and inability to actualize human potential. But positive approach with
incorporating positivity and enriching positive emotions is capable of better understanding of human
potential, optimal functioning and also adds to actualizing human potential. positive and negative
constructs were once thought to be polar opposites but are now recognized to be distinct, with unique
antecedents, outcomes, and underlying mechanisms. Examples include burnout and engagement,
optimism and pessimism. Thus, positivity should be independently studied and applied, not
extrapolated from negatively oriented perspectives. By nature, humans tend to be attracted to what is
positive, pleasant, and life enhancing, in the same way that plants lean toward light. Cameron (2008)
highlights several mechanisms that can help explain the prevalent bias toward negativity:

• Intensity: Negative stimuli are experienced more intensely than positive stimuli because they
are perceived as threats that need to be addressed more immediately and resolutely, which we
might attribute to human evolution.
• Novelty: The base rate of normal positive events is more commonplace, so they tend to go
unnoticed. Negative events tend to be more unusual or unexpected aberrations to our
everyday functioning, so they stand out and capture our attention. This might explain why
many employees say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it.” Positive events that are experienced
more frequently pale in relation to negative incidents that are relatively scarce.
• Adaptation: Negative stimuli signal maladaptation and a need for change. Contrarily, positive
stimuli provide affirmative feedback that “everything is OK.” They provide limited
motivation for change.
• Singularity: In any system, a single negative or defective component can cause the whole
system to malfunction. On the other hand, a single positive or properly functioning
component cannot guarantee optimal system functioning.
For these reasons, negativity tends to have a stronger effect on our information processing, memory,
self-concept, and relationships. The outcomes of positivity is quite vague, uncertain and unspecified.
To resolve this negative bias, balance can be restored by intensifying the frequency of positive
experiences and interactions. For example, it has been found that marriages need about five or six
positive interactions to balance each negative interaction in order to begin to thrive and to be
sustained over extended periods of time. research literature supports that too much positivity is not
necessarily optimal, as is the case with overconfidence, false hope and unrealistic optimisms.
Fredrickson (2009) uses two interesting metaphors to highlight the tension between positivity and
negativity, and the need for balance. First, she compares positivity and negativity to levity and gravity.
Everyone needs a “lift” in order to soar, but we also need gravity to remain grounded and real. The
second metaphor is that of a sailboat, with an enormous mast, representing positivity, and a smaller
keel, representing negativity. Hidden underwater, the keel is vital in keeping the boat from wandering
aimlessly or tipping over.

CONTRIBUTIONS OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

psychology as a whole had paid relatively very little attention to psychologically healthy individuals
in terms of growth, development, self-actualization, and well-being. Seligman and others redirected
missions of psychology towards making healthy people happier and more productive and actualizing
their potential. This can restore or maintain the balance among positivity and negativity. Nebraska was
the first author who debated the special issues in academic journals which lead to the foundation of its
own JOURNAL OF POSTIVE PSYCHOLOGY. There are many numbers of edited handbooks
devoted to positive psychology. positive psychology bases its conclusions on rigorous scientific
methods rather than philosophy, rhetoric, anecdotes, conventional wisdom, gurus, or personal
experience and opinion. Theory and research requirement of positive psychology are much of
positively oriented humanistic psychology, personal development, and the human potential
movement. This scientific basis serves and an important perspective and had made the requirement for
application of evidence-based positivity to the organization via PsyCap.
UNIT 2
KEY INGREDIENTS OF SELF-EFFICACY

1. Outcome expectancy (examination of what needs to be done)

Outcome expectancy is the degree to which one believes that a particular

outcome will occur. i.e., you believing that as you do this; this outcome will
occur (your action leads to this outcome). It corresponds to the value of the
consequences of a behaviour from the perspective of an individual.

Increase in values => more likely to engage in that behaviour.

2. Efficacy expectancy (examination of our own capability to do what needs to

be done)

Efficacy expectancy refers to our capability to do what that needs to be done.

i.e., the degree of conviction/belief that one can successfully execute behaviour
required to produced an outcome.