Superpowers

Superhabits post #3

Yesterday I mentioned that my colleagues at The Catholic University of America were most helpful in my effort to understand what I would later come to call Superhabits.

My colleagues in our Psychology department pointed me to the field of Positive Psychology. In the late 20th century, University of Pennsylvania’s Prof. Martin Seligman (who spoke to us yesterday at the 2024 Harvard Leadership and Happiness Symposium) and his colleagues, fed up with their discipline’s exclusive focus on mental illness – the “disease” model of psychology – decided to explore instead a more positive view, and study instead mental wellness and flourishing. They began a systematic, scientific examination of the behaviors and habits of people who appeared to be thriving.

They identified a number of character strengths that appeared to be valued across different cultures and over time. In the early 2000’s they published a comprehensive Handbook in which they summarized the (by then already extensive) scholarship on 24 discrete and durable "character strengths."[i] For each, they presented the scientific evidence on how to measure it, how it is developed, and the benefits of having it. (A good place to view this ongoing work is the VIA Institute on Character ).

Looking across these strengths as a whole makes it clear that each is, in a sense, a superpower. Having just one of these strengths doesn’t only make you better at doing something, or a whole range of things. It also makes you happier and healthier! For example, positive psychology research shows that the character strength of Creativity is associated with better physical health, better mental health, and greater happiness. Similar studies about Gratitude show that people who display this character strength have stronger interpersonal relationships and are happier and healthier.

But how? How does saying “thank you” make you happier and healthier? And do we have the direction of cause and effect correct – are we sure that it’s the case that grateful people are happier, rather than happier people tend to be more grateful? Although we don’t understand this fully, we do have some idea. Neurological studies suggest that when people express gratitude, neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine are released, causing feelings of happiness and contentment. What we do know from study after study are the amazingly positive consequences of these character strengths. They truly are superpowers.

Their impact falls not just on individuals, but also on organizations. Led by Dr. Kim Cameron at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, scholars in the field of Positive Organizations study what happens to organizations when they are led by people who display these character strengths. Their research has shown, empirically, that such organizations tend to have better outcomes, including higher employee retention and stronger revenue and profit growth. (In 2022 we invited Dr. Cameron to speak to our students, and the next day he met with our faculty in The Busch School of Business and gave an extensive overview of his and his colleagues research.)

The effect of these superpowers goes beyond even organizations to have society-wide implications. Scholars at the Harvard University Human Flourishing Program are finding that widespread weaknesses in just one character strength can be significant enough to be considered a public health issue. As I noted above, improvements in character strengths like gratitude can have a positive impact on health. The Human Flourishing scholars confirm that the opposite is true, that weaknesses in them can lead to psychological harm and even physical illness. For example, based on their studies of Forgiveness, they have found that the implications of its absence in society can be so profound, in terms of mental and physical health, that it rises to the level of a public health crisis.

How does this all help us? Are we just saying that some people are winners in the genetic lottery, born to be the kinds of people who are more creative or more forgiving or more grateful, and therefore destined to be healthier and happier than the rest of us?

I'll answer that question in my next post.

[i] I don't think that the word "strengths" is ideal here. I plan to post my reasons why later on in this series.