Martin E. P. Seligman Quotes

A collection of quotes by Martin E. P. Seligman.

Martin E. P. Seligman is a prominent psychologist and a leading figure in positive psychology. Born in 1942, he has made significant contributions to the field, focusing on the study of optimism, learned helplessness, and positive mental health. Seligman is perhaps best known for his work on the theory of learned optimism, which explores how individuals can cultivate a more positive outlook on life. He has authored several influential books, including "Authentic Happiness" and "Learned Optimism," and has been recognized with numerous awards for his contributions to psychology.

It's a matter of ABC: When we encounter ADVERSITY, we react by thinking about it. Our thoughts rapidly congeal into BELIEFS. These beliefs may become so habitual we don't even realize we have them unless we stop to focus on them. And they don't just sit there idly; they have CONSEQUENCES. The beliefs are the direct cause of what we feel and what we do next. They can spell the difference between dejection and giving up, on the one hand, and well-being and constructive action on the other. The first step is to see the connection between adversity, belief, and consequence. The second step is to see how the ABCs operate every day in your own life.

Martin E. P. Seligman

Adversity

The drive to resist compulsion is more important in wild animals than sex, food, or water. He found that captive white-footed mice spent inordinate time and energy just resisting experimental manipulation. If the experimenters turned the lights up, the mouse spent his time turning them down. If the experimenter turned the lights down, the mouse turned them up. The drive for competence or to resist compulsion is a drive to avoid helplessness.

Martin E. P. Seligman

Control