In this first course, we introduce the field of positive psychology. The questions that positive psychology aims to answer are: What are the characteristics of people with high levels of happiness or “subjective well-being?” What are the qualities of people who manage their troubles effectively? In other words, what strengths do these people possess?

Moreover, we distinguish between the first and second waves of positive psychology, with the latter adopting a more balanced perspective on well-being and human functioning. This course also introduces The Sailboat Metaphor©. This metaphor compares human functioning to the journey of a sailboat and offers a multifaceted and easy-to-understand structure for addressing the essential elements of well-being and their interrelations.

The metaphor will serve as a framework throughout this series of modules.