Abstract

Although psychology had at least three original aims of treating pathology, fulfilling individual and the thriving community, the classical psychology and psychiatry had paid exclusive attention to psychopathology, such as repairing the worst things in life. In the aspect of health, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that "health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." In more recent years, this statement has been modified to include the ability to lead a "socially and economically productive life." Thus the field of psychology and psychiatry had been criticized as primarily dedicated to addressing mental illness rather than mental "wellness". After the introduction of positive psychology, which is the scientific study ofoptimal human functioning, the paradigm for psychology and psychiatry have started to be changed. The aim of positive psychology is to begin to catalyze a change in the focus of psychology from preoccupation only with to also building positive qualities. A science of positive subjective experience, positive individual traits, and positive institutions promises to improve quality of life and prevent the pathologies that arise when life is barren and meaningless. This paper reviews a framework of positive psychology and happiology to implicating in mental health. (Korean J Str Res 2007;15:177∼186)

• Keywords: Positive psychology, Happiness, Happiology, Mental health, Psychiatry