Disclaimer: I am not a scientist. My background is in the
arts and I am still reflecting on why any ‘proper’ science department would
have taken me on board to study for a master’s in Psychology. So thank you, UEL, for taking that risk!
The ECPP 2016 was my first chance to experience the positive
psychology world beyond UEL. I was expecting experiential happiness. I was
looking for others to creatively collaborate with in order to feel I belonged
in this community of ‘clever, proper scientists’.
As someone whose signature strengths include creativity and
a love of beauty and excellence, I was looking for ways to explore these areas
at ECPP. At first glance, the programme didn’t
seem to offer any such opportunity. Where was the art and creativity? The programme
had two entries mentioning creativity: Sue Langley – who was using emotions intelligently to enhance creativity and innovation, and Auguste Dumouilla – whose
poster was about creativity, emotion and well-being.
Due to the hectic nature of the conference, I didn’t get to
Sue’s session or find Auguste’s poster. However, I did find plenty of creativity to celebrate in
Angers:
- The conference centre was teaming with individuals
expressing themselves through the way they dressed; so much research material for
my flourishing fashion project and an Instagram feed on its own!
- There was also a constant thread running through the keynotes I attended that in order for PP to evolve we need to look outside of the sciences and reach across to other disciplines; collaborations which harness divergent views to create original outcomes.
- Coaching Psychology and creativity: I attended a symposium on coaching and PP, perfect partners for systemic change in which all of the speakers expressed creativity in the manner they presented as well as the content.
- Illona Boniwell’s closing keynote called for ‘making PP tangible’ which to my ears was a shout out to arts, crafts and design to get involved.
My vision for interdisciplinary collaboration to form a
positive psychology art community begins with the very spaces the science of PP
already inhabits: universities. UEL is a centre for amazing arts education. I
would love to see the Psychology Department reaching out to the arts in order to create a bi-directional
culture of sharing research and ideas. Art graduates would benefit from accessing
the wellbeing interventions that applied PP has to offer. Stress levels of the
staff could be reduced with individual PP coaching, perhaps using coaching
students who had a particular interest in creative practises to offer lunchtime
sessions.
The architects could collaborate
on ways to make environments of flourishing informed by PP research. Research for
innovative ways to make PP concrete would be enhanced by designers who aren’t
constrained by the boundaries of science. Who better to take a complex concept and make
it useable than artists? It’s what they do in every area of their work. And of
course the fashion department could make collections that make us all happy!
On my last afternoon, I explored Angers galleries with a friend;
bonding over art is one of my favourite experiences. There is a very special connection
that occurs when we share the feelings that surface when we encounter art. I
have ‘coached’ whilst wondering in galleries, the impact of imagery on allowing
creative ways to surface never ceases to amaze. That very personal end to my
first PP conference shaped my overall impression of the event.
If the success, on an individual level, of a conference is
making one contact and finding one piece of inspiration then ECPP 2016 exceeded
that. I came away with so many ideas that it has taken me a month to filter
them and make any sense of where they fit with my personal vision. (I am a percolator
not a procrastinator!) I cemented existing connections and made new contacts
with positive people from all over the world. I hope that in sharing my ideas
about the conference on social media I will continue to form new associations
that offer me opportunities to hear differing opinions and perspectives.
On the flight home – so full of positive people that the
cabin was buzzing with energy – I chatted with Felicia Huppert. It’s always exciting
when you can talk to one of your heroes, I mentioned how well her dress had
stood out at her keynote speech and the impact it had from the back of the
auditorium. She replied: “that’s my happy dress, I wore it for a special birthday
and it always makes me feel good.” I apologise for not asking if I can use the
quote, Felicia, but the validation you gave my research made me feel as if
there is a place for me in Positive Psychology. Perhaps fashion and PP is the
perfect fusion.
I went to Angers looking for the three ‘C’s: collaboration, community
and creativity; I found them.
PS : in case you missed Tim Lomas’s paper on PP and Arts the
link is here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299882200_Positive_Art_Artistic_Expression_and_Appreciation_as_an_Exemplary_Vehicle_for_Flourishing
For more inspiration on links between art and well-being:
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