Martin Seligman

Martin E.P. Seligman is the Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology and Director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, where he focuses on positive psychology, learned helplessness, depression, optimism and prospection. He is known for his theories of well-being and has identified five elements of well-being: positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement. Seligman, who also served as the President of the American Psychological Association in 1998, has made significant contributions to the field of psychology, with a particular emphasis on positive psychology.

As an accomplished author, Seligman has written more than thirty books, including "The Optimistic Child," "Authentic Happiness," "Flourish," and his most recent work, "The Hope Circuit: A Psychologist's Journey from Helplessness to Optimism," published in 2018. His writings, which have been translated into fifty languages, delve into topics such as depression, optimism, and happiness, offering insights into the realm of self-help. He is also the founding editor-in-chief of Prevention and Treatment and serves on the board of advisers of Parents magazine. Further demonstrating his commitment to fostering positive psychology, Seligman established the Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program at the University of Pennsylvania.

A recipient of numerous awards, Seligman has been honored with the American Psychological Society’s William James Fellow Award for basic science, the Cattell Award for the application of science, and three Distinguished Scientific Contribution awards from the American Psychological Association. He also won the James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award, the Joseph Zubin Award, and the APA Award for Lifetime Contributions to Psychology. In his personal life, Seligman is a dedicated bridge player, having won over 50 regional championships.