By Christopher L. Heffner, PsyD, PhD

It didn't Start Off Very Positive

I could not think of a better or more ironic way to start a paper on the history of positive psychology than with a quote on the inevitability of pain and suffering. So here it is:

“Life swings like a pendulum backward and forward between pain and boredom.”

This is according to Arthur Schopenhauer, who is perhaps the most well known Philosophical Pessimist. He was also known for his stylish dress and hair, as you can tell from his portrait...