Students should be encouraged to share their ideas. Students are afraid of failure link a study to prove this, and teachers should boost their confidence levels by conducting discussions and prompting them to explain their opinions. This allows for the student to feel safe expressing themselves and can establish competent leadership skills.

Positive psychology focuses on the positive personal characteristics of a student and maximizes his or her potential by using motivational methods methods. Teachers can implement positive psychology in the classroom by targeting students’ strengths over their weaknesses dramatically increases their chances of success in difficult situations and coping abilities. This includes providing positive feedback and criticism. 

Body language is another critical component of positive psychology. Facial expressions such as smiling can reassure a student and restore their level of confidence. Taking the time to have an individual conversation with a student about their life outside of school additionally has a positive impact on their well-being.

Students with high self esteem are seen to perform at a more advanced level than students who possess low levels of self esteem. The way an individual perceives themselves will  eventually become reality. For example, if a student wholeheartedly consider him or herself to be intelligent then he or she can work to reach this goal. If the student is given negative feedback or discouraged by teachers or peers, it will unfavorably affect his or her self confidence, and result in inadequate performance.

“Being happy has a lot of benefits in life,” said junior Alicia Garcia. “Your self esteem improves, you’re more productive, you’re better at socializing with people. People just want to be around you, and I think that boosts your self esteem even more.”

IB Psychology teacher Nicole Broder said, “The more positive [students] are going into something, the better they are going to perform. If they already go into a test or assignment thinking that they’re going to struggle and they’re going to do poorly, then those are the results they’re going to see. I think they need to create a positive mindset with themselves and teachers should help them do so.”

The use of positive psychology can affect students in the work force. Students exposed to positivity during their childhood and adolescent years will view life in a positive manner, which will contribute to the students’ success. Skills improved by positive psychology include: responsible decision making, setting and achieving positive goals, establishing and maintaining beneficial relationships, and demonstrating care for others. In addition, these individuals can control internal situations effectively by possessing self-awareness and self-management.

“If students build up this mentality of ‘I’m going to try, I’m going to do this, I might not succeed every time, but I’m going to try my hardest’, then I think that’s something that’s going to persist as they get older. So when they go out into their careers, they will be more willing to attempt things and succeed in some ways,” said Broder.

By enforcing positive psychology, students can develop a positive mentality, which will benefit them in the present and the future.