JERALD FORSTER'S

"FOCUSING ON STRENGTHS AND HOPE AT SCHOOL AND HOME"

A Review by Dean Summers

“You’ve got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative, and don’t mess with Mister In-Between.” But how do you do that? Especially in the arena of early childhood development. The societal pressure is on to shape little Maven and little Marvin into fierce competitors in a dog-eat-dog world. There is also that internal pressure that keeps reminding us how reactive we can be. At times, as parents and teachers, we seem to be hardwired for scolding. And there are little Maven and little Marvin themselves, so alive with the kind of energy that can turn the world of a parent or teacher into a bag of popcorn popping.

Into the arena walks Jerald Forster. He brings insight, a review of the research, and a workable plan. In a paper presented at the Conference of the Washington School Counselors Association, March 18, this year, Dr. Forster sets out the why and wherefore and the how-to of “Focusing on Strengths and Hope at School and Home.”

As to the why and wherefore, Dr. Forster refers to the conclusions of noted psychologist Martin Seligman’s in The Optimistic Child (1995, available in paperback from HaperCollins, ISBN 0060977094):

So holding a pessimistic theory of the world may be the mark of sophistication, but it is a costly one. It is particularly damaging for a child, and if your child has already acquired pessimism, he is at risk for doing less well in school. He is at risk of greater problems of depression and anxiety. He may be at risk for worse physical health than he would have if he were an optimist. And worse, pessimism in a child can become a lifelong, self-fulfilling template for looking at setbacks and losses. The good news is that he can, with your help, learn optimism.

For further reading, Dr. Forster provides a list of thirty-five books and articles by experts in the field. He draws special attention to Character Strengths and Virtues by Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson (2004, available from Oxford University Press, ISBN 0195167015) and Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald Clifton (2001, available from Simon & Schuster, ISBN 074201140). He also highlights an article by Barbara Fredrickson titled, “Cultivating Positive Emotions to Optimize Health and Well-Being” (2000, available online from the American Psychological Association: click here). And, of course, there is special mention of Bernard Haldane’s article, “The Dependable Strengths Articulation Process: How It Works” (1989, available on request from the Center for Dependable Strength: click here).

As to the how-to, you will want to read Dr. Forster’s article for yourself. A copy is available online from the Center for Dependable Strengths: click here. You will find practical guidelines written from the conviction that, “the most important principle of psychology is that people are most effectively motivated by positive, strengths-based approaches rather than fear-based, negative approaches.”

Dean Summers is a Project Manager, Center for Learning Connections, Highline Community College, Des Moines, Washington.