True happiness is just a few weeks away, according to a new branch of psychology being introduced in the UAE by a professor at the Canadian University of Dubai.
Dr Louise Lambert has developed a seven-week programme designed to increase levels of happiness by applying the principles of positive psychology, a scientific study of well-being, and focusing on what leads to human excellence, enabling people to make their lives the best they can be.
“It’s about helping people find ways to maintain happiness over time and in a manner that allows them to grow as people, rather than focusing on short-term fixes or immediate gratifications, such as shopping and luxuries,” Dr Lambert said.
“It’s also about helping people achieve happiness in ways that are consistent with their culture.
“For example, in the West happiness reflects a more individualistic orientation and is related to personal and work-related achievements, as well as a level of individual control and choice.
“In the UAE, we found that helping people, doing things for others and experiencing a sense of belonging made people happy, and this reflects a more collective orientation that is more prevalent in the Emirati culture.”
While working in Canada, Dr Lambert saw the positive effect the approach had on the overall health and well-being of patients.
She found that patients who were given positive psychological interventions rather than standard psychological treatment responded more quickly, maintained the positive gains and lifestyle changes, and experienced fewer symptoms of physical pain.
Dr Lambert said that adopting positive psychology interventions would help the UAE to reduce its health issues, such as depression and the overuse of health care. She will introduce her Happiness 101 programme in the autumn.
She is also launching the Middle East’s first academic journal of indigenous positive psychology to be published in English and Arabic. The first edition is expected to be available in October.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
