Increasing the total tonnage of human happiness through digital positive psychological interventions: The legacies of MEPS in digital health

Abstract

ABSTRACT The impact of the positive psychology movement on digital health has been an underemphasized contribution on the field. Marty Seligman was an early figure in developing and evaluating interventions using the Internet and some of the earliest studies of positive psychological interventions used online recruitment and dissemination. We discuss some aspects of Seligman’s legacy through his contribution in the digital health space and borrow from lessons in Seligman’s teaching to provide guidance to the field. Both authors were graduate students of Seligman in the mid-2000s and provide these lessons through the lens of working in the Seligman lab during this period. These lessons include the importance of collaborative and interdisciplinary work, focusing on the future rather than looking to the past, communicating simply and clearly, and opening the doors for others whenever possible. Through widespread dissemination, digital health is one tool to help increase the total tonnage of human happiness.