The fundamentalist religions simply seem to offer more hope for a brighter future than do the more liberal, humanistic ones. Martin Seligman brightfundamentalistfuture Change image and share on social
I believe it is within our capacity that by the year 2051 that 51 percent of the human population will be flourishing. That is my charge. Martin Seligman capacitychargeflourish Change image and share on social
I've been bothered about time generally and our tripartite division of time into past, present, and future. I think I know what the past is, and I think I know what future is, but I'm really not comfortable with the notion of present. Martin Seligman bothercomfortabledivision share on social
Reaching beyond where you are is really important. Martin Seligman importantreach Change image and share on social
If you were an optimistic teen, then you'll be an optimist at 80. People's reactions to bad events are highly stable over a half century or more. Martin Seligman badcenturyevent Change image and share on social
The best therapists can do with sadness, anger, and anxiety is to help patients live in the more comfortable part of their set range. Martin Seligman angeranxietycomfortable Change image and share on social
Sexual performance problems, such as impotence and frigidity, are 70 to 90 percent changeable. But a homosexual who wants to be a heterosexual - that's close to unchangeable. And a transsexual - say a man who believes he's really a woman in a man's body - is completely unchangeable; you'd have to change the body to conform to the psyche. Martin Seligman believebodychange share on social
Creativity is bound up in our ability to find new ways around old problems. Martin Seligman abilitybindcreativity Change image and share on social
I'm all for past influences; the question is whether they are deterministic. Freud and the behaviorists argue that what we are at any given moment is billiard balls whose past determines our future course. That doesn't take into account that we are forever generating internal representations of positive futures and choosing among them. Martin Seligman accountargueball share on social
I strongly disapprove of torture and have never and would never provide assistance in its process. Martin Seligman assistancedisapproveprocess Change image and share on social