Martin Seligman

Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology

Director of the Positive Psychology Center

seligman@upenn.edu

215-898-7173

Solomon Labs, C23

Website

Research Interests

Positive Psychology; Prospection; Imagination; Big Data; Well Being; Agency; Coaching

Specific Research Areas

Positive Psychology, optimism, learned helplessness, depression, creativity, and agency

Research Synopsis

Positive Psychology, optimism, learned helplessness, and depression

Professor Martin Seligman will be considering new graduate students for admission for Fall 2025. Professor Seligman requires the GRE when applying.

Courses Taught

MAPP 600 Intro to Positive Psychology

Advisees

Jer Clifton [Post-doctoral Fellow and Senior Scholar]

Max Genecov [Psychology Graduate Student]

Abigail Blyler [Psychology Graduate Student]

Education

AB, Philosophy, Princeton University;

Ph.D., Psychology, University of Pennsylvania

Selected Publications

Kellerman, G. & Seligman, M. (2023). Tomorrowmind. Simon & Schuster.

Seligman, M. (2018). The Hope Circuit. Public Affairs.

Rashid, T. & Seligman, M. (2018). Positive Psychotherapy. Oxford University Press.

Seligman, M.E.P., Railton, P., Baumeister, R.F., & Sripada, C.S. (2016). Homo prospectus. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Eichstaedt, J.C., Schwartz, H.A., Kern, M.L., Park, G., Labarthe, D., Merchant, R., ... Seligman, M.E.P. (2014). Psychological language on Twitter predicts county-level heart disease mortality. Psychological Science, 26(2), 159-169.

Seligman, M.E.P., Flourish (2011) N.Y.: Simon & Schuster

Seligman, M.E.P., Gillham, J., Reivich, K., Linkins, M., & Ernst, R. (2009). Positive Education. Oxford Review of Education, 35(3), 293-311.

Seligman, M & Kahana, M. (2009). Unpacking Intuition. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4(4), 399-402.

Seligman, M.E.P. (2008). Positive Health. Applied psychology: An international review, 57, 3-18.

Seligman, M.E.P., Rashid, T., & Parks, A.C. (2006). Positive psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 61, 774-788.

Seligman, M. E P, Steen, T., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist, 60, 410-421.

Peterson, Christopher & Seligman, M.E.P. (2004). Character strengths and virtues: A handbook and classification. Washington, D.C.: APA Press and Oxford University Press.

Seligman, M.E.P. (2002). Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment. New York: Free Press/Simon and Schuster.

Chirot, D., & Seligman, M.E.P. (Eds.) (2001). Ethnopolitical warfare: Causes, consequences, and possible solutions. Washington, D.C.: APA Press.

Seligman, M.E.P., Walker, E., & Rosenhan, D.L. (2001). Abnormal psychology. (4th ed.) New York: W.W. Norton.

Gillham, J.E. (Ed). (2000). The Science of Optimism and Hope: Research Essays in Honor of Martin E. P. Seligman. Radnor, PA: Templeton Foundation Press.

Seligman, M.E.P. (1998). Learned Optimism. Second edition. New York: Pocket Books (Simon and Schuster).

Seligman, M.E.P., Reivich, K., Jaycox, L., and Gillham, J. (1995). The Optimistic Child. New York: Houghton Mifflin.

Buchanan, G. and Seligman, M.E.P. (Eds.). (1995). Explanatory Style. Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum.

Seligman, M.E.P. (1994). What You Can Change and What You Can't. New York: Knopf.

Seligman, M.E.P. (1991). Helplessness: On Depression, Development, and Death. Second edition. New York: W.H. Freeman.