12 Citizenship is indeed for Rousseau a matter of identity and self-representation. To act as citizens, men must be. aware that they are all equal members of the same community. This is a necessary condition to autonomy and altruism (Rousseau 1989: 249).

Rousseau proclaimed the natural goodness of man and believed that one man by nature is just as good as any other. For Rousseau, a man could be just without virtue and good without effort. According to Rousseau, man in the state of nature was free, wise, and good and the laws of nature were benevolent.

Rousseau concluded that the social contract was not a willing agreement, as Hobbes, Locke, and Montesquieu had believed, but a fraud against the people committed by the rich. In 1762, Rousseau published his most important work on political theory, The Social Contract.

Rousseau characterises two types of freedom in The Social Contract: the natural liberty which is limited only by the strength of the individual 4 and civil liberty which is limited by the general will 5. Natural liberty is the freedom to follow one s own desires.

Rousseau argued that the general will of the people could not be decided by elected representatives. He believed in a direct democracy in which everyone voted to express the general will and to make the laws of the land. Rousseau had in mind a democracy on a small scale, a city-state like his native Geneva.

An eminent task of positive psychology is to provide a theoretical basis as well as practical solutions to enable people to improve their mental well-being and to achieve better physical health. This new trend focuses on scientific research into resources, strengths and happiness.

It is important to recognize that these three icons were the primary leaders in the three great paradigms in American psychology—behaviorism, psychoanalysis, and humanistic psychology—thus suggesting a link between the three great branches of the discipline and the three most historically significant schools of thought …

The downsides of positivity

• A stronger-than-straw man. Before I make the case against positivity as panacea, let me be clear: Positivity has many benefits, well-supported by solid research.
• Unprepared for hard times.
• Bad for your health.
• Bad for your love life.
• Not great for friendships.
• A marker of poor mental health.
• Conclusion.
• References.

When you smile and laugh, you give yourself an endorphin boost. Endorphins (also known as happy hormones) have many benefits, from reducing stress levels to making you feel happier and acting as a natural painkiller. You can even make yourself smile for no specific reason, and still get the same benefits.