Plenary Session:
Invited Address by Martin E.P. Seligman, PhD—

Positive Education (2207)

Friday, Aug. 7, 1:00–1:50 p.m., Rooms 718A&B

Martin E.P. Seligman, PhD, former APA president (1998), works on positive psychology, learned helplessness, depression, optimism, and pessimism. He is currently Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and director of the Positive Psychology Center. Dr. Seligman’s bibliography includes 21 books and 200 articles on motivation and personality. Among his better known works are the best-selling Authentic Happiness (2002), Learned Optimism (1991), What You Can Change and What You Can’t (1993), Helplessness (1975, 1993), The Optimistic Child (1995), and Abnormal Psychology (1982, 1988, 1995, with David Rosenhan). His most recent book is Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification, coauthored with Christopher Peterson (2004). Dr. Seligman is the recipient of two Distinguished Scientific Contribution Awards from APA, the Laurel Award of the American Association for Applied Psychology and Prevention, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Research in Psychopathology. He received an AB, summa cum laude, from Princeton University and a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, he has received a PhD, honoris causa, from Uppsala University, Sweden; a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, from the Massachusetts College of Professional Psychology; a PhD, honoris causa, from Complutense University, Spain; and a PhD, honoris causa, from the University of East London.

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