Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes people flourish — strengths, wellbeing, resilience and meaning — rather than the traditional focus on pathology and dysfunction.
The field was formally founded by Martin Seligman as APA president in 1998. His PERMA model identifies five core elements of wellbeing: Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Achievement.
Positive psychology is not toxic positivity — the insistence on positive emotions regardless of circumstances. It acknowledges negative emotions as valid and important, and focuses on building capacity for flourishing rather than eliminating difficulty.