How 'Positivity' Can Lead to Conspiratorial Thinking

Positivity and positive thinking are very often held as inherently good qualities to embody. If you think positively, so the reasoning goes, you will live a better life. Self-help gurus and guides implore you to have gratitude and appreciation for what you have, independent of circumstances. In recent decades, a field of scientific research, called positive psychology or happiness studies, has emerged to wield the epistemological might of psychological and social scientific research, much of it quantitative, to enable us to live happier lives. Subjective well-being, as it’s called in the field, can be hacked. Good social relations, a job that produces personal satisfaction, lots of oxytocin-inducing activities, and not comparing oneself with others are all components of a happier, more productive existence. We can take simple steps and be happier—even in a pandemic!