Shiny Happy People

Let's have a Psychology lesson, shall we?  We are talking about humanism in my AP Psych class, which is the belief that we, as humans, have unlimited potential, unlike other beliefs by Freud saying we use defense mechanisms to cope with anxieties we have or that we simply just don't go after our potential due to past experiences.

There is a quote my teacher brought up by John Lennon - which is why I'm talking about it because it was said by a singer!!  Lennon said, “When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy.' They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life.”

That quote is the perfect example of humanism.  John Lennon wanted to be happy, and was told that was ridiculous.  Humanist Carl Rogers would completely disagree with that.  If a kid says he wants to fly, you don't tell him it's impossible, you tell him it is possible if he puts forth the effort to achieve it.  Your passion is possible if you learn to get past the barriers.

So many bands and singers sing about happiness:

• "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" - Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes
• "Brighter Than The Sun" - Colbie Caillat
• "Celebration" - Kool & the Gang
• "Happy Days" - Pratt & McClain
• "Shiny Happy People" - R.E.M.
• "Walking On Sunshine" - Katrina & the Waves