INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF PRIMAL WORLD BELIEFS ON THE EFFICACY OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY INTERVENTIONS

Abstract

Positive psychology interventions (PPI) are positive psychology-based interventions that aim to create positive outcomes (i.e., emotions, cognition, behaviour). However, research on person-centric factors that impact PPI effectiveness in improving wellbeing remains limited. Primal world beliefs, a new framework, may provide some fresh insight into this issue. These beliefs, also called primals, are an individual’s most basic beliefs about what the world is like. Hence, this study aims to investigate the role of primals in facilitating the efficacy of PPI on wellbeing (i.e., subjective wellbeing and psychological wellbeing). I hypothesised that the four main primals (Good, Safe, Enticing, Alive) significantly moderate the impact of PPI on both subjective and psychological wellbeing. To test this, participants completed wellbeing measures and a modified Counting Blessings exercise for over four weeks. Results provided mixed support for the hypothesis; only the Safe primal was a significant moderator for psychological wellbeing. However, the Good and Enticing primals had significant main effects on subjective wellbeing. Thus, based on the type of wellbeing, different primals may have varying effects on the effectiveness of PPI.