The Positive Psychology Center at UP FAMNIT is the first Slovenian center in this field, founded in 2017.

Positive psychology is a modern psychological field that has proved in the last 20 years as one of central major directions in psychology, with its presence in many research and application fields.

Its beginnings date back to the 1950s, but it is considered that the research field began officially in 1998, when an American psychologist dr. Martin Seligman chose positive psychology as the theme of his presidency the American Psychological Association. According to Seligman, psychology should focus not only on problem-solving but also on developing positive emotions that lead to personal happiness. Positive thinking is more likely to lead to problem solving, better quality of life and an overall better immune system, and consequently health.

Vision and mission

Although Positive Psychology is one of the more influential directions in psychology in the last 20 years, there were no research centers in Slovenia from this field. Nevertheless, due to the vast scope of applied knowledge of positive psychology, the need for further development within psychology is undeniable. The vision of the center is to become one of the most important and central Slovenian research and professional centers in the field of psychology.

The Center establishes an opportunity for additional research and professional networking of members of the Department of Psychology at UP FAMNIT and connects other centers and individuals, both within the University of Primorska and in Slovenia, as well as beyond.

In addition, it offers the possibility of professional and scientific participation of students in the programs Biopsychology (1st and 2nd level) in Psychology (2nd level), and the possibility of additional development of competencies, both for students and faculty graduates.

Head of the Positive Psychology Center

The head of the Center is doc. dr. Kristijan Musek Lešnik, a psychologist with twenty years of experience in the field of education and management.