The PERMA model revisited : Engaging in Coherent Behaviour rather than Flow is related to greater flourishing

Abstract

Seligman’s 2011 PERMA model is one of the models most referred to in positive psychology intervention research. This model refers to the five essential pillars which lead to flourishing: Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning in life, and Accomplishment. However, one of the pillars, termed engagement, which refers to flow or peak experiences as described by Seligman in the PERMA model, has also been identified as having a “dark side”: while it can be considered as a pillar of flourishing, it can also lead to addictive behaviors and relationship difficulties. In this study, the aim was to show that a model that would better predict flourishing would be one in which the term engagement would refer to the type of engagement described by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (engaging in actions that are coherent with one’s values), rather than engagement in the sense of flow experiences. The main hypothesis was that behavioral coherence (carrying out actions in coherence with one’s values) would explain more variance than flow in flourishing scores. This study was carried out using online questionnaires in five French-speaking countries (Canada, Belgium, Tunisia, Switzerland and France; n = 642). Regression analyses showed that behavioral coherence explained 18% of unique variance of flourishing scores, while flow only explained 10% of unique variance. The results are discussed in terms of potential implications of using a modified PERMA model to inform positive psychology research and intervention designs. Keywords: PERMA model; engagement; flow; values; behavioral coherence.