An Interpretation Of Katharine Graham's Personal History From The Perspective Of Positive Psychology

The Washington Post's former publisher Katharine Graham's autobiography Personal History recounts her legendary life as one of the most influential publishers in the American Press. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Autobiography in 1998. This book records Graham's psychological journey from a timid and helpless widow to a fearless publisher. In spite of its research value, there has not been any academic study on this autobiography either in the West or in China. The positive personal traits that Graham displays in her life offer her bondless power and energy to overcome life difficulties, while her personal traits displayed in Personal History have not aroused any theoretical attention. Therefore, this thesis attempts to analyze this book from the perspective of positive psychology, by focusing on her positive personal traits.As a supplement of the traditional psychology, positive psychology emerged in America at the end of the 20 th century. The investigation of positive psychology can be divided into three aspects: positive subjective experiences, positive personal traits, and positive institutions. The study of positive personal traits aims to explore ordinary people's strengths and virtues to help dig out their own potentiality.The thesis mainly focuses on one character: Katharine. With the help of theories of strengths and virtues, optimism and positive relationships, positive coping strategies and positive personal growth, this thesis attempts to analyze Personal History by focusing on the positive personal traits. It will illustrate the important role that Katharine's personal traits play in her process of success and encourage people to embrace challenges with their positive traits.Besides the Introduction and Conclusion, the thesis is comprised of three chapters.The Introduction mainly describes Katharine Graham's life experience, the main storyline of Personal History and literature reviews of this autobiography. Moreover, a brief introduction to the positive psychology theory and the significance of interpreting the book from the perspective of positive personal traits are also presented.Chapter One mainly deals with Katharine's positive personal traits as virtues and strengths. It categorizes and analyzes Katharine's unique personal traits as wisdom, courage and justice. These positive personalities develop Katharine's personal strengths and offer her endless bravery to walk through numerous difficult situations.Chapter Two explores Katharine's positive personal traits as important resources when dealing with setbacks and adversities in her life. Optimism and her positive relationships with family members and friends are great resources for Katharine to handle adversities in her professional career. They give her power and strength to achieve her life goals and obtain her self-actualization.Chapter Three mainly analyzes Katharine's positive personal traits as responses when coping with obstacles and challenges. Her positive coping with losses and challenges, positive responses to traumatic events and aging are best illustrations of her positive personal traits. Her positive responses do have practical significances and are valuable lessons for people to imitate when dealing with problems in their life stages.Based on the discussion and analysis above, the Conclusion points out that Katharine's positive personal traits can serve as an encouragement to modern people who are suffering from harmful values. Her life is not only a legend full of wisdom, bravery, persistence, and optimism, but also a beacon that can serve as a role model for people, especially women, when they strive to fulfill their dreams. It is hoped that her success will encourage people to develop their own positive personal traits and take positive actions to deal with life challenges.