These qualities can influence economic development of an area and of the nation
Positive thinking in any given situation is a game changer. It is an attitude that can transform an ambiance, metamorphosing the sombre situation into a coruscating one. It seldom ignores reality, but approaches and addresses the problem with a positive attitude. Its impact, both internal and external, is tremendous as apart from ensuring a sound health of the propounder, it manifests positivity in accomplishments. Positive thinking increases motivation and catalyses action. It wards off negativity and fends for positive action. Positive affirmations, visualisation of positive outcomes, trust in self, inculcation of positive habits, and quest for silver linings in dark clouds propel positive visualisation and achievement . Just as a society is made of individuals, a nation comprises citizens and Government. Then there is the corporate sector. The physical and psychological wellbeing of individual members and their positive attitude help the nation and society. All sections grow if there is positivity. On the other hand, negativity if rampant makes a society or a nation sick with plethora of problems. Engineering a socio-economic change and effecting a paradigm shift to usher in economic development essentially needs motivation of the people for harbingering a positive result. A society conducive for a socio-economic change can herald positive economic development. Inducing positive psychology through achievement motivation is the path to economic development. Achievement motivation is a social motive and refers to striving for success with some standards of excellence. Psychologists like McClelland advocated this theory of achievement motivation. Atkinson also stated in his interaction model that the tendency to achieve success and the tendency to avoid failure are predominant in taking up any venture.
Entrepreneurship as such refers to creative and innovative responses to the environment. As it is put, there is no ideal profile. Entrepreneurs can be gregarious or taciturn, analytical or intuitive, cautious or daring. Hence positive thinking and achievement motivation can initiate a motion. Positive thinking inculcates self-confidence, risk taking ability, flexibility, need for achievement, internal locus of control, and a desire for independence and, as per Meredith, these are essential traits or qualities to initiate any economic activity. It is clear that positive psychology through achievement motivation can induce the qualities like need for achievement and making choices (with risk taking abilities), etc., and inculcation of those values in individual members. It can influence the economic development of the area in particular and the nation in general. Development of a sound entrepreneurial ecosystem which is the sum total of environmental factors that promote or hinder entrepreneurship can transform the economic scenario. Even educational institutions with motivational education can create awareness and expectancy for entrepreneurial behaviour with increase in self-efficacy. Positive thinking can destigmatise failure, explore rationality (from cognitive theorists’ point of view). and spearhead the activity . It is evident from a theoretical as well as pragmatic perception that positive psychology plays a very active role in economic development through achievement motivation. Positive thinking through motivation sans negativity can catalyse economic development.
(The author is a superannuated senior IAS officer.The views expressed are personal.)