Martin Seligman, renowned psychologist and founder of positive psychology, has released a new book exploring the concept of “agency” — the human capacity to believe in and influence one’s own future. Drawing on decades of research, Seligman argues that agency is a fundamental driver of both individual achievement and societal progress.
Seligman’s work addresses why some people persevere through adversity while others succumb to what he terms “Learned Helplessness.” His theory rests on three components that underpin agency: efficacy, optimism, and imagination. Efficacy refers to an individual’s assessment of their ability to accomplish a goal in the present moment. Optimism extends that belief into the future, while imagination allows a person to envision a broader range of possible achievements beyond the immediate situation.
These elements, he explains, fuel personal determination and innovation. When adopted broadly across a society, they foster persistence and creativity, paving the way for cultural and technological advancement. Conversely, the absence of agency can lead to stagnation, a condition Seligman suggests is evident in some contemporary contexts, including Britain.
The book advances this argument through a wide-ranging examination of human history. Seligman compares cultural developments in diverse civilizations, such as ancient Greece, the Zhou Dynasty in China, and the later texts of the Hebrew Bible, to demonstrate how agency contributed to their growth and survival. He highlights how belief systems, including religious ideologies, can either bolster or hinder this sense of collective agency.
Seligman’s interest in agency was sparked over 50 years ago when a top student gave up on a project due to a loss of willpower, despite her capabilities. At the time, prevailing psychological perspectives largely dismissed free will as an illusion, attributing behavior to conditioning or unconscious forces beyond an individual's control. Seligman sought to establish agency as a key motivating force, the belief that one can actively shape one’s future and improve circumstances.
He maintains that fostering mental toughness through scientific, evidence-based approaches is essential to cultivating optimism. This stands in contrast to self-help or therapeutic methods that rely on unproven ideas, positioning his work rigorously within empirical psychology.
Ultimately, Seligman’s exploration brings into focus the vital role of willpower and belief in human achievement. By reinforcing the concept that “tomorrow can be better than today,” he offers both individuals and societies a framework for understanding how resilience and innovation emerge and why they are essential for progress.