Miriam Akhtar

David Cameron, leader of the Conservative Party, caused a stir a few years ago when he suggested focusing resources on the emotional development of disaffected young people rather than on the symptoms of their alienation, which manifest through crime, addictions etc.  He positioned the third sector as playing the key role in facilitating that neglected emotional development.  Positive psychology has placed youth well-being high on its agenda, so what might the science of well-being offer to these disaffected, young people?  What is there to be gained from ‘making hoodies happy’?

Imagine a young confident teacher who stands in front of his teen-aged class and dramatically begins a computerised slide show. The slides contain images of Indian street children living among piles of rubbish. One picture shows a young girl eating rotten vegetables; another shows boys playing football among excrement and dirt.