Motaleat-e-zaban-e-farsi

Motaleat-e-zaban-e-farsi

Wisdom and Its Virtues in the Poetry of Parvin E’tesami Through the Perspective of Positive Psychology Theory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
masroureh Mokhtari 1
Negin Azizyan 2
1 Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran (Corresponding Author)
2 M.A. Student in Persian Language and Literature, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
10.22034/jmzf.2026.582749.1271
Abstract

1. Introduction
Parvin E’tesami is one of the most distinguished figures in Persian literature, whose poetry enables readers to attain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. Her poems possess remarkable social dimensions and consistently emphasize the identification and cultivation of positive human qualities, inspiring hope, motivation, and personal growth. By stressing ethical and humanitarian values, Parvin encourages her audience to shift their attention from life’s difficulties toward its strengths and inherent beauty.
One of the most significant characteristics of Parvin’s poetry is its capacity to be examined through an interdisciplinary perspective that combines literary studies and psychology. Accordingly, the present study adopts a descriptive–analytical approach based on library research and employs the theoretical framework of Positive Psychology to investigate the virtue of Wisdom and its associated components—including knowledge and learning, judgment, social intelligence, personal and emotional intelligence, and perspective (foresight)—within Parvin’s poetry. Through this approach, the study seeks to reveal neglected dimensions of her works and to demonstrate how their educational insights may contribute to both individual and social life.

2. Methodology
This study employs a descriptive–analytical methodology based on library research. The poems of Parvin E’tesami were analyzed through the theoretical framework of Positive Psychology.

3. Discussion
Literary works have always played a significant role in influencing human life. Their contribution to improving quality of life and promoting human values has long been a subject of interest in both literary studies and psychology.
In his works—including The Hope Circuit, Psychopathology, Flourish, Character Strengths and Virtues, The Optimistic Child, Learned Optimism, Authentic Happiness, and Learned Helplessness—Martin Seligman explores the positive dimensions of human life and the enhancement of psychological well-being.
Positive Psychology is an approach centered on discovering and developing human capacities in order to establish a fuller engagement with life and to achieve genuine life satisfaction. Ultimately, this process contributes to a flourishing life for both individuals and humanity as a whole.
Together with Christopher Peterson, Seligman identified six universal virtues—Wisdom, Courage, Humanity (Love), Temperance, Justice, and Transcendence—which are recognized across the world’s major religions and cultural traditions.
The present study examined Parvin E’tesami’s Divan through Martin Seligman’s theoretical framework and his classification of virtues, with particular emphasis on Wisdom and Knowledge and its related dimensions, including wisdom, judgment, social intelligence, and perspective.
Textual analysis revealed that Parvin’s poetry contains clear and recurring manifestations of the core concepts of Positive Psychology. Themes such as wisdom, self-regulation, and prudence appear throughout many of her poems and narrative compositions. Wisdom and foresight constitute enduring elements within her symbolic imagery and allegorical representations.
Despite the artistic sophistication of her poetry and its seemingly simple language, Parvin consistently conveys an active and constructive message regarding humanity’s moral and emotional capacities. These messages closely correspond to the fundamental principles of Positive Psychology, including an emphasis on personal strengths, the cultivation of hope, and the encouragement of both individual and social virtues.

4. Conclusion
The analysis of Parvin E’tesami’s poetry through the lens of Positive Psychology demonstrates that she is not merely a critic of moral and social shortcomings; rather, she is an educator who offers practical ethical principles for living a better life. Her emphasis on moral values, collective ethics, and social education brings her literary works remarkably close to the psychological and social functions of therapeutic discourse.
The findings further indicate that Parvin E’tesami’s Divan, as a valuable literary and cultural resource, can be effectively utilized in educational programs, character development, and even certain initiatives aimed at promoting mental health. Her poems communicate clear and accessible messages that can contribute to the teaching of social skills, the cultivation of empathy, the reinforcement of hope, and the development of self-regulation.
Finally, this study demonstrates that Persian didactic literature—particularly the works of Parvin E’tesami—possesses considerable potential for dialogue with contemporary psychological theories and can serve as a meaningful bridge between literary scholarship and the promotion of psychological and social well-being.

Keywords
Parvin Etesami
positive psychology
rationality
social intelligence
کتاب‌شناسی
الف: کتاب‌ها
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ب) مقاله‌ها
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ج) پایان­ نامه
12)  حسینی صدیقی، سیده نیکو (1395)، «روانشناسی مثبت‌نگر در شعر حافظ با توجه به رویکرد مارتین سلیگمن»، پایان‌نامۀ کارشناسی ارشد، به راهنمایی منصور پیرانی، دانشگاه پیام‌نور، مرکز قزوین.
 
د) منابع لاتین
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  • Receive Date 24 June 2025
  • Revise Date 08 August 2025
  • Accept Date 16 September 2025