Literary Interdisciplinary Research

An Analysis of Marzban-nameh with a Positive Psychology Approach Based on Martin Seligman's Theory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

zeinab rezapour 1
Mahnaz Mehrabizadeh Honarmand 2
Maedeh Moghadamianpour 3

1 Assistant professor of Persian Language and Literature‚ Faculty of Literature and Humanities‚ Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz‚ Ahvaz‚ Iran

2 Professor, Department of psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

3 Master of Persian language and literature, Faculty of Literature and Humanities‚ Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz. Iran

10.30465/lir.2025.50913.1968
Abstract
Introduction
In recent decades, a branch of psychology has turned its attention to spirituality and positivity. By moving away from a materialistic worldview and sensory experiences, it seeks to understand the laws governing the inner layer of human beings and to identify better ways to achieve mental health. Positive psychology, as a new approach in the science of psychology, focuses on life satisfaction, the cultivation of talents, and moral virtues to lead a happy, meaningful, and fruitful life.
Literature, due to its blend with human emotions and imagination and its portrayal of the human psyche, has been of particular interest to psychologists. Presenting moral teachings through stories and anecdotes, by including actions and their consequences, helps organize individuals' life lessons and promotes moral growth. This method is also highly effective in better conveying the teachings of well-being and positive thinking, leading individuals toward deep reflection and subtlety of thought. Seligman was also aware of the positive impact of parables, stories, and the presentation of advice in literary works, considering them as tools that support the virtues and strengths discussed in positive psychology.
One of the works in which virtues are prominently and numerously featured is the valuable book Marzban-nameh. The brevity and simplicity of its fables, the universality of their messages, and the relatable nature of its characters and their actions are among the factors contributing to its popularity. Due to its narrative and cultural capacities, Marzban-nameh has a great potential to attract audiences. Preserving and revitalizing this valuable work in line with contemporary needs is a serious necessity that not only strengthens the bond with past culture and literature but also acquaints new generations with the intellectual and cultural capital of the past.

Materials & Methods
The numerous commonalities between Marzban-nameh and positive psychology have led this research to examine and explain some components of positive psychology in the fables of Marzban-nameh using a descriptive-analytical method. The purpose of analyzing the fables of Marzban-nameh from the perspective of positive psychology is to discover and align similarities and compare them, in order to better reveal the richness of Iranian culture and literature and the merits of the valuable book Marzban-nameh in this field. The research questions are:
1. What are the common components between positive psychology and Marzban-nameh?
2. What are the origins of the similarities and differences between positive psychology and the teachings of Marzban-nameh?

Discussion & Result
Marzban-nameh is a heritage of the great Iranian-Islamic civilization, containing wisdom and moral stories with a positive foundation. The virtues and strengths discussed in positive psychology can be abundantly and comprehensively observed in this book. The similarities between positive psychology and the teachings of Marzban-nameh can be attributed to their alignment and compatibility with pure human nature, as well as with religious and ethical schools of thought. Among the virtues discussed in positive psychology, temperance and self-regulation have received more attention in Marzban-nameh than any other topic, encompassing a wide range of traits and behaviors with both worldly and otherworldly functions. Following that, wisdom and the acquisition of knowledge are prominent themes.
In positive psychology, the emphasis is mostly on the role of external and social factors in the emergence of psychological disorders. However, Marzban-nameh addresses both internal and external roots of psychological disorders, and the author, in addition to the environment and society, considers internal factors such as following whims and desires, envy, and sin to be effective in the emergence of abnormalities
.
Conclusion
In Marzban-nameh, wisdom is the most precious gem of creation and the foundation of society and the individual, from which good character, fairness, success in this world and the hereafter, and many other virtues emerge. Similarly, in positive psychology, the strengths of wisdom and knowledge are cognitive forces that encompass positive traits related to acquiring and using knowledge. This is why many philosophers have considered wisdom as the primary virtue from which all other virtues originate. From the perspective of both Marzban-nameh and positive psychology, a wise person is a moral person who possesses commendable virtues.
Spirituality is another component that casts its shadow over the stories of Marzban-nameh. A sense of meaning and purpose in life, reliance on God (tawakkul) and resilience, self-esteem, hope and optimism, justice and fairness, honesty, effort and perseverance, etc., are all realized in the light of faith in God and the effort to please Him.
Varavini, on the one hand, by linking moral virtues and good human traits to religious verses and traditions, not only strengthens the foundations of his argument but also instills in the reader an otherworldly and teleological perspective, which is an effective deterrent against misconduct. On the other hand, by indirectly conveying moral recommendations through fables and proverbs, he enhances audience engagement and makes the virtues more applicable to human life. This approach can be considered the strength of Marzban-nameh compared to positive psychology, as it subconsciously prompts the reader to think, thereby preserving the intimacy of the text and the individual's sense of freedom.

Keywords

Marzbannameh
positive psychology
Martin Seligman
virtue
story
Subjects
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