Legally Blonde & Positive Psychology

As simple as it may sound, it's Elle's optimism that is the key to her success. In fact, Elle's actions throughout the film align with the ideals and principles of Positive Psychology, specifically Martin Seligman's PERMA model and theory of wellbeing. PERMA consists of five components: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. The goal of applying these is to build resilience and positive emotion, not just in the individual but also in those around them. If we apply this model to Elle's actions, we see that she embodies and achieves its goals.

1. Positive Emotion

Starting with Positive Emotion, we know Elle often feels very happy for most of the film's runtime. However, Positive Emotions go beyond happiness and "include hope, interest, joy, love, compassion, pride, amusement, and gratitude." Again, we see these emotions expressed throughout Elle, with compassion and pride among her most defining qualities. This is evident in her Harvard video essay, in which Elle puts these traits on full display. She is bubbly, confident, and creative.

2. Engagement

Engagement, according to Seligman, is "being one with the music." This means living in the present moment and taking all that life has to offer, even when it's hard. Elle engages with the obstacles around her by following the tempo and, when necessary, adjusting it. Whether it's shifting strategies in the courtroom or showing up to a party completely off theme, Elle finds a way to hold strong, not retreat inward, and not feel self-doubt. No matter what lies ahead, Elle walks toward it with her head held high.

3. Relationship

A positive relationship in the PERMA model is one where both parties feel supported, loved, and valued. Elle's relationship with Paulette, her Delta Nu sisters, and even Vivian at the end of the film all embody these traits. We see this when Elle helps Paulette feel more confident in herself in the "Bend and Snap" scene, and eventually, she's confident enough to retrieve her dog. Additionally, we see her Delta Nu sisters supporting her goal of attending Harvard and even helping her prepare for the LSAT. Elle's kindness and authenticity also help her win over Vivian, who initially disliked her, and they later become best friends.

4. Meaning

Next in Seligman's model is Meaning, which refers to one's sense of purpose in life and varies substantially from person to person. For Elle, her Meaning and purpose lie in unapologetic authenticity and service to those around her. She holds her head high and continues to push forward to make the world a better place. We repeatedly see that Elle enjoys helping others, as evidenced by her support for Paulette and her belief in Brooke Windham's innocence. The entire plot of the second film centers on Elle continuing these pursuits by seeking to ban animal testing.

5. Accomplishment

Accomplishment is the final component of PERMA and is achieved by setting and achieving goals, both large and small. This is something that Elle does constantly, with the biggest being her 179/180 LSAT score, her attendance and graduation from Harvard Law, and helping her seemingly guilty client avoid serving time for a crime she didn't commit. What we can further admire, however, is Elle's lack of doubt or surprise at achieving these goals. If Elle says she's going to do something, she does it, and one of her most iconic lines helps prove her complete confidence in her abilities. When Warner questions her presence and doubts her enrollment, she asks, "What, like it's hard?" because there was never a doubt in her mind about attending Harvard. Ultimately, Elle Woods is a near-perfect embodiment of Seligman's Theory of Wellbeing through the lens of PERMA. The route to this achievement lies in her mastery of the first principle, Positive Emotion, which enables her to breeze through the other components with ease.

Elle is a character we can all learn from in many ways, and for me personally, she is an inspiration. As a young girl who was often dressed in pink, seeing Elle's unwillingness to alter herself for others always stayed with me. What sticks with me most, however, is some of her final words in the film, "You must always have faith in people. And most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself." These words further solidify Elle's status as a role model for girls and positive psychologists alike.