Exploring the Everyday Language of KOREANS -A Study of Possibility on Positive Thought and Culture Psychological Conceptualization of ‘Boram’

This research attempted to reconstruct ‘Boram’, a realistic, vivid, and daily word deduced from the minds of the general public, as a psychological concept. To do this, the context in which the word ‘Boram’ is used in real life was studied, and analyzed for its meaning and type through a qualitative research method. Research data was deduced and organized from the context and contents of the word ‘Boram’ used by participants in unre-strained situations such as when watching TV wherein the researcher has no control over. As a result of the research, ‘Boram’ is defined as a feeling that comes after being satisfied on the result of contributing positive meaning to a work chosen by the doer, and going through a problem-solving process. In addition, the cognitive process of Boram is a ‘post optimistic thought.’ Since emotion that is generated from such cognitive process is rewarding or worthwhile, Boram is an emotion that is felt when realizing the hope of an individual. Furthermore, Boram is classified into 4 types based on its usage context and form of structure. The classifications are: ‘display-ing capability worthiness’, ‘overcoming adversity achievement worthiness’, ‘displaying capability achievement worthiness’, ‘overcoming adversity displaying capability achievement worthiness’. First, ‘displaying capability worthiness’ is felt by people who are proud of their abilities. Evaluation of one’s ability is not an objective evaluation but perceived evaluation, so it is a feeling felt when giving positive evaluation to oneself in the potential or ability one has. Second, ‘overcoming adversity-achievement worthiness’ is the feeling felt when one goes through a difficult process to earn a small but desired result and eventually, he or she gives a subjective and positive evaluation of the result. Third, ‘displaying capability-achievement worthiness’ is felt when fully using and displaying one’s positively perceived ability, and giving his or her subjective and positive evaluation on the result earned through this. Fourth, ‘overcoming adversity-displaying capability -achievement’ is felt by overcoming a difficult process, displaying one’s ability in overcoming hardships or in things one wants to, and giving subjective and positive evaluation on the result. Situations where ordinary people experience Boram were precisely analyzed to contrive the original form and the original forms were combined to reconstruct the psychological structure of Boram. This research searched and analyzed a new concept through qualitative method and strived to find its function. It has a weakness of not using scientific research methods at all. However, the significance lies on finding the possibility that ‘Boram’ can be an ingredient of scientific psychology, positive psychology, and cultural psychology through an attempt to conceptualize ‘Boram’.