Positive Psychology

This book is designed to serve as a primary text for an undergraduate college course in positive psychology. Consistent with the “nuts and bolts” presentation of positive psychology, in many places throughout the book the authors provide detailed coverage of individual research studies, methodological issues and theoretical controversies. The first goal in writing this book was to make positive psychology accessible to undergraduate students by reviewing and summarizing the major empirical findings and theories within the major areas of positive psychology. Specifically, the authors hope to bridge the gap between an undergraduate audience and the professional level of source material. A second goal was to present the core topics of positive psychology in a way that preserves the richness and excitement of findings in this new area of psychology. Positive psychology addresses important questions about how we lead our lives, find happiness and satisfaction in life, and deal with life’s challenges. As a result, the subject matter of positive psychology has high intrinsic interest. The authors hope to engage and maintain this interest by making frequent connections and applications to the everyday lives of readers. A third goal was to present positive psychology without compromising the complexities of research and theory That is, the goal was to present positive psychology as it is -- a work in progress. Put another way, this book is a “nuts and bolts” view of positive psychology with a primary emphasis on the results of empirical studies and the theories that help explain them.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Dedication Acknowledgments Preface Chapter 1 -What is Positive Psychology? - Traditional Psychology - Why the Negative Focus? Negatives Aspects Perceived as More Authentic & ‘Real” Negatives as More Important The Disease Model -Positive Psychology Health Psychology Focus on Research: The Nun Study: Living Longer Through Positive Emotions Clinical Psychology Developmental Psychology Survey Research and Subjective Well-Being Social/Personality Psychology and the Psychology of Religion - Positive Psychology: Assumptions, Goals and Definitions Life Above Zero Culture and the Meaning of a Good Life Why Now? -Two Final Notes Positive Psychology is Not Opposed to Psychology Positive Psychology and the Status Quo Chapter 2 — The Meaning and Measure of Happiness - Why a Psychology of Well-Being? Objective versus Subjective Measures Negative versus Positive Functioning - What is Happiness? Two Traditions Hedonic Happiness Eudaimonic Happiness Focus on Research: Positive Affect and a Meaningful Life - Subjective Well-Being: The Hedonic Basis of Happiness Measuring Subjective Well-Being Life Satisfaction Positive Affect and Negative Affect Focus on Research: Is Your Future Revealed in Your Smile? Issues in the Study of Affect Global Measures of Happiness Reliability and Validity of SWB Measures Experience Sampling Method Focus on Method: How Do We Spend Our Time? The Day Reconstruction Method On-Line versus Global Measures of SWB - Self-Realization: The Eudaimonic Basis of Happiness -Psychological Well-Being and Positive Functioning Emotional Well-Being Psychological Well-Being Social Well-Being Need Fulfillment and Self-Determination Theory Focus on Research: What Makes a “Good” Day? - Comparing Hedonic and Eudaimonic Views of Happiness Chapter 3 - Positive Emotions and Well-Being - What are Positive Emotions? Focus on Theory: The Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions - Positive Emotions and Health Resources Physical Resources Psychological Resources Positive Emotions and Coping with Stress -Focus on application: Finding the Positive in the Negative Positive Traits and Health Social Resources The Limits of Positive Emotions Positive Emotions and Well-Being Happiness and Positive Behaviors Positive Emotions and Success Positive Emotions and Flourishing A General Theory of Positivity? - Cultivating Positive Emotions Flow Experiences Savoring Chapter 4 - Resilience -What is Resilience? Developmental Perspectives Clinical Perspectives - Resilience Research Sources of Resilience The Dangers of Blaming the Victim Sources of Resilience in Childhood - Focus on Research: Resilience among Disadvantaged Youth Sources of Resilience in Adulthood and Later Life Successful Aging - Growth Through Trauma Negative Effects of Trauma Positive Effects of Trauma Changes in Perception Changes in Relationships Changes in Life Priorities Explanations for Growth through Trauma Focus on Research: In their Own Words — Coping With Loss Chapter 5 - Happiness and the Facts of Life - Happiness Across the Life-Span Focus on Research: Happiness and Where we Live Stability in Well-Being Despite Life Changes Temperament and Subjective Well-Being Frequency, Intensity and Balance of Positive and Negative Emotions Measurement and Definitional Issues -The Shifting Basis of Life Satisfaction Gender and Happiness - Gender differences in Emotional Experience - Negative Emotions Positive Moods and Behaviors Explaining the Paradox of Gender - Marriage and Happiness Benefits of Marriage Selection Effects Focus on Research: Are We Still Happy After the Honeymoon? Gender Differences in the Benefits of Marraige - Other Facts of Life Physical and Mental Health Work and Unemployment Intelligence and Education Religion Race, Ethnicity and Stigma Chapter 6 — Money, Happiness and Culture - The Paradox of Affluence - Well-Being Across Nations Between-Nations Comparisons Within-Nation Comparisons Interpreting National Differences - Understanding Money and Happiness Focus on Research: Do Happy People Make More Money? Why Doesn't Money Matter More? Genetics and Personality Adaptation and the Hedonic Treadmill Focus on Research: Lottery Winners and Accident Victims Rising Expectations and The “Tyranny of the Unnecessary” Social Comparisons Excessive Materialism - The Meaning of Happiness: Universal or Relative? - The Culture and Well-being The Self in Individualistic and Collectivist Cultures Culture and the Meaning of Happiness The American-Individualistic Style of Happiness The Asian-Collectivist Style of Happiness Cultural Ideals Moderation in Emotional Expression Group Pride and Sensitivity Self-Critical Attitudes False Humility or Social Sensitivity? Chapter 7 - Personal Goals as Windows to Well Being - Goals Connect “Having” and “Doing” - What are Personal Goals? Defining Personal Goals Goals and Related Motivational Concepts Measuring Personal Goals Goal Organization - The Search for Universal Human Motives Goals and the Fulfillment of Basic Human Needs Focus on Research: An Empirical Method for Assessing Universal Needs Goals Expressing Fundamental Values Personal Goals Across Cultures Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Goals Physical versus Self-Transcendent Goals - The Personalization of Goals in Self-Concept - What Goals Contribute Most to Well-Being? Goal Progress, Achievement and Importance -The Matching Hypothesis What Explains the Matching Hypothesis? -Personal Goals and Self-Realization Intrinsic versus Extrinsic Goals Autonomous versus Controlled Motivation Focus on Research: Happiness and Success in College - Materialism and Its Discontents Why are Materialists Unhappy? The Content of Materialistic Goals -The What and Why of Materialistic Goals Compensation for Insecurity Why Do People Adopt Materialistic Values? Consumer Culture Psychological Insecurity Materialism and Death Affluence and Materialism Are We All Materialists? Chapter 8 - Self-Regulation and Control -The Value of Self-Control - Personal Goals and Self-Regulation Self-Discrepancy Theory Control Theory - Planning for Self-Regulation Success Focus on Research: Planning Makes a Difference Why Planning Helps Automatic Activation of Goal Behaviors Conserving Self-Control Resources Commitment and Confidence - Goals That Create Self-Regulation Problems Approach versus Avoidance Goals Why Avoidance Goals are Difficult to Regulate Goal Conflict -Trivial Pursuits and Magnificent Obsessions -Focus on theory: Thinking About the Meaning of Our Actions Individual differences in Goal Level Identification Goal Difficulty Ironic Effects of Mental Control -Mental Load and the Paradoxes of Control - Everyday Explanations for Self-Control Failure Excuses What Makes a Good Excuse? Advantages of Excuses Disadvantages of Excuses Irresistible Impulses Beliefs About Control Activation of Impulsive and Reflective Control Systems Individual Differences in Self-Control Resisting Temptations Focus on Research: The Costs and Benefits of Procrastination - Giving Up Chapter 9 — Positive Traits - What Makes a Trait Positive? - Personality, Emotions and Biology Positive and Negative Affectivity Genetics and Temperament Personality and Happiness: “The Big Five” -Teasing Out Cause and Effect Personality and Eudaimonic Well-Being Neurobiology and Approach/Avoidance Motives Genetics and Change - Positive Beliefs -The World Through Happy and Unhappy Eyes - Self Esteem Self-Esteem and Happiness Is Self-Esteem All You Need? Self-Esteem's Darker Side Personal Control Optimism Optimism as a Disposition Optimism as Explanatory