Positive psychology is a perspective within psychology that studies optimal experience, people being and doing their best. It challenges the assumptions of the disease model. Positive psychology assumes that life entails more than avoiding or undoing problems and that explanations of the good life must do more than reverse accounts of problems. Someone without symptoms or disorders may or may not be living well. Positive psychology urges attention to what is taking place on the other side of the zero point of being problem-free. It calls for as much focus on strength as on weakness, as much interest in building the best things in life as in repairing the worst, and as much attention to fulfilling the lives of healthy people as to healing the wounds of the distressed. Research findings from positive psychology are intended to contribute to a more complete and balanced scientific understanding of human experiences and ways to foster thriving in individuals, communities, and societies. Positive psychology advocates for nurturing, promoting, and directing our attention towards the positive aspects of ourselves to achieve happiness and well-being. This book is meticulously crafted to fulfil this objective by providing a comprehensive exploration of concepts, principles, and theories of positive psychology. Presented in an accessible and user-friendly manner, the book facilitates meaningful discussions on topics aligned with offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in positive psychology. Moreover, it addresses the longstanding need within the positive psychology community for a text that incorporates an Indian perspective, catering to the specific requirements of students and faculty. Beyond academia, the book serves as a valuable resource for counsellors, practitioners, and anyone interested in leveraging positive psychology for personal fulfilment and happiness. By offering both theoretical insights and practical applications, it equips readers with the tools to enhance their well-being and thrive in various aspects of life. A must-read for academics, clinicians, and students in neuropsychology, clinical psychology, and positive psychology, this book is also invaluable for anyone interested in enhancing cognitive wellbeing and resilience.
Florence Johnston Marla is an American professor in the department of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Psychology. She is also the Principal Investigator of the Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Lab (PEPLab) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Florence is a social psychologist who conducts research in emotions and positive psychology. Her main work is related to her broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions, which suggests that positive emotions lead to novel, expansive, or exploratory behavior, and that, over time, these actions lead to meaningful, long-term resources such as knowledge and social relationships. Earlier, she served as the head of the department of psychology at the University of Chicago and of the department of sociology and anthropology at Lake Forest College.
Preface
1. POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, POSITIVE PREVENTION, AND POSITIVE THERAPY
2. STOPPING THE MADNESS
3. WIDENING THE DIAGNOSTIC FOCUS
4. TOWARDS A SCIENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH
5. POSITIVE AFFECTIVITY
6. POSITIVE EMOTIONS
7. THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF SELF-ESTEEM
8. THE POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
9. THE ROLE OF PERSONAL CONTROL IN ADAPTIVE FUNCTIONING
10. OPTIMISM
11. OPTIMISTIC EXPLANATORY STYLE
12. SETTING GOALS FOR LIFE AND HAPPINESS
13. UNIQUENESS SEEKING
14. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FORGIVENESS
15. SHARING ONE’S STORY: ON THE BENEFITS OF WRITING OR TALKING
16. MEDITATION AND POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
17. POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY FOR CHILDREN: DEVELOPMENT, PREVENTION, AND PROMOTION
18. AGING WELL: OUTLOOK FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
19. THE FUTURE OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY: A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Bibliography
Index
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