Main description:

Positive psychology exploded into public consciousness 10 years ago and has continued to capture attention around the world ever since. The movement promised to study positive human nature, using only the most rigorous scientific tools and theories. How well has this promise been fulfilled? This book evaluates the first decade of this fledgling field of study from the perspective of nearly every leading researcher in the field.

Scholars in the areas of social, personality, clinical, biological, emotional, and applied psychology take stock of their fields, while bearing in mind the original manifesto and goals of the postive psychology movement. They provide honest, critical evaluations of the flaws and untapped potential of their fields of study. The contributors design the optimal future of positive psychology by addressing gaps, biases, and methodological limitations, and exploring exciting new
questions.

Contents:

INTRODUCTORY PERSPECTIVES

1 Positive Psychology: Where Did It Come From, Where Is It Going?
Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi & Jeanne Nakamura

2 Challenges, Pitfalls, and Aspirations for Positive Psychology
Todd B. Kashdan & Michael F. Steger

BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES

3 Positive Psychophysiology: The Body and Self-Regulation
Suzanne C. Segerstrom, Timothy W. Smith, & Tory A. Eisenlohr-Moul

4 Positive Psychological States and Biological Processes
Carissa A. Low, Julienne E. Bower, Judith T. Moskowitz, & Elissa S. Epel

5 The Primary Process Affects in Human Development, Happiness, and Thriving
Jaak Panksepp

EMOTION PERSPECTIVES

6 Beyond Pleasure and Pain? Emotion Regulation and Positive Psychology
Maya Tamir & James J. Gross

7 The Positive Psychology of Positive Emotions: An Avuncular View
Shigehiro Oishi & Jaime Kurtz

8 The Future of Emotions Research within Positive Psychology
Sara B. Algoe, Barbara L. Fredrickson, & Sy-Miin Chow

SOCIAL-COGNITIVE PERSPECTIVES

9 The Role of Hypo-egoic Self-processes in Optimal Functioning and Subjective Well-Being
Mark R. Leary & Jennifer Guadagno

10 Experiential Processing and the Integration of Light and Dark Sides of the Human Psyche
Kirk Warren Brown & Melissa Holt

11 A Task-Focused Mind is a Happy and Productive Mind: A Processing Perspective
Michael D. Robinson & Maya Tamir

12 Finding Positive Value in Human Consciousness: Conscious Thought Serves Participation in Society and Culture
E. J. Masicampo & Roy F. Baumeister

PERSONALITY PERSPECTIVES

13 Personality Traits and the Potential of Positive Psychology
Robert R. McCrae

14 Character and Personality: Connections Between Positive Psychology and Personality Psychology
Erik E. Noftle, Sarah A. Schnitker & Richard W. Robins

15 Personality Science and the Northern Tilt: As Positive as Possible Under the Circumstances
Brian R. Little

16 Why Gratitude Enhances Well-Being: What We Know, What We Need to Know
Robert A. Emmons & Anjali Mishra

RELATIONSHIP PERSPECTIVES

17 The Positive Side of Close Relationships
Shelly L. Gable & Courtney Gosnell

18 Positive Relationship Science: A New Frontier for Positive Psychology?
Nathaniel M. Lambert, Frank D. Fincham, A. Marlea Gwinn, & Christine A. Ajayi

19 Coaching and Positive Psychology
Anthony M Grant & Michael J Cavanagh

CLINICAL PERSPECTIVES

20 The Dog Woman, Addie Bundren, and the Ninth Circle of Hell: Positive Psychology Should Be More Open to the Negative
Jennifer L. Hames & Thomas E. Joiner, Jr.

21 Meaning and Growth within Positive Psychology: Towards a More Complete Understanding
Crystal L. Park

22 Mindfulness and Positive Psychological Functioning
Ruth A. Baer & Emily L. B. Lykins

ORGANIZATIONAL PERSPECTIVES

23 Positive Psychological Capital in the Workplace: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go
Carolyn M. Youssef & Fred Luthans

24 Organizational Applications of Positive Psychology: Taking Stock and a Research / Practice Roadmap for the Future
P. Alex Linley, Nicky Garcea (nee Page), Susan Harrington, Emma Trenier & Gurpal Minhas

SOCIETAL PERSPECTIVES

25 Place and Well-Being
Richard Florida & Peter J. Rentfrow

26 Greater Happiness For A Greater Number: Is that possible? If so how?
Ruut Veenhoven

27 Positive Psychology as a Force for Social Change
Robert Biswas-Diener, P. Alex Linley, Reena Govindji & Linda Woolston

SUMMARY PERSPECTIVES

28 What's Positive about Positive Psychology? Reducing Value-Bias and Enhancing Integration within the Field
Kennon M. Sheldon

29 To Celebrate Positive Psychology and Extend Its Horizons
Gordon Bermant, Charu Talwar, & Paul Rozin

30 Are We There Yet? What Happened on the Way to the Demise of Positive Psychology
Laura A. King

31 Positive Psychology in Historical and Philosophical Perspective: Predicting Its Future from the Past
Dean Keith Simonton