Perspectives on the Intersection of Multiculturalism and Positive Psychology

Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti, Ph.D. received her doctorate and masters degrees in counseling psychology at the University of Kansas. She is currently Professor in the Department of Psychology and Child Development at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo where she teaches courses in positive psychology, multicultural psychology, clinical and counseling psychology, intergroup dialogues, and research methods. Dr. Teramoto Pedrotti’s current research includes projects measuring the effectiveness of multicultural psychology courses in increasing ethnocultural empathy in both undergraduate and graduate students. She is also working on research investigating factors affecting well-being in multiracial individuals. Dr. Teramoto Pedrotti spoke on the intersection of positive psychology and culture as a keynote speaker at the 2014 Asian Pacific Conference on Applied Positive Psychology in Hong Kong. Her work on this subject and others has appeared in many journals including the Journal of Counseling Psychology, the Journal of Positive Psychology, Professional Psychology: Research & Practice, Professional School Counseling, and Women & Therapy. She is an author of the textbook Positive Psychology: The Scientific and Practical Explorations of Human Strengths (along with Shane J. Lopez and C. R. Snyder), the third edition of which will be in print in the summer of 2014. Dr. Lisa M. Edwards is an Associate Professor in the department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at Marquette University. She received her masters and doctoral degrees in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kansas, and was a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Notre Dame. In her current position, Dr. Edwards is the Director of Counselor Education and teaches courses in multicultural counseling, group counseling, assessment, and supervision. She directs the Culture and Well-Being Research Lab and is a licensed psychologist in the state of Wisconsin. Dr. Edwards’ research focuses on strengths and positive functioning among ethnic minority youth and adults. Specifically, she investigates how cultural variables such as familism, religiosity, and ethnic identity influence well-being among Latino/as and multiracial populations. Dr. Edwards’ work has appeared in several journals, including the Journal of Counseling Psychology, the Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, and the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. She is also co-author of Preventing Adolescent Depression and Suicide among Latinas (2013, SpringerBriefs in Psychology).

• Foreword; Shane J. Lopez.- Preface; Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti and Lisa Edwards.- Part I. Theoretical Underpinnings and Research Issues.- Chapter 1. History of Cultural Context in Positive Psychology: We Finally Come to the Start of the Journey; Christina Downey and Edward C. Chang.- Chapter 2. Broad Definitions of Culture in the Field of Positive Psychology; Heather N. Rasmussen and Lea Lavish.- Chapter 3. Multicultural Considerations in Measurement and Classifications of Positive Psychology; Cristalis Capielo, Lauren Mann, Baileu Nevels and Edward Delgado-Romero.- Chapter 4. Methodological Issues in Positive Psychology Research with Diverse Populations: Exploring Strengths among Chinese Adults; Samuel M.Y. Ho, Tina L. Rochelle, Lawrence S.C. Law, Wenjie Duan, Yu Bai and Shih-Ming Shih.- Part II. Specific Constructs.- Chapter 5. Affective Well-Being Viewed through a Lens of Race and Ethnicity; Hung-Bin Sheu.- Chapter 6. Cognitive Constructs in the Context of Positive Psychology; Christine Robitshek, Danielle Sirles and Erin E. Hardin.- Chapter 7. Relationships in Multicultural Contexts; Belinda Campos and Sharon Shenhav.- Part III. Specific Populations.- Chapter 8. Positive Psychology across the Lifespan; Jeanne Nakamura, Michael Waren, Brittany Branand, Pi-Ju Liu, Brett Wheeler and Thomas Chan.- Chapter 9. Positive Psychology and Gender; Matt Englar-Carlson and Rebekah Smart.- Chapter 10 Religion, Spirituality and Positive Psychology: Strengthening Well-Being; Melissa D.Falb and Kenneth I. Pargament.- Chapter 11. Social Class Mobility and Positive Psychology; Michael L. Weymeyer and Karrie A. Shogren.- Chapter 13. Positive Psychology and LGBTQ Populations; Sharo G. Horne, Julia A. Puckett, Raphael Apter and Heidi M. Levitt.- Part IV. Applications of Positive Psychology in Multicultural Contexts.- Chapter 14. Positive Psychological Practices in Multicultural School Settings; Casey A. Holtz and Michael J. Martinez.- Chapter 15. A Positive Approach to Multiculturalism and Diversity Management in the Workplace; Carolyn M. Youssef-Morgan and James Hardy.- Chapter 16. Infusing Multiculturalism and Positive Psychology in Psychotherapy; Jeana L. Magyar-Moe.- Part V. Conclusion.- Chapter 17. Future Directions for a More Multiculturally Competent (and Humble) Positive Psychology; John Chambers Christopher and Katie Howe.

"The focus of the majority of the chapters is reviewing positive psychology research through a multicultural perspective or examining positive psychology research relevant to particular cultural groups. ... Perspectives on the Intersection of Multiculturalism and Positive Psychology is an extremely important contribution to positive psychology that has long been needed. In many ways this books represents as an essential part of rebooting positive psychology." (Louis Hoffman and Monica Mansilla, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 60 (25), June, 2015)