Positive Psychology

Positive psychology is a movement that emphasizes what is right with people rather than what is wrong with them. Most of psychology tends to focus on negatives and mental illness. Positive psychology is an attempt to redress the balance and focus on the positive aspects of life (human strengths and virtues that are found in the happiest people). Positive psychology development programs are becoming commonplace in businesses, schools, and places of worship. Social scientists have learned more about how people respond to emotional experiences in productive ways. They now know more than they once did about curbing the effects of negative emotions, about making the most of positive emotions, and about how these practices lead to positive life outcomes. Given these discoveries, this set addresses the strengths, emotions, positive growth, and human flourishing of positive psychology. The essays expose the reader to the psychological findings that will shape positive psychology for decades to come. Each chapter is written with the goal of bringing research in positive psychology to life for the reader. The real-world implications of scholarship are communicated via anecdotes and case studies.