A Happier Balance

2018 ◽  
pp. 91-111
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Tomasulo
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Positive Interventions ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
History Of Development ◽  
Balanced Approach ◽  
History Of

This chapter describes how intentional well-being interventions integrate the development of character strengths and activation of positive emotional resources while reducing risks and alleviating symptoms of depression and poor health. The emergence of these interventions reaches back nearly half a century and each layer of development has led to a more robust platform for implementing these approaches. Now, based on the evidence-based principles of positive psychology, these positive interventions help to cultivate hope through a more balanced approach to well-being than traditional deficit-oriented methods of psychotherapy. This chapter looks at the history of development of these interventions and their likely next phase of development.

A Happier Balance

2021 ◽  
pp. 1915-1935
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Tomasulo
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Positive Interventions ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
History Of Development ◽  
Balanced Approach ◽  
History Of

This chapter describes how intentional well-being interventions integrate the development of character strengths and activation of positive emotional resources while reducing risks and alleviating symptoms of depression and poor health. The emergence of these interventions reaches back nearly half a century and each layer of development has led to a more robust platform for implementing these approaches. Now, based on the evidence-based principles of positive psychology, these positive interventions help to cultivate hope through a more balanced approach to well-being than traditional deficit-oriented methods of psychotherapy. This chapter looks at the history of development of these interventions and their likely next phase of development.

scholarly journals A Multimodal Intervention for Improving the Mental Health and Emotional Well-being of College Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren P. Morton ◽  
Jason Hinze ◽  
Bevan Craig ◽  
Wendi Herman ◽  
Lillian Kent ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Lifestyle Medicine ◽  
Multimodal Intervention ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Psychology Literature ◽  
The Individual

This study examined the effectiveness of a 10-week multimodal intervention for improving the mental health and emotional well-being of college students when included as a mandatory component of the students’ course of study. A total of 67 students (20.9 ± 5.4 years, 30 male/37 female) participated in the intervention that introduced a variety of evidence-based strategies for improving mental health and emotional well-being from the Lifestyle Medicine and Positive Psychology literature. Significant reductions were recorded in symptoms of depression (−28%, P < .05), anxiety (−31%, P < .05), and stress (−28%, P < .01), whereas significant improvements were observed in mental health (18%, P < .01), vitality (14%, P < .01) and overall life satisfaction (8%, P < .05). Effect sizes were larger than those reported by studies that have examined the individual effectiveness of the strategies incorporated into the intervention, suggesting a compounding effect. Stratified analyses indicated that participants with the lowest measures of mental health and emotional well-being at baseline experienced the greatest benefits. The findings of the study suggest that meaningful improvements in the mental health and emotional well-being of college students can be achieved, and potentially magnified, by utilizing a multidisciplinary approach involving evidence-based strategies from Lifestyle Medicine and Positive Psychology.

Jihad as an Individual Duty (farḍ al-ʻayn) in the Ideology of Circassian Sultans (1382–1517)

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 352-365
Author(s):  
Evgeny I. Zelenev ◽  
Milana Iliushina
Keyword(s):  
Middle Ages ◽  
Essential Feature ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
15Th Century ◽  
History Of Development ◽  
Balanced Approach ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mamluk Period ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Key Aspects

This article is devoted to the study of the development of the theory and practice of jihad during the rule of the Circassian sultans in Egypt and Syria (1382–1517). The purpose of the study is to trace the development of key aspects of jihad, to identify features of its perception in the Mamluk state. An essential feature of the theory of jihad in the Mamluk period is the interpretation of jihad as farḍ al-ʿayn (the individual duty of every Muslim). While studying the theory of jihad, the authors rely on a holistic and balanced approach justified in the papers of M. Bonner and D. Cook and their interpretation of the concept of jihad, which has a centuries-old history of development and a sophisticated, multi-layered set of meanings. Another methodological basis of the present paper was the concept of minimalism and maximalism, developed by Yusef Waghid. The source base for the study of jihad theory is the works of Ibn al-Nahhas (d. 1411), a prominent philosopher of the Mamluk era. The interpretation of jihad as an individual duty of every Muslim, substantiated by Ibn al-Nahhas, was the foundation of the volunteer movement that developed in Egypt and Syria in the 15th century. The doctrine of jihad where the concepts of justice (al-‘adl) and truth (al-ḥaqq) play a key role, was used by the Mamluks and then by the Ottomans as a powerful ideological tool to manipulate the minds of Muslims. The relevance of the study is that the findings are not only true for the Middle Ages but are directly related to the present.

Positive Interventions and Theoretical Assumptions

2018 ◽  
pp. 8-21
Author(s):  
Tayyab Rashid ◽  
Martin Seligman
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Therapeutic Relationship ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Positive Interventions ◽  
Theoretical Assumptions

Positive psychology interventions applied in diverse clinical settings and tackling complex clinical issues are advancing the knowledge base of psychotherapy and health outcomes. Positive psychotherapy (PPT) is based primarily on two major theories: Seligman’s PERMA (Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment) conceptualization of well-being and character strengths. PPT also operates on three assumptions regarding the nature, cause, course, and treatment of specific behavioral patterns: (a) inherent capacity for growth, (b) the authenticity of strengths compared to symptoms, and (c) the role of positives in fostering a of the therapeutic relationship. The notion of happiness espoused in PPT is much more than the sum of its components that can be pursued simultaneously with each individually association with life satisfaction.

Feeling Good by Doing Good

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Mruk
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Authentic Self ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Domains Of Life ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
New Evidence

Feeling Good by Doing Good: A Guide to Authentic Self-Esteem presents a new evidence-based approach to defining, understanding, and increasing self-esteem. The book translates decades of the author’s research and writing in the fields of self-esteem, positive psychology, and psychotherapy into everyday language. Its power comes from tracing the definition of self-esteem back to its very first use, which is based on doing that which is both just and right. Seen this way, self-esteem is not merely feeling good about oneself. Rather, it comes from actually doing something to earn that experience. In addition to distinguishing between low, defensive, and authentic self-esteem, the book helps readers consider the connections between self-esteem and positive psychology in regard to such topics as self-control, how self-esteem operates in domains of life such as school or work, how self-esteem acts as a compass to help us make healthier choices, practical suggestions to increase authentic self-esteem, and the connection between authentic self-esteem, relationships, and well-being. The words, diagrams, and activities in the book are written so that it can be used by clinicians, their clients, and intelligent general readers interested substance as well as practical applications.

scholarly journals Towards a Strengths-Based Personal Informatics Framework for Transformative Tourism Experiences: A Phenomenological Study on Serious Leisure Practitioners

2022 ◽  
pp. 331-342
Author(s):  
C. K. Bruce Wan ◽  
Cees J. P. M. de Bont ◽  
Paul Hekkert ◽  
Kenny K. N. Chow
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Serious Leisure ◽  
Personal Informatics ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
Development Trajectories

AbstractPersonal technology plays an integral role in shaping people’s quality of life which includes leisure and tourism experiences. A number of personal informatics tools can support people in performing their activities by collecting biometric and environmental data; however, little is known regarding the use of psychological data to enrich leisure and tourism experiences. To address this research gap, this study aims to propose a conceptual framework that fosters memorable and meaningful leisure experiences (MMEs) based on theories from serious leisure and positive psychology. In particular, this study probes into the MMEs of serious leisure practitioners who put their efforts and resources into pursuing intrinsically rewarding leisure activities. Excelling at these activities, which may draw upon participants’ character strengths, yields sustained fulfillment which fosters personal transformation. The idiosyncratic nature of MMEs demands a phenomenological inquiry that involves in-depth interviews concerning the character strengths used and their development trajectories. Using theory triangulation from both positive psychology and serious leisure allows researchers to gain a holistic view of participants’ well-being. Character strengths were found to be the integral factors that contribute to MMEs at different stages of leisure activities. The result identified three aspects of strengths used: strengths well spent, reflection and introspection, and anticipation of the future self, which informs the development of a strengths-based personal informatics framework for leisure and tourism.

scholarly journals Using Character Strengths to Address English Writing Anxiety

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 11-35
Author(s):  
Tammy Gregersen ◽  
Peter D. MacIntyre ◽  
Rachel Buck
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Positive Emotion ◽  
Significant Contribution ◽  
Character Strengths ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Writing Anxiety ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Case Study Analysis

Positive psychology has been introduced to the applied linguistics literature with the broad goal of improving the experience of language learners and teachers through a variety of interventions (MacIntyre & Mercer, 2014; Gabryś-Barker & Gałajda, 2016). “The aim of positive psychology is to catalyze a change in psychology from preoccupation only with repairing the worst things in life to also building the best qualities in life” (Seligman &Csikszentmihalyi, 2000, p. 5). One significant contribution of this young field has been a series of empirically-tested positive psychology interventions (PPIs) that have been shown to increase positive emotion, reduce distress, and/or improve well-being (Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005; Sin & Lyubormirsky, 2009). In the present research, we examine one application of a PPI involving a focus on using character strengths as a way to address language anxiety. Through a case study analysis, we demonstrate the ways that this intervention was beneficial for the student.             

Positive Psychology: Past, Present, and Future

2009 ◽  
pp. 6-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ed Diener
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Good Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Good Life ◽  
Human Functioning ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Individual

This chapter briefly reviews the history of positive psychology, and the endeavor by scientists to answer the classic question posed by philosophers: What is the good life? One piece of evidence for the growth of positive psychology is the proliferation of measures to assess concepts such as happiness, well-being, and virtue. The chapter briefly reviews the importance of C. R. Snyder to the field of positive psychology. Several critiques of positive psychology are discussed. One valid critique is that there is too much emphasis within positive psychology on the individual, and too little focus on positive societies, institutions, and situations. We can profit from considering the various critiques because they will help us to improve the field. Positive psychology has important strengths, such as the number of young scholars and practitioners who are entering the field. The Handbook of Positive Psychology is an outstanding resource for all those who are working in this discipline, and also for others outside of the area, to gain broad knowledge of the important developments that are occurring in our understanding of positive human functioning.

Speculation, Conceptualization, or Evidence?

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina A. Downey ◽  
Reggie E. Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Scientific Discipline ◽  
Institutional Characteristics ◽  
Ongoing Debate ◽  
Positive Functioning ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Behavior

This chapter traces the history of examinations of well-being since the founding of psychology in 1879. Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi (2000) asserted that positive psychology as a scientific discipline was to focus on empirical examinations of valued individual experiences and traits, as well as group and institutional characteristics that mark positive functioning. Positive psychology set parameters on the types of evidence that would be given credence in the field. Many scholars had described well-being prior to 2000, but much of this work could not counted as within the bounds of the new positive psychology because of how the different movements approached gathering evidence. Therefore, the founding of positive psychology represented another step in an ongoing debate in psychology regarding the conduct of scientific research on human characteristics and behavior, and its accomplishments can be viewed as a paradigm shift in the study of well-being.

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