Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness and Human Strengths

By Alan Carr

Book Overview

Remediating deficits and managing disabilities has been a central preoccupation for clinical psychologists. Positive Psychology, in contrast, is concerned with the enhancement of happiness and well-being, involving the scientific study of the role of personal strengths and positive social systems in the promotion of optimal wellbeing.

Alan Carr's Positive Psychology has become essential reading for anyone requiring a thorough and accessible introduction to the field. This new edition retains all the features that made the first edition so popular, including:

accounts of major theories and relevant research learning objectives chapter summaries research and personal development questions suggestions for further reading measures for use in research glossaries of new terms.

The book has also been completely updated to take account of recent research and major advances, and includes a new chapter on Positive Psychotherapy, an extended account of research on character strengths and virtues, and a discussion of recent ground-breaking research on emotional intelligence.

This new edition of Positive Psychology will prove a valuable resource for psychology students and lecturers, as well as those involved in postgraduate training in related areas such as clinical psychology, social work, counselling and psychotherapy.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 041560236X
• ISBN13: 9780415602365
• Release Date: June 2011
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.8" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Positive Psychology

A fairly technical book wrapped around the science of happiness, the measurement of happiness, and how that connects to a variety of human character strengths and virtues. Interesting reading for the psychologist that wants to break out of the rut of diagnostic and illness theory. My question is whether we truly believe we have a set point for happiness, or if we can choose to be happy.

Positive Psychology

This book is long overdue. It provides a great summary of the research related to happiness, motivation, hope and optimism, and self-esteem. It is perhaps best used as a reference for a college course, but it provides an accurate reflection of research and theory in this new field of psychology.