Handbook of Positive Psychology PDF
Preview Handbook of Positive Psychology
Handbook of Positive Psychology C. R. Snyder Shane J. Lopez, Editors OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS HANDBOOK OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY This page intentionally left blank HANDBOOK OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY Edited by C. R. Snyder Shane J. Lopez 1 2002 1 Oxford NewYork Athens Auckland Bangkok Bogota´ BuenosAires CapeTown Chennai DaresSalaam Delhi Florence HongKong Istanbul Karachi Kolkata KualaLumpur Madrid Melbourne MexicoCity Mumbai Nairobi Paris Sa˜oPaulo Shanghai Singapore Taipei Tokyo Toronto Warsaw andassociatedcompaniesin Berlin Ibadan Copyright (cid:1) 2002 by Oxford UniversityPress PublishedbyOxfordUniversityPress,Inc. 198MadisonAvenue,NewYork,NewYork10016 OxfordisaregisteredtrademarkofOxfordUniversityPress Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced, storedinaretrievalsystem,ortransmitted,inanyformorbyanymeans, electronic,mechanical,photocopying,recording,orotherwise, withoutthepriorpermissionofOxfordUniversityPress. LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData Handbookofpositivepsychology/editedbyC.R.SnyderandShaneJ.Lopez. p. cm. Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindexes. ISBN0–19–513533–4 1. Psychology. 2. Health. 3. Happiness. 4. Optimism. I. Snyder,C.R. II. Lopez,ShaneJ. BF1216.H2122002 150.19'8—dc21 2001021584 1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2 PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica onacid-freepaper To the positive in all of us . . . This page intentionally left blank Foreword Itgivesmegreatjoytoknowthatsomanysci- women who have written chapters for this entists—many of whom have contributed to handbook,aswellascountlessmoreinspiredby this landmark volume—are striving to inspire their research, are courageously gathering data people to develop a more wholesome focus on and testing hypotheses to help us learn more the positive aspects of life. I am convinced that about an essential question that perhaps serves one day these scientists will be recognized as as the North Star for a positive psychology: visionary leaders, whose research helped to What enables us to override our biological in- identify, elevate, and celebrate the creative po- clinationstobeselfishandinsteadfindmeaning, tentialof the human spirit. purpose, and value in nurturing and upholding Until recently, I had rarely heard about sci- the positive qualitiesof our human nature? entific research that examined the life- In fact, I am more optimistic than ever that enhancingpowerof“spiritualprinciples”—pos- one day soon a group of scientists will publish itive character traits and virtues such as love, findings that will advance humankind’s under- hope, gratitude, forgiveness, joy, future- standingofaspiritualprinciplethathasbeenat mindedness, humility, courage, and noble pur- the core of my own life’s purpose: agape love. pose. Perhaps my long-standing interest in One of my favorite sayings is, “Love hoarded these spiritual principles and character traits is dwindles, but love given grows.” Love is more best understood by sharing with you the fol- powerful than money; unlike money,themore lowingperspective.Mygrandfatherwasaphy- love wegiveaway,themorewehaveleft.Per- sician during the Civil War, and several of my haps,dearreader,youwillbetheresearcherwho own children are physicians today. I think we studies a spiritual principle such as agape love wouldallagreethatmychildren,becauseofthe scientificallyorempirically.Wouldn’tallofhu- enormous number of dollars earmarked for mankindbenefitfromknowingmoreaboutthis medicalresearchduringthispastcentury,know fundamental“lawoflife,”andmanyothers? a hundred times—perhaps a thousand times— Finally, I am hopeful that as current andfu- more about the human body than my grand- ture researchers catch the vision of a positive father ever did. But I have always wondered: psychology, and as foundations and govern- Why is it that we know so littleaboutthehu- mentsinitiateprogramstosupportthisground- man spirit? breaking and beneficial work, we will all forge Theresearchhighlightedinthisvolumepro- aheadinaspiritofhumility.Weknowsolittle, vides overwhelming evidence that many tal- my friends, about the many gifts that God has ented scholars and award-winning researchers given to each and every human being. As the arereclaimingwhatwasonceatthecoreoftheir truly wise tell us, “How little we know, how discipline: the psyche, the study and under- eager to learn.” standing of the power of the human spirit to Radnor, Pennsylvania Sir John Templeton benefit from life’s challenges. The men and This page intentionally left blank Preface How often does one have the opportunity to remarkable group of authors for their patience edit the first handbook for a new approach to in this process. Their dedication to excel- psychology? We had a “once-in-a-lifetime” lence can be seen in the chapters of this hand- scholarlyadventureinpreparingthisHandbook book. ofPositivePsychology.Therewasneveraques- Inordertohelpreadersingainingasenseof tion in our minds about editing this volume. the topics contained in each chapter, we have We were at the right place at the right time, askedourexpertauthorstoidentifysourcesthat and the book simply had to happen. provide excellent overviews of their areas. Fortunately, our superb editors at Oxford Therefore,inthereferencesectionofeachchap- University Press, Joan Bossert and Catharine ter,theauthorshaveplacedanasteriskinfront Carlin,sharedourenthusiasmabouttheneces- ofsuchkeyreadings.Weencourageourreaders sity of this volume, and they made this huge tousethesebackgroundsourceswhenmorede- editorial undertaking seamless in its unfolding. tailed descriptions of a topic are desired. Theauthorsweinvitedtowritechaptersreadily Now, before you peruse the contributionsof agreed. Much to our delight, this handbook al- theoutstandingscholars,considerthefollowing mosttookonalifeofitsown.Weattributethis ...Imagine a planet where the inhabitants are to the vitality of the authors, along with the self-absorbed, hopeless, and filled with psycho- power of their positive psychology ideas and logical problems and weaknesses. Confusion, science. anxiety, fear, and hostility race through their We complemented each other as an editorial minds. These creatures “communicate” with team. Snyder was a stickler for detail and yet each other by lying, faking,torturing,fighting, sought ingenuity in thought and expression. andkilling.Theyhurteachother,andtheyhurt Lopezsawlinkagesinideas,wouldcalluponthe themselves. Of course, this imaginary planetis related literatures, and brought unbridled en- not far away—we call it Earth. Althoughthese thusiasm to the editorial process. What this problems do exist, they aremadetoloomeven combination produced was a line-by-line anal- largerbecauseofthepropensitiesofpsychology ysisandfeedbackineverychapter.Inshort,we and its sister disciplines to focus on the weak- were “hands-on” editors. Given the stature nesses in humankind. Now let us imagine an- of the contributing scholars, with numerous other planet where the inhabitants are caring, awards, distinguished professorships, and hopeful, and boundless in their psychological honorary degrees, they certainly could have strengths.Theirthoughtsandfeelingsareclear, balked at such editorial scrutiny. But they did focused, and tranquil. These creatures commu- not.Instead,theyusedourfeedbackandrevised nicatebyspendingtimetalkingandlisteningto their already superb first drafts into stellar each other. They are kind to each other and to subsequent chapters. We are indebted to this themselves. Again, this imaginary, not-so-far-
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