积极情绪是积极心理学的重要研究内容。Fredrickson的拓展-建构理论解释了积极情绪体验不但反映个体的幸福,而且有利于个体的成长和发展,具有长期的适应价值。即积极情绪具有两大核心功能:瞬时的拓展功能,可以拓展个体即时的思维—行动范畴;长期的建构功能,可建构个体长久的身体、认知、社会等的资源。通过两大功能,积极情绪促使个体产生螺旋式上升并增进个体幸福。

本书介绍正向心理的基本理论知识及其在香港的研究和应用，提供正向特质、正向思维、正向感知的测量和练习方法，帮助个体从逆境中复原并走向更好的未来，获得更快乐、更有意义的人生。

Proponents of cognitive therapy have striven to establish this approach as a mature system of psychotherapy for over 3 decades. The theoretical formulations have been enriched by clinical extrapolations from the neopsychoanalysts and experimental findings from cognitive psychology. The therapeutic strategies and techniques have been refined as a result of interaction with therapy, which also influenced the emphasis on empirical testing of the theoretical formulations and the therapeutic applications. Outcome trials have demonstrated efficacy in a number of common disorders. New emphasis on the crucial importance of specific formulations (especially dysfunctional beliefs) has provided important clues to the treatment of a large number of other disorders. I conclude that cognitive therapy has fulfilled the criteria of a system of psychotherapy by providing a coherent, testable theory of personality, psychopathology, and therapeutic change; a teachable, testable set of therapeutic principles, strategies, and techniques that articulate with the theory; and a body of clinical and empirical data that support the theory and the efficacy of the theory.

Traducción de: Creativity : Flow and the psychology of discovery and invention Incluye índice Incluye bibliografía

A recent qualitative review by Wood, Froh, and Geraghty (2010) cast doubt on the efficacy of gratitude interventions, suggesting the need to carefully attend to the quality of comparison groups. Accordingly, in a series of meta-analyses, we evaluate the efficacy of gratitude interventions (ks = 4-18; Ns = 395-1,755) relative to a measurement-only control or an alternative-activity condition across 3 outcomes (i.e., gratitude, anxiety, psychological well-being). Gratitude interventions outperformed a measurement-only control on measures of psychological well-being (d = .31, 95% confidence interval [CI = .04, .58]; k = 5) but not gratitude (d = .20; 95% CI [-.04, .44]; k = 4). Gratitude interventions outperformed an alternative-activity condition on measures of gratitude (d = .46, 95% CI [.27, .64]; k = 15) and psychological well-being (d = .17, 95% CI [.09, .24]; k = 20) but not anxiety (d = .11, 95% CI [-.08, .31]; k = 5). More-detailed subdivision was possible on studies with outcomes assessing psychological well-being. Among these, gratitude interventions outperformed an activity-matched comparison (d = .14; 95% CI [.01, .27]; k = 18). Gratitude interventions performed as well as, but not better than, a psychologically active comparison (d = -.03, 95% CI [-.13, .07]; k = 9). On the basis of these findings, we summarize the current state of the literature and make suggestions for future applied research on gratitude. (PsycINFO Database Record

The primary goal of counselling is to promote human strengths and increase levels of well-being...

Character strength is described as a positive and organized pattern of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It serves as a schema that organizes categories of information toward the self, others, and th

Objectives: The present study examined the factorial invariance and functional equivalence of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS) among the Chinese. Methods: A total of 839 undergraduate students completed the 240-item Simplified Chinese version of the VIA-IS online. Another 40 students participated in qualitative interviews to examine the meaning and function of the items in Chinese culture. Results: A total of 144 items were removed from the original version questionnaire (240-item) because of low item-loading and lack of cultural validity. A Chinese Virtues Questionnaire-96 (CVQ-96) in simplified Chinese containing 96 items (4 items per strength) was adopted. Three subscales (interpersonal, vitality, and cautiousness) were developed after exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Conclusion: A theoretically meaningful 3-factor model of virtue, comparable to some virtue structures proposed in previous studies conducted in Western countries, was obtained. The inventories being developed can facilitate positive social work assessment and intervention.

Well-being therapy (WBT) aims to enhance psychological well-being based on Ryff's (1989) six dimensions: autonomy, personal growth, environmental mastery, purpose in life, positive relations, and self-acceptance. Previous studies have documented the efficacy of this psychotherapy in treating patients with mood and anxiety disorders and in preventing relapse in recurrent depression. We discuss... [Show full abstract]

The broaden-and-build theory describes the form and function of a subset of positive emotions, including joy, interest, contentment and love. A key proposition is that these positive emotions broaden an individual's momentary thought-action repertoire: joy sparks the urge to play, interest sparks the urge to explore, contentment sparks the urge to savour and integrate, and love sparks a recurring cycle of each of these urges within safe, close relationships. The broadened mindsets arising from these positive emotions are contrasted to the narrowed mindsets sparked by many negative emotions (i.e. specific action tendencies, such as attack or flee). A second key proposition concerns the consequences of these broadened mindsets: by broadening an individual's momentary thought-action repertoire-whether through play, exploration or similar activities-positive emotions promote discovery of novel and creative actions, ideas and social bonds, which in turn build that individual's personal resources; ranging from physical and intellectual resources, to social and psychological resources. Importantly, these resources function as reserves that can be drawn on later to improve the odds of successful coping and survival. This chapter reviews the latest empirical evidence supporting the broaden-and-build theory and draws out implications the theory holds for optimizing health and well-being.

Abstract Extending B. L. Fredrickson's (1998) broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions and M. Losada's (1999) nonlinear dynamics model of team performance, the authors predict that a ratio of positive to negative affect at or above 2.9 will characterize individuals in flourishing mental health. Participants (N=188) completed an initial survey to identify flourishing mental health and then provided daily reports of experienced positive and negative emotions over 28 days. Results showed that the mean ratio of positive to negative affect was above 2.9 for individuals classified as flourishing and below that threshold for those not flourishing. Together with other evidence, these findings suggest that a set of general mathematical principles may describe the relations between positive affect and human flourishing. ((c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved).

emotions reach an excessive level of intensity or frequency?In terms of intensity, there is evidence that a very high intensity/reactivity in relation to positive emotions seems to be associated with poorer life satisfaction (e.g., Diener, Sandvik, & Pavot, 1991), and it even appears to be a marker of vulnerability to mania (Johnson, 2005; Meyer, Johnson, & Winters, 2001; Gruber, 2011). Therefore, in the case of intensity, it could be said that there is an inverted U effect, that is, that very low or very high levels of intensity in positive emotions are associated with worse adaptation in comparison with a moderate level (Diener et al., 1991).As for the frequency, the results also suggest that the potential benefits associated with greater or lesser frequency of positive emotionality could also form an inverted U, although as we shall see, with regards to the pole of high frequency, it is not so clear that it is maladaptive as seems to be the case with intensity.Most of the available evidence we will review here refers to the rate of positive versus negative emotions. What is observed is that, beyond the fact that there is no magic number to describe when this rate produces an accelerated increase in its benefits (Brown, Sokal, & Friedman, 2013), the results confirm that lower rates -the same or fewer negative emotions than positive ones- are associated with negative results (e.g., Schwartz et al., 2002), intermediate rates between two and four positive emotions for every negative emotion show the best results of adaptation (Diehl, Hay, & Berg, 2011; Kolanowski, Van Haitsma, Meeks, & Litaker, 2014; Trute, Benzies, Worthington, Reddon, & Moore, 2010). And finally, there is also evidence that excessively high rates of positive versus negative emotions may not be associated with improved adaptation, or they may even be slightly maladaptive. And this has been observed in both healthy adults (Rego, Sousa, Marques, & Cunha, 2012) and more clearly in people under stress and adversity (Shrira et al., 2011). Bearing in mind that other studies have not found this negative effect in participants who had higher rates of positive emotionality (e.g., Diehl et al., 2011), together with the absence of longitudinal studies that show the adverse effect prospectively, we must conclude that it is early to say that a high frequency of positive emotions may have drawbacks. The wisest option would therefore be to wait to have further studies. In addition, as observed by Fredrickson (2013), the way positive and negative emotions are measured is slightly different in each study, which could affect the result obtained in relation to the optimal rate and the point from which a high rate is associated with maladaptive outcomes.It also should be noted that the adverse effect that may be found when the rate of positive vs. negative emotions is high may be due, not so much to the frequency of positive emotions being abnormally high, but rather to an extremely low frequency of negative emotions (Fredrickson, 2013; Shrira et

Abstract Using their strengths and virtues enables individuals to build resilience and alleviate mental health issues. However, most existing instruments for measuring strengths are too lengthy to provide effective assessment for clinical screening. A brief instrument with good factorial and ecological validity is needed to measure strengths, especially among individuals with mental health issues. In this study, the authors developed a brief inventory, the Brief Strengths Scale-12 (BSS-12), to assess 3 strengths: Temperance Strength, Intellectual Strength, and Interpersonal Strength. Two studies were conducted. Study 1 was conducted in Hong Kong. Service recipients (n = 149) from a psychiatric rehabilitation organization were recruited to establish the factor structure and construct validity of the BSS-12. In Study 2, 203 university undergraduates from mainland China were recruited to examine the factorial invariance of the BSS-12 in a different culture and population. Each factor demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency, content validity, and discriminant validity. The BSS-12 may be a useful tool for assessing strengths in clinical and nonclinical settings for service planning and the evaluation of intervention effectiveness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

react-text: 442 This chapter summarizes the research on the dual-continua model of mental health and mental illness. Studies supported this model and therefore the view that the presence of mental health is more than the absence of mental illness. Mental health is conceived of as a constellation of dimensions of subjective well-being, specifically hedonic and eudaemonic measures of subjective well-being.... /react-text react-text: 443 /react-text [Show full abstract]

The present study was conducted to examine: (a) the relation of positive psychological strengths, i.e., hope, optimism, self-efficacy, and resiliency, with subjective well-being, and (b) the role of social support as a moderator of positive psychological strengths and subjective well-being. The following hypotheses were proposed: (a) that positive psychological strengths would be positively related with subjective well-being and social support; (b) social support would moderate the relation of positive psychological strengths with subjective well-being. 116 men and 64 women (M age=21.53 yr., SD=4.99, range=33) from India participated. Significant positive relationships were found for positive psychological strengths with subjective well-being and with social support network (family, friends, and others). Regression analysis showed social support significantly moderated the relations of positive psychological strengths with subjective well-being.

61Subjects performed a “Pay It Forward” gratitude task with fMRI.61BOLD signal correlates of gratitude expression found in cognitive regions.61A brief gratitude writing intervention increased BOLD gratitude sensitivity.61The BOLD effects of writing intervention persisted three months later.

In this paper, the effects of character strengths on the physiological reactivity to social anxiety induced by the Trier Social Stress Task were reported. On the basis of their scores in the Chinese Virtues Questionnaire, 30 college students were assigned to either high- (n= 15) or low-character-strength (n= 15) groups. Their psychological stress and physiological data across three laboratory stages (namely, baseline, stress exposure, and post-stress) were collected. Results indicated that individuals with high character strengths exhibited rapid cardiovascular recovery from baseline to post-stress even if high- and low-character-strength groups showed similar patterns of cardiovascular arousal in response to the stress at baseline and stress exposure. These results prove that character strengths are stress-defense factors that allow for psychological and physiological adaptation to stress.

This review examines the application of positive psychology concepts in physical health care contexts. Positive psychology aims to promote well-being in the general population. Studies identifying character strengths associated with well-being in healthy populations are numerous. Such strengths have been classified and Positive Psychology Interventions (PPIs) have been created to further develop these strengths in individuals. Positive psychology research is increasingly being undertaken in health care contexts. The review identified that most of this research involves measuring character strengths and their association with health outcomes in patients with a range of different conditions, similar to the position in positive psychology research on non-clinical populations. More recently, PPIs are beginning to be applied to clinical populations with physical health problems and this research, although relatively scarce, is reviewed here for cancer, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. In common with PPIs being evaluated in the general population, high quality studies are scarce. Applying PPIs to patients with serious health conditions presents significant challenges to health psychologists. They must ensure that patients are dealt with appropriately and ethically, given that exaggerated claims for PPIs are made on the internet quite frequently. This is discussed along with the need for more high quality research.

Abstract Objective:: To conduct a systematic literature review of human studies reporting neural correlates of positive emotions. Methods:: The PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched in January 2016 for scientific papers written in English. No restrictions were placed on year of publication. Results:: Twenty-two articles were identified and 12 met the established criteria. Five had been published during the last 4 years. Formation and regulation of positive emotions, including happiness, are associated with significant reductions in activity in the right prefrontal cortex and bilaterally in the temporoparietal cortex, as well as with increased activity in the left prefrontal regions. They are also associated with increased activity in the cingulate gyrus, inferior and middle temporal gyri, amygdalae, and ventral striatum. Conclusion:: It is too early to claim that there is an established understanding of the neuroscience of positive emotions and happiness. However, despite overlap in the brain regions involved in the formation and regulation of positive and negative emotions, we can conclude that positive emotions such as happiness activate specific brain regions.

This study presents qualitative findings from a three-week web-based intervention of appreciation of beauty. The intervention consisted of exercises aimed at (i) increasing the awareness of beauty and of how it affects our emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, (ii) cultivating an esthetic attitude in front of beauty, and (iii) encouraging participants to expose themselves to beauty. The website included a personal beauty journal, a personal multimedia-based beauty portfolio, a forum to share beauty experiences, and didactic information in audio and video sessions. Most participants reported that the intervention improved some aspects of appreciation of beauty and well-being, and, to a lesser extent, an increased perceptive awakening and self-transcendence.

Abstract The first third of the book reviews the latest research and best practices of mindfulness and of character strengths. The second third of the book outlines the integration of these areas, discussing practices and concepts around "strong mindfulness" (i.e., bringing character strengths to mindfulness practices) and "mindful strengths use" (i.e., bringing mindfulness to character strengths practices). The latter third of the book offers a manualized program called Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice (MBSP) that integrates these areas of positive psychology. MBSP marks the first science-based program designed to work with character strengths and is one of the first mindfulness-programs designed to explicitly boost what is best in human beings rather than to counter illness, pain, and psychological/medical disorders. Handouts, audio CD with practices, lecture points, cautions, case examples, and intervention exercises are relayed to make it easy for researchers to study the 8-week MBSP program and for equipped practitioners to apply it with their clients. Adaptations to various settings and populations are discussed.

(2016). Noticing nature: Individual and social benefits of a two-week intervention. The Journal of Positive Psychology. Ahead of Print. doi: 10.1080/17439760.2016.1221126

Positive psychology is the scientific study of what goes right in life, from birth to death and at all stops in between. It is a newly-christened approach within psychology that takes seriously the examination of that which makes life most worth living. Everyone's life has peaks and valleys, and positive psychology does not deny the valleys. Its signature premise is more nua...Positive psychology is the scientific study of what goes right in life, from birth to death and at all stops in between. It is a newly-christened approach within psychology that takes seriously the examination of that which makes life most worth living. Everyone's life has peaks and valleys, and positive psychology does not deny the valleys. Its signature premise is more nuanced, but nonetheless important: what is good about life is as genuine as what is bad and, therefore, deserves equal attention from psychologists. Positive psychology as an explicit perspective has existed only since 1998, but enough relevant theory and research now exist to fill a textbook suitable for a semester-long college course. A Primer in Positive Psychology is thoroughly grounded in scientific research and covers major topics of concern to the field: positive experiences such as pleasure and flow; positive traits such as character strengths, values, and talents; and the social institutions that enable these subjects as well as what recent research might contribute to this knowledge.Every chapter contains exercises that illustrate positive psychology, a glossary, suggestions of articles and books for further reading, and lists of films, websites, and popular songs that embody chapter themes. A comprehensive overview of positive psychology by one of the acknowledged leaders in the field, this textbook provides students with a thorough introduction to an important area of psychology.克里斯托弗61彼得森，美国密歇根大学Arthur F.Thumau心理学教授，著名心理学家，临床心理学委员会前主席，全球100位最受欢迎的心理学家之一，美国VIA性格研究中心学术部主任。他是积极心理学的创始人之一，并以其在乐观、健康、幸福等领域的研究而享誉世界。2010年，彼得森博士荣获密歇根大学最高教学荣誉奖——“青苹果奖”。彼得森出生、成长于美国中西部，先后就读于伊利诺宜州立大学、科罗拉多州立大学和宾夕法尼亚大学。1986年开始在密西根大学执教心理学，他在这所学校教授多门课程，包括心理学概论、心理病理学、心理学研究方法，当然还有积极心理学。其学生大约有20000名之多。他将其职业生涯的大部分时间用于抑郁、绝望和道德败坏等问题的研究上，帮助无数人改变生活。《积极心理学》是彼得森教授最新的代表著作，此外，他还与人合著了《性格优势与美德》一书。

Positive psychotherapy (PPT) is a therapeutic approach broadly based on the principles of positive psychology. Rooted in Chris Peterson’s groundbreaking work on character strengths, PPT integrates symptoms with strengths, resources with risks, weaknesses with values, and hopes with regrets in order to understand the inherent complexities of human experiences in a way that is more balanced than the traditional deficit-oriented approach to psychotherapy. This paper makes the case of an alternative approach to psychotherapy that pays equal attention and effort to negatives and positives. It discusses PPT’s assumptions and describes in detail how PPT exercises work in clinical settings. The paper summarizes results of pilot studies using this approach, discusses caveats in conducting PPT, and suggests potential directions.

Abstract Physiological measures provide a useful complement to self-report indices of mental health and well-being. The cortisol awakening response (CAR) has been associated with mental distress, but less consistently so with positive functioning. In this study, the utility of two CAR indices as a measure of the full spectrum of mental health and well-being in a sample of healthy adolescents was explored. Forty-seven adolescents (14M, 33F; mean age 13.89, SD = .73) completed questionnaires on mental distress and positive functioning, and provided three saliva samples for cortisol analysis as well as demographic and life event information. Correlational analyses revealed that both absolute CAR (CARi) and area under the curve during awakening (CARAUC) indices correlated positively with measures of mental distress, and inversely with measures of positive functioning. When the significant life events score was controlled, moderate to strong effects were maintained with negative and positive affect, mental well-being, satisfaction with life and perceived social support from significant others. These findings provide the first data confirming that CAR is a reliable index of positive functioning in healthy adolescents.

ABSTRACT Reigning measures of psychological well-being have little theoretical grounding, despite an extensive literature on the contours of positive functioning. Aspects of well-being derived from this literature (i.e., self-acceptance, positive relations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, purpose in life, and personal growth) were operationalized. Three hundred and twenty-one men and women, divided among young, middle-aged, and older adults, rated themselves on these measures along with six instruments prominent in earlier studies (i.e., affect balance, life satisfaction, self-esteem, morale, locus of control, depression). Results revealed that positive relations with others, autonomy, purpose in life, and personal growth were not strongly tied to prior assessment indexes, thereby supporting the claim that key aspects of positive functioning have not been represented in the empirical arena. Furthermore, age profiles revealed a more differentiated pattern of well-being than is evident in prior research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

Abstract 1. This review argues that positive thinking (PT) and an optimistic orientation (OPO) to life can be beneficial. Also considered is how individual differences in optimism might arise and whether optimism is always good and pessimism always bad. PT involves

Abstract Positive psychology has flourished in the last 5 years. The authors review recent developments in the field, including books, meetings, courses, and conferences. They also discuss the newly created classification of character strengths and virtues, a positive complement to the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (e. g., American Psychiatric Association, 1994), and present some cross-cultural findings that suggest a surprising ubiquity of strengths and virtues. Finally, the authors focus on psychological interventions that increase individual happiness. In a 6-group, random-assignment, placebo-controlled Internet study, the authors tested 5 purported happiness interventions and 1 plausible control exercise. They found that 3 of the interventions lastingly increased happiness and decreased depressive symptoms. Positive interventions can supplement traditional interventions that relieve suffering and may someday be the practical legacy of positive psychology.

Publication » Testing theory in practice: The example of self-determination theory-based interventions.

Abstract The current chapter introduces positive psychology (PP), Indian psychology (IP) and connection between two. Broadly both focus on well-being but with different angle; PP focuses more on external sources of happiness and IP focuses more on internal sources of happiness. The present chapter addresses PP in India by considering both the points of view. The major distinguishing factor was in the approach and methodology. Indian sages focus on ‘experiential state’ as the method of enquiry whereas Western scholars focus on observed facts. Contrasting Indian vision of behavior emphasizes interdependence and interrelatedness based on caste, class, family, community, gods, etc., which shapes one’s ego identity (Dalal and Misra, 2011). The current chapter is divided into four main parts; Indian research on universal PP constructs, Indian constructs contribute to understand human nature, PP scales developed and validated in India and intervention modules implemented in India. Finally, the chapter concludes with future recommendations.

Abstract The handbook, woven around the hope theory that has received the most attention in the 1990s, is divided into 6 sections. Two chapters describe the rise and fall of hope hat is, how hope develops normally in children and how it tragically can die for some people in their childhood or adult years. A chapter gives an overview of the various instruments for and approaches to measuring hope. Five chapters deal with how hope theory relates directly to the processes of helping people in general. 11 chapters cover hope theory applied to benefit various people: from children to adolescents to the elderly, minorities, athletes and others. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

Hope is defined as the perceived capability to derive pathways to desired goals, and motivate oneself via agency thinking to use those pathways. The adult and child hope scales that are derived from hope theory are described. Hope theory is compared to theories of learned optimism, optimism, self-efficacy, and self-esteem. Higher hope consistently is related to better outcomes in academics, athletics, physical health, psychological adjustment, and psychotherapy. Processes that lessen hope in children and adults are reviewed. Using the hope theory definition, no evidence is found for "false" hope. Future research is encouraged in regard to accurately enhancing hope in medical feedback and helping people to pursue those goals for which they are best suited.

Objective Seligman, Steen, Park, and Peterson (2005) suggested that positive psychology interventions (PPIs) contain specific, powerful, therapeutic ingredients that effect greater increases in happiness and reductions in depression than a placebo control. This study reexamined the three PPIs that Seligman et al. found to be most effective when delivered over the internet. Method Three PPIs and a placebo control, identical with the interventions used by Seligman et al., were examined in a web-based, randomized assignment design. Results Mixed-design analysis of variance and multilevel modeling showed that all interventions, including the placebo, led to significant increases in happiness and reductions in depression. The effects of PPIs were indistinguishable from those of the placebo control. Conclusion Using web-based delivery, both PPIs and theoretically neutral placebos can increase happiness and reduce depression in self-selected populations. Possible explanations include that non-specific factors common to most therapeutic treatments are responsible for the observed changes, or that cultural or other context-related variables operate to account for the divergent findings.