Positive Psychology

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses positive psychology and the methodology of mindfulness that seek to encourage positive character traits and emotions and improve individuals' quality of life. The paper explores the problems with positive psychology that include failures in the application of techniques and the lack of common terminology. The paper concludes that with due caution and attention to detail, positive psychology and mindfulness could become powerful tools for improving the quality of life for all people.

Outline:
The Positive
The Negative

From the Paper:

"The idea of a connection between how we think and the state of our metal and physical health is not new. What is new is the increasing interest in and willingness of the professional medical community in testing various proposed methodologies for improving human health by engaging human thought and emotion. As Williams (2007) states: "The close links between the body and emotion mean that our bodies function as highly sensitive emotion detectors. They are giving us moment-to-moment readouts of our emotional state." Many people ignore what their bodies tell them about their mental state. As time goes by their minds and bodies become more and more off balance, blocked or contracted. They become less and less able to function normally, leading eventually to mental or physical ill health (M. Williams, Teasdale, Segal, & Kabat-Zinn, 2007)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Barnhofer, T., Duggan, D., Crane, C., Hepburn, S., Fennell, M., & Williams, J. (2007, May). Effects of meditation on frontal alpha-asymmetry in previously suicidal individuals. Neuroreport, 18(7), 709-712.
• Bono, G., & McCollough, M. (2006). Positive responses to benefit and harm: bringing forgiveness and gratitude into cognitive psychotherapy. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 20(2), 147-158.
• Coelho, H., Canter, P., & Ernst, E. (2007, December). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy: evaluating current evidence and informing future research. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 75(6), 1000-1005.
• Evans, S., Ferrando, S., Findler, M., Stowell, C., Smart, C., & Haglin, D. (2008). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 22(4), 716-721.
• Gaudiano, B., & Herbert, J. (2006, March). Acute treatment of inpatients with psychotic symptoms using acceptance and commitment therapy: Pilot results. Behavior Research and Therapy, 44(3), 415-437.

More papers on Positive Psychology:

• Term Paper # 142721 : "Emotional Intelligence and Positive Psychology"
• Term Paper # 120188 : "Carl Rogers and Positive Psychology"
• Comparison Essay # 92215 : "Positive Psychology"
• Book Review # 97730 : "Christopher Peterson's "Primer for Positive Psychology"

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