Understanding happiness : a critical review of positive psychology

"We all want to be happy, and there are plenty of people telling us how it can be achieved. The positive psychology movement, indeed, has established happiness as a scientific concept within everyone's grasp. But is happiness really something we can actively aim for, or is it simply a by-product of how we live our lives more widely? Dr. Mick Power, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of Clinical Programmes at the National University of Singapore, provides a critical assessment of what happiness really means, and the evidence for how it can be increased. Arguing that negative emotions are as important to overall well-being as the sunnier sides of our disposition, the book examines many of the claims of the positive psychology movement, including the relationship between happiness and physical health, and argues that resilience, adaptability in the face of adversity, psychological flexibility, and a sense of generativity and creativity are far more achievable as life goals. This is a book that will fascinate anyone interested in positive psychology, or anyone who has ever questioned the plethora of publications suggesting that blissful happiness is 10 easy steps away"--First preliminary page. Read more... "We all want to be happy, and there are plenty of people telling us how it can be achieved. The positive psychology movement, indeed, has established hapiness as a scientific concept within everyone's grasp. But is happiness really something we can actively aim for, or is it simply a by-product of how we live our lives more widely? Dr. Mick Power, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of Clinical Programmes at the National University of Singapore, provides a critical assessment of what happiness really means, and the evidence for how it can be increased. Arguing that negative emotions are as important to overall well-being as the sunnier sides of our disposition, the book examines many of the claims of the positive psychology movement, including the relationship between hapiness and physical health, and argues that resilience, adaptability in the face of adversity, psychological flexibility, and a sense of generativity and creativity are far more achieveable as life goals. This is a book that will fascinate anyone interested in positive psychology, or anyone who has ever questioned the plethora of publications suggesting that blissful happiness is 10 easy steps away"--First preliminary page We All Want To Be Happy, And There Are Plenty Of People Telling Us How It Can Be Achieved. The Positive Psychology Movement, Indeed, Has Established Happiness As A Scientific Concept Within Everyone's Grasp. But Is Happiness Really Something We Can Actively Aim For, Or Is It Simply A By-product Of How We Live Our Lives More Widely? Dr. Mick Power, Professor Of Clinical Psychology And Director Of Clinical Programmes At The National University Of Singapore, Provides A Critical Assessment Of What Happiness Really Means, And The Evidence For How It Can Be Increased. Arguing That Negative Emotions Are As Important To Overall Well-being As The Sunnier Sides Of Our Disposition, The Book Examines Many Of The Claims Of The Positive Psychology Movement, Including The Relationship Between Happiness And Physical Health, And Argues That Resilience, Adaptability In The Face Of Adversity, Psychological Flexibility, And A Sense Of Generativity And Creativity Are Far More Achievable As Life Goals. This Is A Book Which Will Fascinate Anyone Interested In Positive Psychology, Or Anyone Who Has Ever Questioned The Plethora Of Publications Suggesting That Blissful Happiness Is Ten Easy Steps Away. Happiness: an overview -- Love and mania: disorders of happiness -- The power of negative emotions -- The happiness industry -- A timeshare in paradise: of gods and the afterlife -- Positive psychology, health, and illness -- Transforming the self. This book examines the claims of the positive psychology movement, including the link between happiness and health, and argues that resilience, adaptability in the face of adversity, and psychological flexibility are more achievable as life goals.