Pursuing the Good Life 100 Reflections on Positive Psychology

by Peterson, Christopher

• ISBN13: 9780199916351
• ISBN10: 0199916357
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-12-31
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

When we think of psychology, we think of a field dedicated to understanding and curing the dark side of life - addictions, phobias, compulsions, anxieties, and on and on. But there is a field of psychology that looks at the bright side, that considers seriously such questions as what makeslife most worth living? And how can we pursue a good life? That field is called, not surprisingly, positive psychology. In Pursuing the Good Life, one of the founders of positive psychology, Christopher Peterson, offers one hundred bite-sized reflections exploring the many sides of this exciting new field. With the humor, warmth, and wisdom that has made him an award-winning teacher, Peterson takes readers on alively tour of the sunny side of the psychological street. What are the roles played by positive emotions and happiness, by strengths of character, by optimism, and by good relationships with others? How can we pursue the good life in families, workplaces, schools, and sports, no matter who we areor where we live? With titles such as "You May Now Kiss the Bride - And Would You Like Fries With That?" and "How Can You Tell If Someone from France is Happy?" Peterson good-humoredly explores these questions and many others, including such diverse topics as the difference between employment andwork, the value of doing the right thing, and why books matter, among other subjects. Throughout, Peterson shows that happiness is not simply the result of a fortunate spin of the genetic wheel. There are things that people can learn to do to lead happier lives. Pursuing the Good Life is both an enjoyable read and an invaluable guide to making the good life part of your everydayexistence.

Author Biography

Christopher Peterson was Professor of Psychology at the University of Michigan. One of the world's most highly cited research psychologists and a founder of the field of positive psychology, Peterson was best-known for his studies of optimism and character strengths and their relationship to psychological and physical well-being. He was a frequent blogger for Psychology Today, where many of these short essays first appeared.

Table of Contents

Preface

Positive Psychology and the Good Life

What is Positive Psychology, and What is it Not?

Parsing Positive Psychology

How Do Americans Spend Their Time?

Blaming the Science Versus Blaming the Victim: A Third Alternative

Perfect People

The Future of Unhappiness

Positive Psychology and Bullshit

The Bad Company of Positive Psychology

Taking on the Criticisms of Positive Psychology

The Future of Positive Psychology: Science and Practice

Positive Emotions and Experiences

What Do You Think About in the Shower?

Savoring and Dampening Positive Feelings

Who Most Enjoys the Small Things in Life?

Fast Food and Impatience

Passion and Positive Psychology

The Positive Analogue of a Phobia

Sunday Afternoon with Daniel Kahneman

Money and Happiness

Does Happiness Have a Cost?

Does Happiness Have a Cost? Part Two

Heritability and Happiness

Smiles and Longevity: Game Faces and Life Faces

Happiness Outliers

Positive Traits and Talents

The Last Lecture: A Positive Psychology Case Study

Is Optimism Undermining America?

Optimism Goes Underground

Good Hope and Bad Hope

Strengths or Weaknesses?

Character Is Sexy

There Are No Saints

Does It Matter Where We Live?

Resilience

Growing Greatness

David and Goliath and the Good Life

Steve Jobs: Lessons for the Good Life

What Have You Done for Yourself Lately?

Positive Relationships

Other People Matter: Two Examples

Gratitude: Letting Other People Know They Matter Benefits Us

Gender and Friendship

Tears and Testosterone

Dealing with the Pain of Romantic Breakups

Happiness, Small Talk, and Big Talk

Having a Friend and Being a Friend

Infants Get It Right

Viral Happiness

Enabling Institutions: Families

Books Matter

You May Now Kiss the Bride -- And Would You Like Fries With That?

Living Happily Ever After

What Good Are Fathers?

Enabling Institutions: Workplaces

Leadership Style and Employee Well-Being

Doing the Right Thing

Positive Psychology and Assholes

Positive Psychology and Unemployment

Enabling Institutions: Schools

Did You Bring a Stuffed Animal to College?

Paying Students for Good Grades

Teaching Positive Psychology to an Entire University

The 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps

Doing the Right Thing EL With a Business Plan

Saturday Afternoon with President Obama

Enabling Institutions: Sports

When Losing Isn't Losing

I Love the NFL, But ...

Streaks in Sports and Life: Not for Men Only

Brett Favre versus Cal Ripken?

Team Sports, Happiness, and Health

Team Celebration and Performance

The NBA Finals: Does the Best Team Win?

Enabling Institutions: Geographical Places

Geography and Happiness: A Book Review

Happy Places: Happy States

Are Happy Places Also Deadly Ones?

Gauging the Happiness of a Nation

How Can You Tell If Someone from France is Happy?

Gross National Happiness

Positive Psychology and China

Gauging the Happiness of Nations: A View from North Korea

Happy Places: Third Places

Rants

Can You Be Too Cheerful?

"Strong" Accents Define America

Does Anyone Write Letters Anymore?

You Can't Savor a Nutrient

I Hate E-mail

Technology and Happiness: A Book Review

Don't Pick My Brain

First, Think Inside the Box

It is What it is

Upspeak

Joy in the Misfortune of Others: Sports and Beyond

Bucket Lists and Positive Psychology

Pursuing the Good life

Days are Long -- Life is Short

I Resolve to Take Benjamin Franklin Seriously

How to Smile

How to Talk

Finding the Right Bank to Rob

Ikigai and Mortality

University of Michigan Squirrels

A But-Free Day

Getting Lost in Buildings -- and Life

Giving Thanks by Mental Subtraction

What's in Your Closet?

The Good Life: Ends and Means

There Are No Bad Racks

Index

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