A Primer In Positive Psychology by Christopher Peterson

Post date: Jun 2, 2015 12:50:04 PM

Book review

Review

This Positive Psychology Primer provides the background to the development of positive psychology, from its early stages when psychologists began to think about what makes people well and happy (rather than only how to identify and treat mental ill health) right through to the early 2000s (when this primer was written). Some major developments have taken place since this book was published, but it provides very useful background, especially for people undertaking positive psychology study.

Peterson himself was a founder member of the p[ositive psychology movement and worked closely with Martin Seligman and the University of Pennsylvania team to work on the identification of universal values and of character strengths. From this work the VIA character strengths questionnaire was derived (available at https://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/user/login?destination=node/434 ).

The opening chapter examines positive psychology, which Peterson describes as 'the study of what we are doing when we are not frittering life away' (p4), and the new perspective it offers, focusing as it does on what constitutes mental health and well-being.

In Chapter 2, Peterson identifies 3 pillars of modern positive psychology: positive subjective experience, positive individual traits, and positive institutions (families, schools etc). He also identifies activities and actions that can improve individual happiness, providing exercises at the end of each chapter with the idea that the reader will work through these for themselves. He argues that positive psychology study is not a passive thing, and that students must involve themselves actively with its principles and practices. In an interesting break from standard practice, each chapter of Peterson's primer ends with not just a glossary and list of references, but also a list of books, films and songs relevant to the topic covered. This, alongside the exercises included in each chapter, reflects the tone of the Positive Psychology Masters programme on which Peterson used to teach.

Chapter 3 looks at pleasure and positive experience, including studies of what contributes positive experiences, while chapter 4 investigates 'happiness' – the key elements being quality of life, subjective well-being and life satisfaction – and the thorny issue of measurement of 'happiness' levels in psychological study. Chapter 5 looks at 'positive thinking' and the benefits of optimism which 'can be self-fulfilling' (p128). Chapters 6 and 7 examine Peterson's own specialist area of 'character strengths' and 'values'. He states 'part of the good life is the articulation and pursuit of those goals that we deem worthy; these are values.' (p165). Peterson reviews existing values research, and discusses the difficulties of subjectivity for researchers seeking to identify and categorise values over the years, and chapter 8 goes on to look at interests, abilities and accomplishments, especially related to the workplace. The rest of the book concerns itself with 'Wellness' (from philosophy to psychology) and how it is viewed and promoted today, 'Positive interpersonal relationships', 'Enabling Institutions' – where 'Institutional level virtues serve the moral goals of an organization, and not simply the bottom line' (p281). The final chapter considers the future of positive psychology

Academic interest

There is relevant content for those studying positive psychology, with good background and links to mainstream psychology research as well as to that from the field of positive psychology, up to 2008.

Practitioners

The exercises at the end of each chapter might be of use to those teaching mindfulness, those providing life coaching and counsellors.

Self-helpers

The exercises could be used by self-helpers, with the cavyat that they are quite demanding (especially later ones) and might be better done alongside others in a well-being group or similar support network.

Best Bits

Writing about values (p173) Peterson writes:

'In sum, values are beliefs held by individuals and shared by groups about desirable ends; they transcend specific situations; they guide how we select actions and evaluate others and ourselves...' (p173)

Turning his attention to the workplace, Peterson refers to Gallup research findings which revealed:

'A job where you can regularly do what you do best is a job you love.' (p195)

Discussing what mental health is, he writes (p239)

'Resilient people are clearly among those we should regard as mentally healthy. When life gives them lemons, they make lemonade.'

Summarising what makes for a happy and fulfilling life, the 'good life', Peterson draws together the elements that have been shown to be important. The more of these an individual experiences regularly, the closer they are to leading 'the good life' where the person is 'living well':

...'the psychological good life has

• 'more positive affect than negative affect
• satisfaction with life as it is lived
• hope for the future
• gratitude about the past
• the identification of what one does well
• (p308) the use of these talents and strengths in engaging and fulfilling pursuits
• close relationships with other people
• meaningful participation in groups and organizations
  • (p307)

About the author

Christopher Peterson was professor of psychology at the University of Michigan and a consulting editor to various psychology journals, and the Positive Psychology Book Series Editor for Oxford University Press,. A Primer in Positive Psychology, was first published in 2006 by Oxford University Press. One of the founders of the Positive Psychology movement in 2010, he worked closely with Martin Seligman, and was science director of the VIA Institute on Character at the University of Pennsylvania, and co-author of Character Strengths and Virtues for the classification of character strengths. In 2010, Dr. Peterson won the 2010 Golden Apple Award, the most prestigious teaching award at the University of Michigan. Christopher Peterson died in October 2012.