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.

Movies are a powerful and enjoyable medium for learning. This book shows how to use film to learn about the concepts and the real-life benefits of positive psychology, both for self-improvement and in classes or seminars.

Most of psychology focuses on negatives and illnesses. Positive psychology is an attempt to redress the balance and focus on the positive aspects of life- human strengths and virtues that are found in the happiest people.

Most of psychology focuses on negatives and illnesses. Positive psychology is an attempt to redress the balance and focus on the positive aspects of life- human strengths and virtues that are found in the happiest people.

Robin Rosenberg, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and coauthor of Abnormal Psychology, Fundamental of Psychology, and Psychology in Context. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Psychometrics in Coaching offers expert advice on how coaches, consultants and human resources managers can use psychometrics to support and develop individuals in the workplace and outside. With a growing demand for psychometric testing in the coaching profession, coaches and practitioners alike need to understand the psychology underpinning the tests as well as how to select and apply them effectively. Written by an international team of global coaching practitioners and psychometricians, this book provides an overview of using psychometrics and providing feedback and offers clear explanations of the key models and tools used in coaching today. Whether you are new to using psychometric tests or an experienced practitioner, this book provides you with a deep understanding of the models, the theory and research behind them, their reliability and validity, and how to implement them as part of a wider coaching and development programme. Psychometrics in Coaching is an essential resource for those seeking expert guidance from the leading writers in the field, as well as students on psychology, psychometrics, business and human resources programmes. Includes contributions from: Beverly Alimo-Metcalfe * Elizabeth Allworth * Richard Barrett * Dave Bartram * Richard Brady * Eugene Burke * Sally Carr * David Caruso * Roy Childs * Peter Clough * Bernard Cooke * Keith Earle * James Fico * Alexander Fradera * Leanne Harris * Robert Hogan * Thomas Hurley * Quentin Jones * Carol Kauffman * Betsy Kendall * Rainer Kurz * Rab MacIver * Helen Marsh * Dick McCann * Almuth McDowall * Kenneth Nowack * Stephen Palmer * Jonathan Passmore * Peter Pritchett * Peter Salovey * Peter Saville * Jordan Silberman * David Sharpley * Jeff Stagg * Doug Strycharczyk Published with the Association for Coaching Promoting excellence & ethics in coaching The Association for Coaching is an independent, non-profit professional body whose aim is to promote best practice and to raise the awareness and standards of coaching while providing value-added benefits to its members - whether they are professional coaches or organizations involved in coaching. Find out more at www.associationforcoaching.com

This new, updated, fourth edition of Arnold LeUnes's textbook has comprehensive coverage of sport psychology with a healthy balance between theory and application. The strong applied approach is emphasized throughout but is essentially apparent in the second half of the book. The book features a strong pedagogical program including interesting applied vignettes, chapter outlines, emboldened key terms with glossary, very thorough chapter summaries, student-oriented suggested readings, and numerous tables and figures to visually summarize the key concepts. The book's shorter chapters make it easier to assign one per class. In addition, a website of supplemental resources, free of charge for instructors and students, makes this new edition even more accessible and student-friendly (www.psypress.com/sport-psychology-leunes).

In recent years, we have witnessed a proliferation of writing on ""positive psychology"" that focuses on variables such as optimism, personal control, self-esteem, and personal striving. At the same time, much of recent pop psychology has emphasized the importance of overcoming different forms of self-criticism, including poor self-esteem and perfectionism. These positive or negative variables clearly influence the quality of our lives. But is self-criticism always a bad thing, and is self-enhancement really so unequivocally good? What are the costs and benefits associated with each?In ""Self-Criticism and Self-Enhancement: Theory, Research, and Clinical Implications"", editor Edward C. Chang has enlisted over 25 distinguished psychologists and scholars who present the pros and cons of regarding self-criticism or self-enhancement as either ""good"" or ""bad."" Collectively, they illustrate the benefits of evaluating these concepts more complexly to demonstrate how negative and positive psychological variables may function as a virtue in one situation and as a vice in another situation. Drawing on the works of both philosophers and researchers, the contributors search for a deeper and broader understanding of these fundamental psychological concepts, and they evaluate their effect on individuals and the larger society.