Positive psychology, the pursuit of understanding optimal human functioning, is reshaping the scholarly and public views of how we see the science of psychology. The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology provides a comprehensive and accessible summary of this growing area of scholarship and practice. 288 specially commissioned entries written by 150 leading international researchers, educators, and practitioners in positive psychology covers topics of interest across all social sciences as well as business and industry the most current, extensive, and accessible treatment of the subject available topical primer clarifies basic constructs and processes associated with positive psychology will be useful to students, teachers, practitioners, businesspeople, and policy makers

Positive psychology, the pursuit of understanding optimal human functioning, is reshaping the scholarly and public views of how we see the science of psychology and is shining a spotlight on the potency of human strengths and positive emotions. The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology provides a comprehensive and accessible summary of this area of scholarship and practice. With 288 specially commissioned entries written by 150 leading international researchers, educators, and practitioners in positive psychology, this ground-breaking encyclopedia presents the most current, extensive, and accessible treatment of the subject available to students, teachers, practitioners, businesspeople, and policy makers. Experts will consider this a quick reference to the topics that are part and parcel of their daily work and non-experts will appreciate the topical primer designed to clarify basic constructs and processes associated with positive psychology. In general, readers will find the volume well-organized, engaging, and instructive.

This fourth edition of the well-known reference covering counseling in clinical and educational settings has been completely updated and revised, with chapters by leading figures in counseling psychology.

The book is intended to provide a definitive view of the field of humor research for both beginning and established scholars in a variety of fields who are developing an interest in humor and need to familiarize themselves with the available body of knowledge. Each chapter of the book is devoted to an important aspect of humor research or to a disciplinary approach to the field, and each is written by the leading expert or emerging scholar in that area. There are two primary motivations for the book. The positive one is to collect and summarize the impressive body of knowledge accumulated in humor research in and around Humor: The International Journal of Humor Research. The negative motivation is to prevent the embarrassment to and from the "first-timers," often established experts in their own field, who venture into humor research without any notion that there already exists a body of knowledge they need to acquire before publishing anything on the subject-unless they are in the business of reinventing the wheel and have serious doubts about its being round! The organization of the book reflects the main groups of scholars participating in the increasingly popular and high-powered humor research movement throughout the world, an 800 to 1,000-strong contingent, and growing. The chapters are organized along the same lines: History, Research Issues, Main Directions, Current Situation, Possible Future, Bibliography-and use the authors' definitive credentials not to promote an individual view, but rather to give the reader a good comprehensive and condensed view of the area.

The Encyclopedia of Social Psychology is designed as a road map to this rapidly growing and important field and provides individuals with a simple, clear, jargon-free introduction. These two volumes include more than 600 entries chosen by a diverse team of experts to comprise an exhaustive list of the most important concepts. Entries provide brief, clear, and readable explanations to the vast number of ideas and concepts that make up the intellectual and scientific content in the area of social psychology.

Topics listed in Reader's guide are Adolescent development; ADS training and education; Adult development; Biographies of applied development scientists; Child development; Civic engagement; Culture and diversity; Development : promoting interventions; Developmental assessment; Developmental disorders; Developmental processes; Developmental risks; Ecology of human development; Emotional and social development; Ethics; Families; Foundations; Health; Historical influences; Infant development; Organizations; Parenting; Personality development; Religiosity and spirituality; Research methodology; Schools; Social issues; Theory; Universities; Youth programs.