The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Positive Psychology
Since the turn of the twenty-first century, the field of positive psychology has sought to implement a science of human flourishing so that we may lead happier, more fulfilling lives. It has found expression not only in academic papers but also popular books and, increasingly, in government policy. The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Positive Psychology is the first volume dedicated to a critical appraisal of this influential but controversial field of study.
The book critically examines not only the scientific foundations of positive psychology, but also the sociocultural and political tenets on which the field rests. It evaluates the current field of knowledge and practice, and includes chapters analysing the methodological constructs of the field, as well as others that question what positive psychology actually means by ideas such as happiness or well-being. Taking the debate further, the book then discusses how positive psychology can be applied in a wider variety of settings than is presently the case, helping communities and individuals by acknowledging the reality of peoples lives rather than adhering strictly to debatable theoretical constructs.
Including contributions from disciplines ranging from psychoanalysis to existential therapy, theology to philosophy, and contributors from throughout the world, The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Positive Psychology will be enlightening reading for anyone interested in how psychology has sought to understand human well-being.
Nicholas J. L. Brown is a PhD candidate in Health Psychology at the University Medical Center, University of Groningen, the Netherlands. His research examines the claims made by positive psychology regarding the relation between well-being and physical health outcomes.
Tim Lomas is a Lecturer in Positive Psychology at the University of East London, UK. He has published numerous books and papers on topics including positive psychology theory, language, meditation, Buddhism, and neuroscience.
Francisco Jose Eiroa-Orosa holds a Marie Skodowska-Curie Fellowship coordinated between the universities of Barcelona and Yale. The aim of his project is to explore the role of context on mental health interventions with key stakeholders such as service users, professionals, and policy makers.
The Routledge International Handbook Series
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The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Positive Psychology
Edited by Nicholas J. L. Brown, Tim Lomas, and
Francisco Jose Eiroa-Orosa
First published 2018
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
2018 selection and editorial matter, Nicholas J. L. Brown, Tim Lomas, Francisco Jose Eiroa-Orosa; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of Nicholas J. L. Brown, Tim Lomas, and Francisco Jose Eiroa-Orosa to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
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ISBN: 978-1-138-96143-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-65979-4 (ebk)
Typeset in Bembo
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Contents
Isaac Prilleltensky
Nicholas J. L. Brown, Tim Lomas, and Francisco Jose Eiroa-Orosa
Piers Worth and Matthew Smith
Section 1
Criticism of positive psychology
Nicholas J. L. Brown
Brent Dean Robbins and Harris L. Friedman
Douglas A. MacDonald
Liz Gulliford and Blaire Morgan
Sam Thompson
Jeanne Marecek and John Chambers Christopher
Salvatore Di Martino, Francisco Jose Eiroa-Orosa, and Caterina Arcidiacono
Bernardo Moreno-Jimnez and Aldo Aguirre-Camacho
Digby Tantam
Paul T. P. Wong and Sandip Roy
Paul Kalkin
Nicholas J. L. Brown
Liz Gulliford and Kristjn Kristjnsson
Section 2
Doing positive psychology critically
Tim Lomas and Itai Ivtzan
Tim Lomas
Edith Maria Steffen, David J. Wilde, and Callum E. Cooper
Peter C. Hill and M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall
Adil Qureshi and Stella Evangelidou
David R. Paine, Sarah H. Moon, Daniel J. Hauge, and Steven J. Sandage
Daniel K. Brown and David G. George
Roger Bretherton and Ryan M. Niemiec
Byron Lee
Tim Lomas
Francisco Jose Eiroa-Orosa
Daniel T. Gruner and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Tod Sloan and Marisol Garca
Section 3
Applied perspectives
Francisco Jose Eiroa-Orosa
Ramn Soto Martnez and Salvatore Di Martino
Jos Eduardo Viera and Lauren Languido
Anne C. Montague and Francisco Jose Eiroa-Orosa
Jean-Franois Pelletier, Chyrell Bellamy, Maria OConnell, Michaella Baker, and Michael Rowe
Chris Beales
Manos Rhodes Hatzimalonas
Dianne A. Vella-Brodrick, Nikki S. Rickard, and Tan-Chyuan Chin
Charlie Simson, Lauren Rosewarne, and Lea Waters
Mike Zeidler, Liz Zeidler, and Byron Lee
Mark D. White
Pablo Olivos and Ricardo Ernst
Aldo Aguirre-Camacho is a PhD candidate in the Department of Health and Biological Psychology at the Autonomous University of Madrid. His research interests lie in the field of Health Psychology. In a broad sense, he is interested in the interaction taking place between social, medical, and psychological variables in the context of chronic illnesses, and how such interaction may influence quality of life and prognosis. He devotes special attention to the role of psychological variables within this interaction, and to their potential relevance above and beyond social and medical aspects. He has conducted this type of research with individuals with colorectal and breast cancer and with pulmonary hypertension. He has published several book chapters and academic articles.