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The Positive Side of Close Relationships
Abstract
Research has unequivocally shown that close relationships are strongly linked to health and well-being. This chapter reviews work that has focused on processes that promote high-quality relationships and the role that these processes play in health and well-being. It then discusses areas that are ripe for future research on positive processes in close relationships that are likely to shed light on important links to health and well-being.
... The way children relate to their caregivers predicts how they behave in their adult relationships as well (Peterson, 2006). Strong, positive social connections increase physical health and overall wellness (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). People with close friendships recover faster from illness and trauma (Umberson & Karas Montez, 2010), have a lower rate of dementia (Cacioppo et al., 2011), and even live longer (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010). ...
... A range of activities qualify as social support, from offers of help or advice to expressions of affection. When we share good news within our dyadic relationships and receive an engaged and expressive response, we can capitalize on the positive experience and enhance our overall well-being (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Furthermore, positivity can be contagious and infect close relations with the joy one shares, which in turn strengthens the connection between the two (Fredrickson, 2009). ...
... Relationships provide meaning and even boost happiness (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). They are a source of intimacy and closeness, relieve stress, and provide accountability to help achieve improved health and fitness (Tay et al., 2012). ...
Everybody has to eat. In humans, meal eating is typically a social event, and there is a generally positive word, commensality, to describe this fact. Commensality seems to be a situation which promotes bonding. Many people spend one third of their waking hours at work. Lunch is the meal that happens in the middle of most people’s workday and could be an opportunity to create a form of commensality. Bonding enhances well-being. Therefore, it is reasonable to suppose that commensality will improve well-being, including at the workplace. A study was done to see if Americans perceive a commensal situation at work to demonstrate bonding and well-being, in contrast to a similar situation without food.
... At friendship initiation, and at the initiation of relationships of all kinds there is a bout of passionate love, which has high levels of intense attraction (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Following passionate love is companionate love. ...
... Companionate love is a hallmark of friendship. It is the emotion that confirms that a secure attachment exists and the friend will attend to the other's needs (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). The need for companionship can be seen through the social costs of loneliness, which is the absence of companionate love. ...
... The enthusiastic and constructive response to a friend's good news is likely a disclosure of a deeper truth -an affirmation that they have their friend's best interest and goal pursuits in mind. If friends have interdependent goals, or goals that are partially and entirely correlated or reliant on each other, their closeness and success will rise with each other's tide (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Rusbult and colleagues (2009) offer the "Michelangelo Effect", where the sculpture represents your friend, and your affirming words and actions of their ideal self are the chisel. ...
This capstone examines how adversity and challenge are favorable conditions for developing friendship. In Part I, I provide an overview of positive psychology, and how my capstone topic fits into the science of well being. In Part II I gather the research and literature on friendship from positive psychology, philosophy and evolutionary psychology and bring forward their wisdom on how adversity fosters connection. In Part III, I define adversity, distinguish it from trauma and discuss how friends could seek an appropriate amount of challenge in their shared experiences. Finally in Part IV, I build on several psychological theories to introduce the theoretical foundations for my own construct: Virtue Resonance. I outline the psychological theories and research to visualize how virtue can resonate and grow between friends.
... A robust and replicated finding in positive psychology is that the capacity to love and be loved is a central human tendency and that positive, healthy social relationships are highly predictive of well-being (Gable & Gosnell, 2011;Peterson, 2006). While it's possible for individuals to influence and increase their well-being without interacting with others, in order to function adaptively people cannot solely have regard for themselves (Haidt, 2006). ...
... As In the study of well-being and relationships, social support has been noted as particularly important (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Social support is thought to boost well-being by decreasing the prevalence of stressors (or perceived stressors) and through shielding individuals from the negative effects of stressful events when they happen (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
... As In the study of well-being and relationships, social support has been noted as particularly important (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Social support is thought to boost well-being by decreasing the prevalence of stressors (or perceived stressors) and through shielding individuals from the negative effects of stressful events when they happen (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Social support is a process in relationships that involves one person seeking support and the other providing care (Collins & Feeney, 2000). ...
The capacity to cultivate flourishing relationships has important implications for health and well-being (Reis & Gable, 2003). There is increasingly a focus in positive psychology, and related fields, on identifying the positive processes and skills that can be employed to foster warm, momentary connections with others, as well as long-lasting, life-enhancing social bonds. At the basis of many of these skills is a requirement to cultivate an interest and concern for others; an orientation towards supporting and promoting other people’s well-being. This orientation towards others has the potential to positively impact well-being beyond the participants in the interaction. The benefits of positive social connections have been found to ripple out to other people in the network (Fowler & Christakis, 2009). Therefore the potential positive impacts of developing and cultivating positive relationships are substantial and wide-reaching.
... Positive emotions can serve as a currency to form social bonds, spreading among individuals and groups in a viral manner similar to health conditions and behaviors (Fowler & Christakis, 2008). Positive processes inherent to close relationships, such as the expression of gratitude and love, can provide a buffer to negative external stimuli (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Close relationships can have a counteracting FLOURISHING PARTNERS: A PEER SUPPORT MODEL FOR RECOVERING ADDICTS effect on stress, positively affecting decision-making and cultivating meaning, engagement and a sense of accomplishment in the individual (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
... Positive processes inherent to close relationships, such as the expression of gratitude and love, can provide a buffer to negative external stimuli (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Close relationships can have a counteracting FLOURISHING PARTNERS: A PEER SUPPORT MODEL FOR RECOVERING ADDICTS effect on stress, positively affecting decision-making and cultivating meaning, engagement and a sense of accomplishment in the individual (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
... One strategy for building high quality connections is the process of capitalization, or the sharing of positive experiences between individuals (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). When an individual recounts a positive event, the listener may build on the positive emotion experienced by the narrating individual by reacting enthusiastically, asking questions and sharing the joy regarding the importance and meaning of the event, in a style termed active-constructive responding (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
Substance use disorders are a widespread problem in the United States. In 2017, 19.7 million Americans aged 12 and over struggled with substance abuse, with 74% of those affected suffering from alcohol use disorder and 38% from an illicit or illegal drug disorder (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2017). Despite its power over individuals, addiction can be treated and managed through abstinence and healthy behavior, and there is opportunity to develop new approaches to augment traditional addictions treatment. Positive psychology, the scientific study of what makes life worth living (Seligman, 2011), offers rich potential to support individuals recovering from addiction to learn to thrive. A peer support model to help individuals to leverage positive relationships to cultivate positive emotion, meaning, engagement and growth is proposed as a modality to support a transformation into flourishing. Thirteen interventions are offered, as well as a guide to their implementation.
... Research from several sources support the link between close relationships and physical health (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Studies have linked social isolation with substantial increase in mortality risk, as well as poorer functioning cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems (Cohen, 1988). ...
... Studies have linked social isolation with substantial increase in mortality risk, as well as poorer functioning cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems (Cohen, 1988). In contrast, positive close relationships are associated with happiness and satisfaction with life (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
... When stressors are present, supportive connections can serve as a buffer during stressful events and protect us from their negative effects, if our interpersonal resources are perceived to be available (Cohen & Wills, 1985;Rather & Harter, 2010). There is good evidence that social support can directly reduce the number of stressors in our lives and equip us to better handle them (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Social support is also generally associated with greater meaning in life (Smith, 2017) and an increased sense of self-efficacy and personal goal fulfillment (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
Positive psychology is the scientific study and practice of what enables individuals and groups to thrive. Positive psychologists emphasize the significant impact social relationships have on our well-being. This paper explores altruism, which is behavior motivated by the unselfish goal of helping others. Positive altruism occurs when altruistic behavior increases the welfare of both the benefactor and beneficiary. Research suggests that the source of altruism is empathy, which is an other-focused emotional response that is elicited by and congruent with the perceived welfare of another person. While empathy can lead us to help unselfishly, it can also create bias in decision making and lead to emotional exhaustion. Loving-kindness meditation is one practice that helps lead to positive altruism: it promotes empathy, while protecting against burnout. Research supports the link between altruistic behavior and increased health and well-being. Altruistic behavior can also facilitate post-traumatic growth (PTG). Further research on how we can facilitate positive altruism would have positive implications on the field of positive psychology.
... Social activities and communities are necessary for well-being. Studies show that having meaningful relationships is closely tied to happiness and life satisfaction and that feeling connected socially is a major contributing factor to positive well-being (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Research also shows that the number of social ties people have in their lives is positively correlated with increased happiness, well-being, and life satisfaction (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
... Studies show that having meaningful relationships is closely tied to happiness and life satisfaction and that feeling connected socially is a major contributing factor to positive well-being (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Research also shows that the number of social ties people have in their lives is positively correlated with increased happiness, well-being, and life satisfaction (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). With this in mind, one of the most prominent factors of posttraumatic growth is an increase in intimate relationships and the ability to relate to others . ...
... Received support is actual support given by someone else, which can either be helpful and comforting or, if unfulfilling and/or neglectful, can be detrimental (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
Residential therapy is intended for those needing mental health crisis intervention. The well-being of these people cannot be overlooked and should take an active role in the treatment process, especially for those struggling with the symptomology of posttraumatic stress. By utilizing both positive psychology and posttraumatic growth theory and practice, participants in residential therapy may strengthen personal well-being thus encouraging the posttraumatic growth process. Focusing on positive affect, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement can stimulate and support posttraumatic growth in an intentional setting such as residential therapy. This will shift treatment goals and outcomes away from deficit diagnosis and recovery and, instead, prioritize healthy well-being practices, strength development, and encourage growth opportunities.
... The wide-array of well-being benefits derived from social connection has been well documented in psychology. At the highest level, close social relationships are strongly associated with psychical health and psychological well-being, while social isolation is associated with an increased likelihood of mortality (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
... How exactly do close social relationships drive well-being? Research suggests both a direct association, through an increased sense of belonging and social support, and an indirect association through slightly more complicated mechanisms like self-expansion and capitalization (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). The self-expansion theory claims that individuals are motivated to increase the bounds of their selves by incorporating features of others into their lives, and the closer the relationship, the more overlap between the individuals (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
... Research suggests both a direct association, through an increased sense of belonging and social support, and an indirect association through slightly more complicated mechanisms like self-expansion and capitalization (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). The self-expansion theory claims that individuals are motivated to increase the bounds of their selves by incorporating features of others into their lives, and the closer the relationship, the more overlap between the individuals (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). This is essentially the empirical backdrop supporting the popular sentiment of the importance of who you surround yourself with. ...
Since the founding of positive psychology, the scientific study of well-being, in 1998 we have a much better understanding of how to define, measure, and cultivate well-being. For the first time, this means the field of technology can move forward with science on its side, designing and developing technology based on its actual impact on well-being. Through the lens of social relationships, this paper explores the current state of technology and well-being (part 1), ways in which we can improve existing technology (part 2), and how we can create new technology to systematically cultivate well-being (part 3). Recent research suggests that much of the fastest growing technology today has a negative effect on our social relationships and psychological well-being. To mitigate these negative outcomes, this paper calls for a foundational shift towards positive technology, defined as technology that uses principles from positive psychology to systematically cultivate well-being. To do this, positive psychology should dedicate more resources towards testing and validating well-being hypotheses as they relate to the latest technology applications and technology companies should improve on their existing platforms by leveraging positive psychology research to systemically enhance well-being. Moreover, we should use the foundational principles of positive psychology to design new applications of technology that drive each of the core elements of well-being: positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement (Seligman, 2011).
... In one study with first-year college students, positive emotions predicted self-other overlap with a new college roommate after the first week of the semester, which then predicted a more complex understanding of the roommate at a follow-up a month later (Waugh & Fredrickson, 2006). Further, sharing and reinforcing of positive emotions by partners (i.e., positive capitalization) is found to be predictive of relational satisfaction (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Thus, positive emotions can help enhance positive relational processes and outcomes. ...
... In general, most people are fortunate to experience positive events more often than negative events (ratio of 3:1; Gable & Haidt, 2005). The act of making the most out of, or capitalizing on, these positive events, that is, positive capitalization, is a positive dyadic relational process that predicts positive affect, well-being, and self-esteem (Gable & Gosnell, 2011;Langston, 1994). Specifically, the process of positive capitalization occurs when an individual tells another about a positive event, and is met with a response that reinforces and validates the individual and the event as being positive and worthy (Gable, Gonzaga, & Strachman, 2006;Gable, Reis, Impett, & Asher, 2004). ...
... Specifically, the process of positive capitalization occurs when an individual tells another about a positive event, and is met with a response that reinforces and validates the individual and the event as being positive and worthy (Gable, Gonzaga, & Strachman, 2006;Gable, Reis, Impett, & Asher, 2004). In a daily experience study, it was found that there is a 70 to 80 percent chance that an individual would disclose to another about a positive event in their day, and 97 percent of people who share positive events do so with close relationship partners (Gable & Gosnell, 2011;Gable et al., 2004). Although disclosure of positive events to close relationship partners is important, the specific response is equally important for the effects of relational well-being (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
"Providing an invaluable resource for scholars and researchers, this book investigates positive psychology and relationships theory and research across a range of settings and life stages—intimate, work, educational, senior/retirement, and in the context of diversity.
Nearly universally, relationships are a key source of what we all seek in life: happiness, fulfillment, and well-being. The experts who contributed to this novel volume apply the framework of positive psychology to the findings of relationships research across a variety of practical contexts. What actions create and sustain respectful, caring, joyous, stimulating, and loving relationships? How do people rich in friendship, intimacy, and interpersonal skills think and behave? How do they unconsciously cultivate positive relationships? This book brings together authoritative reviews, cutting-edge research, and thoughtful scholarship that serve to answer these questions and document the benefit of positive relationships in a variety of settings and across the human life span.
Following a comprehensive introduction, the book addresses positive intimate relationships, positive relationships at work, positive relationships during different stages of life (in youth, in adolescence, and among older adults), and positive relationships intersecting with diversity. The chapters underscore the simple concept that relationships are central to what makes life worth living and are fundamental to well-being across all life domains as they play out at home, in school, at work, in retirement homes, and in the community at large."
... Research from the field of psychology indicates that close relationships are strongly linked to both physical health and emotional well-being (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Individuals who report having a greater number of social ties also report having higher levels of well-being, regardless of the presence of life stressors (Cohen & Willis, 1985). ...
... It's been shown that when individuals have a capitalizing experience, they experience positive affect above and beyond the positive event itself (Gable & Gosnell, 2011), which expands the positive impact of that experience. Positive close relationships also aid in important areas of personal development, including the pursuit of the ideal self (represented as either clearly defined goals or a collection of aspirations and dreams) (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
... It's been shown that when individuals have a capitalizing experience, they experience positive affect above and beyond the positive event itself (Gable & Gosnell, 2011), which expands the positive impact of that experience. Positive close relationships also aid in important areas of personal development, including the pursuit of the ideal self (represented as either clearly defined goals or a collection of aspirations and dreams) (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). It is in the safe territory of positive close relationships that individuals are able to explore and expand themselves, finding new and broader definitions of self. ...
Despite the common misconception that people who are born into wealth don’t (or shouldn’t) have problems, there are many challenges that rising generation family members face. Interviews with inheritors often reveal with themes of flagging self-identities, fear of failure, isolation, and lack of motivation. The roadblocks on the path towards thriving experienced by the next generation of affluent families are often unseen and generally not acknowledged. What can look like poor behavior – entitlement, disengagement, apathy, and lack of motivation – is often camouflaging deeply-felt confusion, self-doubt, fear, shame, and anxiety. Those next generation family members who adopt a mindset of hope, growth, and a willingness to persevere and find their own voice and path are referred to as the “rising” generation. This paper explores what traits and skills support inheritors to become members of the rising generation. Based on semi-structured interviews with rising generation exemplars, this research identifies four positive psychological skills or traits – growth mindset, grit, mastery experiences, and positive relationships – that are commonly present within the rising generation family members who have overcome the pitfalls of inherited wealth in which many of their peers become entrapped. Additionally, this paper outlines how both parents and their children can begin to cultivate these skills and traits.
... Research supports the link between close relationships and physical health (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Some studies have linked social isolation with substantial increase in mortality risk, as well as poorer functioning cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems; in contrast, positive close relationships are associated with happiness and satisfaction with life (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
... Research supports the link between close relationships and physical health (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Some studies have linked social isolation with substantial increase in mortality risk, as well as poorer functioning cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems; in contrast, positive close relationships are associated with happiness and satisfaction with life (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). One reason for this may be that people tend to mimic their friends, including their health habits, for better or for worse. ...
... When stressors are present, supportive connections can also serve as a buffer during stressful events and protect us from their negative effects, as long as our interpersonal resources are perceived to be available (Cohen & Wills, 1985). There is good evidence that social support can directly reduce the number of stressors in our lives and equip us to handle them better (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Social support is also generally associated with an increased sense of self-efficacy and personal goal fulfillment (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
This paper describes both the theoretical underpinnings and an action plan for building resilience as requested by teachers in a diverse, low-income public high school in Patterson, New Jersey, United States. The authors define and describe widely agreed upon protective factors of resilience, and further operationalize the components into a set of activities for both teachers and students to engage toward increasing resilience. A three-stage learning process is presented for teachers to learn and embed the constructs in their own lives, as well as share with the students. A detailed “learning journey” is appended to describe in detail the specific evidence-based activities intended to target a critical subset of three protective factors: connection, optimism, and self-efficacy. A measurement plan is also provided to assess growth in both students and faculty.
... Empirical studies show that spirituality is one thing that could give people this sense and feeling (King & Scollon, 1998). Another important part of the various definitions of meaning is that life feels significant beyond the moment (King et al., 2006), while other studies have shown that social relationships can help people feel that their lives matter (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). One important researcher of positive psychology, Christopher Peterson, stated that the field was about the realization that "other people matter" (Peterson, 2006). ...
... Another source of resilience when pursuing meaningful goals is to have strong relationships. In a technique called Active Constructing Responding (ACR), as presented by Shelly Gable (Gable & Gosnell, 2011), young people learn that responding with interest and making the other person feel important is a crucial relationship builder. Importantly, this research shows that relationships, like meaning, is strengthened not just after setbacks, but in good times as well. ...
... Any semester of the Freshman year. Source of the exercise: Gable and Gosnell (2011), video on ACR from: Gordon Lamb (available https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRORihbXMnA) Previous knowledge required for the instructor/ tutor: Teachers should be trained on ACR and use the wheel of life also as a source of information. ...
Meaning in life is an important part of psychological well-being. The following paper presents a model for creating a robust meaning-in-life system for adolescents and emerging adults, with the aim to create well-being for young people and throughout the life span. A Three Self-Strengths model is proposed for the attainment of the meaning system. The self-strengths that young people need to develop are: self-knowledge, self-determination and self-regulation. The paper includes a proposed intervention in the high school program of Tecmilenio University in Mexico.
... The primal need for love, attachment, and close relationships has been evolutionarily, biologically, psychologically and developmentally established, but there is also evidence of a PSYCH: A POSITIVE-PSYCHOLOGY-BASED, PEER-SUPPORTED SELF-CARE SERIES FOR THERAPIST WELLBEING 24 correlation between relationships and love and physical and psychological health and wellbeing across the lifespan (Fredrickson, 2013;Haidt, 2006;Park, Peterson, & Seligman, 2004;Peterson, 2006). The quantity and quality of one's relationships and connections have enormous impact on and relevance to wellbeing, happiness, positive emotions, and work and life meaning (Fredrickson, 2009;Gable & Gosnell, 2011;Peterson, 2006;Rath, 2015;Seligman, 2011). The words of positive psychology's cofounder, Christopher Peterson, "other people matter" (2006, p. 249), are foundational to wellbeing. ...
... Practicing the skill of actively and constructively responding to another's good news can significantly impact positive relationships. Supportively responding to another's good fortune has been found to be more important to relationship quality than responses in times of stress (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Even a simple "turning toward" versus "turning away" response to an individual's expressive "bid" is an example of relationship engagement, interest, connection, and support, and is associated with healthy relationships and wellbeing (Smith, 2014). ...
... Only responses that are active and constructive are associated with wellbeing, higher relationship quality, and feeling understood, validated, and cared for (Gable et al., 2006). Understanding that one can choose one's response style, that this response style has a direct effect on his/her relationships, and that positive or high-quality relationships and connections are the greatest determinants of happiness, health, and wellbeing and vice versa (Gable & Gosnell, 2011;Peterson, 2006) adds even more reason to discuss and practice ACR within the context of fostering wellbeing. ...
Therapist self-care is mandated by counseling and psychological associations’ code of ethics in order to maintain professional competencies. Current emphasis in therapist self-care is primarily negatively oriented, with a focus on mitigating, ameliorating, and preventing negative outcomes, including negligence and other negative professional behaviors, that are associated with stress, distress, and burnout. Also, most recommendations are solitary endeavors, which can contribute to and exacerbate therapist isolation, and are not promoted within a structured or focused program. Evidence-based interventions derived from the study of positive psychology, a strengths-based approach to cultivating wellbeing, have the potential to fill these unmet needs in therapist self-care. PSYCH is a formalized seven-component program of positive-psychology-based activities that incorporates positive-psychology interventions and is designed to be engaged with in a facilitator-led, peer-supported group environment. The goal of this self-care program is to cultivate flourishing, thriving, and enhanced wellbeing in order that the therapist can sustain the personal and professional vitality necessary for their life-giving work.
... Building strong, positive relationships between mother and child that are characterized by warmth and acceptance improves well-being for both, thereby reducing the risk for depression (Thapar et al., 2012). Positive relationships with children can be achieved by the intentional, direct action of investing in relationships through positively oriented communication, acceptance, sharing positive events, genuine concern for the concerns of children, and emotional availability (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
... Positive personal relationships provide an opportunity for us to capitalize on positive life events through sharing of these events with those in our personal relationship network. This capitalization enhances our positive affect and overall sense of well-being (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Additionally, these "capitalization interactions … cultivate closeness and intimacy" (Gable & Gosnell, 2011, p. 268). ...
... Additionally, these "capitalization interactions … cultivate closeness and intimacy" (Gable & Gosnell, 2011, p. 268). Close personal relationships can be especially important for working mothers as the stress of working outside the home can have negative effects on relationships with family members (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Strengthening of close personal relationships, especially intimate relationships, can offer protective benefits against the stress of daily life (Peterson, 2006). ...
Research has identified that levels of both adolescent and maternal depression have been increasing over the last several generations, as have levels of maternal employment, and that children of depressed mothers are at heightened risk for depression There is speculation by researchers that due to their employment status, working mothers are not only increasing their risk of depression but are also increasing the risk of depression for their children. However, other research suggests there are also benefits for mothers working outside the home, indicating their well-being may be enhanced by working, potentially providing emotional effects protective against depression. These conflicts present a quandary for psychologists attempting to study these phenomena. The nature of the mother-child relationship is a critical factor in depression risk for both mothers and their children, regardless of employment status. The field of positive psychology includes concepts and tools that provide opportunities to improve the quality of the mother-child relationship and to enhance the well-being of both mothers and children. Enhanced well-being has been found to be protective against depression. Specific relevant concepts and tools are discussed and presented.
... When considering the role of social support, it is important to recognize that it has been defined differently in psychological literature, and most commonly appears under three major conceptualizations: structural support (number of social ties or their density), enacted or received support (actual support transactions in response to stressful events), and perceived support (perceived availability of support) (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Interestingly, even when support is not enacted, but only perceived, it is consistently associated with positive health and well-being outcomes, as well as reduced anxiety and depression during stressful times and more positive adjustment to diseases (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
... When considering the role of social support, it is important to recognize that it has been defined differently in psychological literature, and most commonly appears under three major conceptualizations: structural support (number of social ties or their density), enacted or received support (actual support transactions in response to stressful events), and perceived support (perceived availability of support) (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Interestingly, even when support is not enacted, but only perceived, it is consistently associated with positive health and well-being outcomes, as well as reduced anxiety and depression during stressful times and more positive adjustment to diseases (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). There are multiple mechanisms through which relationships with others and social support can buffer against the negative effects of stressful events. ...
... There are multiple mechanisms through which relationships with others and social support can buffer against the negative effects of stressful events. One possibility is that supportive others can alter appraisal of events so they are not perceived as threats or stressors (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
The raison d'être for MBA programs is to prepare students to lead and manage effectively in the real world. An overview of the unique challenges awaiting MBAs, however, reveals a blind spot in business education: It doesn’t necessarily prepare MBA students to operate effectively in the VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world of today. This paper suggests that resilience training can help fill the void by enhancing the capacity of MBAs to bounce back and forward through and despite adversity. The objective of the paper is to propose a conceptual design of an evidence-based, relevant, and applicable Resilience Training Program for MBA students, building on research and practice in positive psychology and positive organizational scholarship. The proposed program seeks to enhance MBAs’ individual resilience from a 3-dimensional perspective of protecting, promoting, and sustaining mental health and well-being. Topics covered in the program include emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility, optimism, hope, positive emotions, character strengths, positive relationships, meaning-making, high-quality connections, and job crafting. Each of these topics is examined through a review of relevant research, practical implications, and specific interventions for building and strengthening related skills. This paper will hopefully serve MBA students and their business schools in shaping resilient leaders of the future.
... Chances are, if a person's social network isn't happy, then he or she won't be, either (Fowler & Christakis, 2009). Social support really does matter, because it helps us believe in ourselves more, which in turn helps us to achieve our personal goals (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Interestingly, thinking we have support when we need it is actually better than receiving the support. ...
... Interestingly, thinking we have support when we need it is actually better than receiving the support. Perceived support means believing that another person cares for us and will be there for us if needed (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). We enjoy knowing we have support, but of course we don't ever want to have to ask for it. ...
... Still, we can allow ourselves to feel and show gratitude for our social network. This, too, helps us as individuals, since people are more likely to notice new positive qualities and feel more connected and satisfied when feeling gratitude (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
Ashoka University, a distinguished liberal arts university that is the intellectual home to over 900 hundred undergraduate and graduate students in Sonepat, India. We present here a program to enhance well-being based on the fundamentals of positive psychology. The program can start with a pilot and then be scaled using either trained professionals or trained peer counselors. The components of the program include strengths, positive relationships, attention and resilience thus forming the acronym SPAR. We have designed the program to take place in four 90-minute sessions ideal for the Young India Fellowship Fellows schedule of five-week semesters. It is equally applicable to undergraduates and could also be rolled out for faculty and staff if desired. We include a slide deck that is ready to use for the first session.
... Wilson (2012) posits that human beings are biologically predisposed to seek out groups of people who share similar characteristics (Wilson, 2012). Gable and Gosnell (2011) found that humans benefitted from increased wellbeing when they possessed close relationships (either with a partner or with a group). These relationships allow the individual to benefit from the support of their partner/group when a stressor is encountered. ...
... These relationships allow the individual to benefit from the support of their partner/group when a stressor is encountered. Interestingly, a stressor need not be present to show correlation between the presence of strong social ties and greater wellbeing (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). This research illustrates the positive implications for working to increase social cohesion. ...
... They report that a closeby friend or group can increase wellbeing by 30% (Fowler & Christakis, 2009). Gable and Gosnell (2011) further advance sharing positive life events with those close to you can serve to increase wellbeing and self-esteem, while decreasing loneliness and depression (Gable & Gosnell, 2011), which has larger implications when applied to social cohesion beyond the parameters of group formation. ...
Across the United States many rural communities rely on migrant populations for agricultural labor. Migrant families bring with them children who must be educated and made to feel part of a larger school community. Increasingly rural communities and the school districts that comprise them struggle to ensure that all students have equal opportunities for educational success and improved subjective wellbeing. Educators have expressed concern that communities themselves are dealing with increasingly divided populations wherein majority and minority populations do not appear to interact effectively or work collaboratively. This paper will look at the struggles of migrant families, the theory behind social constructivism, social cohesion, and group efficacy, and the importance of student wellbeing. This will be done through the lens of positive psychology as bedrock on which to build a more cohesive community. An Appreciative Inquiry perspective will be taken to determine methods for increasing social cohesion in order to improve the wellbeing of the region of Southern Chester County, PA. The final product will be a proposal letter initiating the development of a possible 2-3 day Appreciative Inquiry summit, combined with proposed educator-only trainings, to be implemented as a kick-off to the creation of a united Southern Chester County.
... 238), indicating that he believes that relationships are the key ingredient to wellbeing. Positive relationships have been linked to a number of beneficial outcomes such as increased positive emotions, social skills, resource development, self-efficacy, vitality, resilience in times of stress, self-expansion, and capitalization on positive events (Gable & Gosnell, 2011;Seligman, 2011;Stephens, Heaphy, & Dutton, 2011;Segrin & Taylor, 2007;Haidt, 2006). A companionate bond, where partners mutually meet each other's needs and influence each other's outcomes, is the hallmark of positive relationships (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
... Positive relationships have been linked to a number of beneficial outcomes such as increased positive emotions, social skills, resource development, self-efficacy, vitality, resilience in times of stress, self-expansion, and capitalization on positive events (Gable & Gosnell, 2011;Seligman, 2011;Stephens, Heaphy, & Dutton, 2011;Segrin & Taylor, 2007;Haidt, 2006). A companionate bond, where partners mutually meet each other's needs and influence each other's outcomes, is the hallmark of positive relationships (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). These relationships are based on affection and commitment to those with whom we are interconnected and correlate to increased health, longevity, and well-being (Haidt, 2006). ...
... Successful high quality connections enhance energy, and create a positive emotional state between participants marked by a sense of mutuality (Stephens et al., 2011;Dutton, 2003). The increased positive energy, trust, and mutual regard that stems from these activities can help participants feel validated, cared for, and understood -hallmarks to positive relationships (Stephens et al., 2011;Gable & Gosnell, 2011). ...
As the average American adult spends more time at work than anywhere else, the workplace, and the relationships built therein, plays a key role in overall well-being. With this in mind, many organizations dedicate significant time and resources to improve employee well-being, often in the form of fun, social events. In recent years, improvisational comedy, or improv, has emerged as a popular teambuilding activity due to its foundations in play, spontaneity, and trust. However, improv is more than just fun and laughs. Beyond merely being an energizing teambuilding event, I argue that improv has the ability to generate positive social connections and strengthen workplace relationships by improving communication, collaboration, and interpersonal understanding. Within this paper, I provide a historical overview of improvisation in the theater and applied settings, connecting modern-day improv to organizational well-being via the lens of positive psychology. I then theorize that improv enhances positive, workplace relationships by linking the improv principles of being present, co-creation, and heightening offers to constructs of interpersonal mindfulness, perspective taking, and active constructive responding. This paper culminates with recommendations to culturally embed improv into regular work activities and suggestions for further research. An appendix provides easily implementable, short improv exercises that can be used by anyone to develop positive workplace relationships.
... It is well documented that our biological bodies are hardwired for close relationships and that the capacity to love and be loved is intrinsically human (Peterson, 2006). Additionally, Gable and Gosnell (2011) showed that close relationships are strongly linked to health as they build certain biological systems and buffer the negative impact of stress. Their research found that humans are endowed with separate brain networks for social thinking that work like a reflex. ...
... When good things happen in our lives, we often like to savor them with our close ones. Gable and Gosnell (2011) showed that when others respond in an active and constructive way, it builds trust, positive affect, and subjective well-being. The authors studied the impact of close relationships on positive processes like social support, capitalization and self-expansion. ...
... What then might be the consequences of a life of solitude? Poor quality relationships or a lack of social ties are associated with a substantial decrease in overall health (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Worse still, Durkheim demonstrated that people who have fewer social constraints, bonds and obligations were more likely to commit suicide (as cited in Haidt, 2006). ...
A company’s greatest asset is its people. In our increasingly service-based economies, social relationships and swift coordination among employees are the means by which a lot of work gets done. Thus, whether organizations -and their employees- flourish or languish largely depends on the quality of the social connections they nurture. The quality of the workplace connections can be defined as life giving (high quality) or life depleting (low quality). Positive social interactions facilitate organizational learning, cooperation, effectiveness, and employee loyalty, among many other desirable outcomes. High-quality connections are brief, mutually beneficial, and dynamic dyadic interaction, which have the power to energize people with vital resources to do their work well.
Positive psychology and positive organizational scholarship –the science of how people and organizations flourish- provide us with tools that can help bring about high-quality connections. This paper defines positive relationships at work, with a particular focus on high-quality connections, examines the benefits of high-quality relationships and connections, and provides a framework for building high-quality connections. The paper shows that high-quality connections are a pathway to building individual and organizational flourishing.
... While we may live within the confines of the solitary mind, our souls thrive with connection. Life becomes worth living when we have close relationships that are strengthened over periods of time (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). It's when we sit on our grandfather's lap to listen to repeated stories after we have already grown up. ...
... Consequently, the lack of social connection (loneliness) represents one of the leading causes for people to seek therapy and counseling (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). As such, traditional psychological research has focused on uncovering poor-quality relationship processes and their outcomes (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Traditionally, psychology has devoted the majority of its attention on the disease model in order to understand, treat, and prevent human pathologies and psychological disorders (Peterson & Seligman, 2004). ...
... People who are happy have better social relationships, are healthier, and are more successful, and vice versa (Lyubomirsky, King, & Diener, 2005). We need to realize that in the pursuit of our ideal selves, we have to depend on our close relationships to help achieve our dreams (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). We need to suspend the belief that interdependence will be our undoing. ...
Love is all around us. It flows through every aspect of our lives and has inspired legions of people to talk, write, paint, act, and fight for it. Moreover, love affects our biological, mental, and physical states of being. A lack of love in ones life can have disastrous effects while an abundance of love can produce life-enhancing rewards. Positive psychology is the study of what makes life worth living and the strengths and virtues that enable people to live within optimal ranges of human functioning. Through a positive psychology lens and a review of the current literature, this capstone is an exploration into the contextual and biological implications of love, why it is a key component into what makes life worth living, and how people can learn to cultivate more love in their lives through empirically-tested activities and exercises.
... Relationships are the most important element of the PERMA model with significant implications for flourishing and wellbeing (3,158). High perceived social support is associated with improved wellbeing and positive health (159), and protects individuals from the negative impacts of stressful events (159). Relationships can be enhanced in educational settings by the incorporation of positive communication training (160), creating a supportive and psychologically safe environment (161), promoting teamwork through group activities and active debriefs (148), and providing respectful and supportive feedback (148). ...
... Relationships are the most important element of the PERMA model with significant implications for flourishing and wellbeing (3,158). High perceived social support is associated with improved wellbeing and positive health (159), and protects individuals from the negative impacts of stressful events (159). Relationships can be enhanced in educational settings by the incorporation of positive communication training (160), creating a supportive and psychologically safe environment (161), promoting teamwork through group activities and active debriefs (148), and providing respectful and supportive feedback (148). ...
Individuals in the veterinary profession are experiencing significant mental health and wellbeing challenges. A holistic view of wellbeing, which encompasses both physical and mental health, underscores their interconnected nature. This integrated approach reduces the artificial separation of wellbeing facets, and highlights how mental states influence not only individuals, but also their interactions with animals, the environment, and others in the workplace. Wellbeing challenges in veterinary medicine may contribute to negative impacts in animal, human, and environmental health. Veterinary education institutions and systems are also experiencing complex challenges as they adapt to rapidly changing societal, workforce, and professional wellbeing related pressures. This review paper explores the field of positive psychology and its application in educational contexts, commonly known as positive education. A thorough exploration of the systems-informed positive education approach and ways in which it can proactively enhance veterinary professional wellbeing from within the veterinary education ecosystem are presented. It is important to recognize that individual self-care, while valuable, cannot compensate for systemic dysfunctions such as poor team dynamics, ineffective leadership, or organizational culture issues. Addressing these systemic factors is critical for creating environments that support sustained flourishing. Positive psychology interventions delivered through the pathways of individuals, groups, and organizations specifically within a veterinary education context are discussed. Limitations, considerations, and proposed measurement strategies are reviewed. The implications of implementing a systems-informed positive psychology approach to enhance wellbeing in veterinary education include creating curriculum and cultures that enable flourishing within veterinary education institutions. Strengthening the individual and collective wellbeing of veterinary professionals has the potential to enhance the quality of care provided to animals, which has myriad positive implications for animal caregivers, their communities, the environment, and society.
... Relationships are a key component of human well-being and are heavily studied in the field of positive psychology, as relationships can affect subjective well-being or one's perception of life satisfaction and emotions. Our relationships contribute highly to our well-being (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Our first relationships are formed with our caregiver and can inform our relationships in adult life through our attachment style. ...
... Having friends that live in proximity of less than a mile has been shown to be beneficial for well-being and happiness (Fowler & Christakis, 2008). Positive relationships can be enhanced when we capitalize on positive news with active engagement and enthusiasm (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Relationships are an important, and if not the most important part, of life satisfaction and well-being. ...
Relationships and belonging are fundamental needs for well-being. At the same time, our culture is becoming increasingly individualistic and loneliness is pervasive. Our traditional community and relational frameworks, such as religious institutions and associations, are also diminishing. This capstone explores leisure as a possible pathway for building social capital and community well-being. We will look at why leisure activities based in recreation, play and the humanities have the capacity to build community and enduring connections with others, while also having individual well-being benefits. This capstone features some exemplary groups that utilize leisure activities and have built strong communities through positive psychology constructs such as hive psychology, self-efficacy, collective effervescence, mattering, resilience and belonging. We will explore opportunities to overlap the fields of positive psychology and leisure in both research and application. We will remind ourselves that joy and belonging are powerful forces and even more powerful when they come together.
... Furrer & Skinner, 2003;Langston, 1994;Blatt & Camden, 2007). In addition to health, social support reduces current stressors and protects people from future stressors (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). The absence of connection, as seen in loneliness and isolation, comes with its own risks to both wellbeing and physical health (e.g. ...
... The absence of connection, as seen in loneliness and isolation, comes with its own risks to both wellbeing and physical health (e.g. Berkman & Syme, 1979;Uchino, Cacioppo, & Kiecolt-Glaser, 1996;Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Intentionally structuring workshops so that they can increase the probability of connection through mattering and belonging is important because, based on the research discussed below, such workshops can benefit physical and psychological well-being. ...
This Capstone explores how well-being can be increased through creating conditions for connection in workshop experiences. It begins with an overview of workshops followed by a literature review of the general field of positive psychology and two specific elements of social connection: belonging and mattering as well as short-term positive connections. It details these areas as well as their corresponding benefits for well-being both generally and inside of workshops, specifically. Finally, the Appendix: Fostering Connection in Workshops to Increase Well-Being, outlines research-based suggestions workshop facilitators can use to put this information into action. These resources are provided with the intention of fostering well-being in workshops through creating opportunities for participants to connect in the moment as well as arming participants with tools to use in their own workshops and lives. This translation of research into practical suggestions for workshop facilitators should elevate facilitators’ practice by both giving them new ideas to incorporate as well as by backing their existing practices with research.
... iors, but less is known "about how couples respond to each other's triumphs […] and examining them having fun and laughing together" (p. 104; see also Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Since then, there has been growing interest in the study of positively valued traits and constructs in the domain of romantic life (e.g., Boiman-Meshita & Littman-Ovadia, 2022;Körner et al., 2022;Purol & Chopik, 2023;Weber & Ruch, 2012) including studies investigating how partners laugh together (e.g., Brauer & Proyer, 2018;Kurtz & Algoe, 2015). ...
... The ability to love and be loved, belong, and matter -these words express what it means to be human. Supported by empirical data, shared experience as well as forming and maintaining positive close relationships is crucial for health and well-being (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Yet, not just any relationships, but relationships of rapport built on connection and mattering. ...
Inspired by my work as a coach in an academic medical center, this paper explores the mechanisms of presence and mindfulness as axioms to developing rapport within physician interprofessional engagement. Away from the physician-patient relationship, the focus here is on faculty, physicians, residents, and other clinical providers and how they relate to one another. Transpersonal experiences foster a connectedness of rapport that allows for deeper connection and mutuality. Participation in the mindfulness mechanisms of intention and attention can mitigate negative affective behavior in relationship with oneself and others. Mindful awareness encourages curiosity, presence, and rapport, which support healthy relationships. My coaching engagements with physicians focus on shifting their awareness to conscious choice with intention. It is not about how they practice medicine but how they practice presence and rapport toward developing healthy interprofessional relationships.
... Part of what alchemizes stories into medicine is the chance to share them with others and find common humanity. Some researchers believe that only from a place of secure attachment in a safe community could individuals work on self-expansion and find flourishing (Bowlby, 1969;Gable & Gosnell, 2011). This can be the challenging part of storytelling. ...
In many Indigenous communities around the world, storytelling was a central part of life (Erdoes & Ortiz, 1984). Stories were how wisdom was passed on, often from elders to young children; they held lessons and were something that could be ingrained into memory and helped build culture (Doucleff & Greenhalgh, 2019). As a result of the genocide of Native Americans in North America that lasted centuries (Corntassel et al., 2009), their stories changed from lessons of how the world came to be to lessons on how to overcome the deepest levels of grief and adversity. Today, some of the most popular Indigenous novels and poetry are stories of resilience born from trauma. These were not simple lessons of coyotes getting into mischief, but lessons from the deepest pain. Navigating trauma with the help of storytelling encouraged resilience (Corntassel et al., 2009; Estés, 1992; Harjo & Leen, 1995). This paper will explore the science and words behind the alchemical process of story as medicine, Indigenous storytelling as a conduit to resilience, and how it can be used for all.
... Human beings are made for relationships, as demonstrated by the negative response of our system when these are not functional, and by the positive/protective response of our system when these are of a good quality. When we are in a social context, where the relationship is active, our system releases oxytocin, a hormone whose discharge promotes relationships through a sense of affiliation, trust and motivation [58]. Positive relationships also show beneficial physiological effects through: (1) interaction with the cardiovascular system, measured in terms of heart rate during the day, evening, and sleep, as well as blood pressure during relationships and connections; (2) a stronger response of the immune system when under stress; and (3) influence on the hormonal release of oxytocin and cortisol by the neuroendocrine system [59]. ...
This study aims at evaluating the psychometric properties of a new scale to measure experienced happiness—the Measure of Happiness (MH)—in a nonclinical sample composed of Italian adults from the general population. The MH was developed not only to provide a global measure of happiness, but also and more importantly to identify the specific areas of the individual’s life that are related to the experienced happiness. A total of 787 adults filled the MH and other self-report questionnaires, in order to assess the factor structure, reliability and external validity of the measure. The factorial analysis identified the following five dimensions: Psychophysics Status, Financial Status, Relational Private Sphere, Socio-Relational Sphere, and Life Perspective. The scale so defined was administered to a second independent group of 421 participants for the (multigroup) confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A multigroup factor analysis based on gender confirmed the MH structure. The convergent validity of the MH was assessed by comparing the MH scores with a previously validated test of happiness and quality of life, as well as with dispositional constructs with which happiness is known to be negatively correlated, namely, anxiety and depression. The MH showed satisfactory psychometric properties and a strong significant positive relationship between the two measures of happiness, and a substantial negative association with the measures of anxiety and depression, supporting the validity of the MH to assess the construct of experienced happiness. The implications and possible applications of the MH are then discussed.
... Rooted in positive psychology, these social experiences allow for building trust among organizational members and is shaped by the organizational culture. Research has shown that there is a strong link to health and close relationships as they build certain biological systems (such as brain networks for social thinking) and reduces the negative impact of stress (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). The outbreak of the coronavirus, COVID-19, has quickly become the most revolutionary 'shock' or 'black swan' that organizations are facing. ...
During an extended crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, human resource (HR) practitioners play a key role in assisting management and employees to navigate the unknown. This pandemic has forced organizations to reconsider alternative work arrangements as employers are exploring innovative approaches to allow for business continuity. The importance and use of technology through virtual work has been the ‘lifeline’ to businesses when national lockdowns were implemented by governments around the world. Moving forward, HR practitioners must be innovative in their approaches to work. Organizations should reconsider their rigid views of flexible work arrangements such as remote work, flexi-time, compressed work schedules, and work and job sharing that have been implemented by some organizations on a smaller scale prior to the pandemic. HR practitioners need to adapt workplace practices and policies to continue to keep workers engaged and motivated while finding the right ‘fit’ for employees to complete their work tasks and maintain a work-life balance.
... In a landmark meta-analysis of 148 studies, researchers demonstrated social relationships were at least as influential on mortality as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and obesity (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010). Alternately, social isolation studies link the lack of social ties to substantial increases in all-cause mortality risk (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Likewise, societies characterized by excessive self-sufficiency and individualism possess high suicide rates (Smith, 2017). ...
Motherhood is both meaningful and arduous. The decades spent mothering bring with them stressors like decreased downtime, overload, high stress, fatigue, and more. As parenting takes priority, mothers often neglect their own needs for their child’s, negatively impacting their well-being. Today, many mothers in the United States face declining health and increasing burnout as a result. A variety of factors may be contributing to this: institutional invisibility, inequity, inflexibility, imbalance, isolation, and identity issues among them. Despite the multigenerational impact of a mother’s well-being, American culture and politics give comparatively little attention to the issue. In this paper, I propose that assets from positive psychology - delivered through ancient ritual practices - can benefit modern mothers. In a counterbalance to the stressors which threaten modern maternal well-being, rituals offer benefits to health, internal meaning-making processes, social connectedness, and emotion regulation. Integrating ritual practice into daily life requires three core elements – attention, intention, and repetition – paired with consideration of special time and spaces. Though insufficient to completely address the many forces working negatively against modern mothers, commitment to a ritual practice may help strengthen the aspects of day-to-day well-being that remain within a mother’s control.
... Social influence scholars have identified the basic human need for affiliation as a driving force behind our desire to be liked and to help others whom we like (e.g., Cialdini & Goldstein, 2004). This stream of research on the power of likeability overlaps significantly with positive psychology constructs relating to the causes and consequences of positive relationships, such as high-quality connections (Dutton, 2003), active-constructive responding to good news (Gable, Gonzaga, & Strachman, 2006;Gable & Gosnell, 2011), interpersonal mattering (Jung, 2015), the relatedness need under self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000), leader-member exchange (Graves & Luciano, 2013), and sense of belonging (Cockshaw et al., 2014), to name a few. ...
While engaging in organizational politics significantly contributes to career success for professionals generally--and specifically for women lawyers--the positive potential of political skill has been eclipsed by the bad reputation of “office politics.” An emerging pattern in the literature suggests that women are even more inclined than men to view politics from a negative perspective and opt out. Applying a positive psychology lens to reframe organizational politics might improve women’s motivation to build political skill and power, which may benefit their careers and organizations. With that goal in mind, this paper proposes a new training intervention called “Positive Politics,” which emphasizes the many benefits of empowerment through political activity and strategies for engaging effectively, authentically, and with integrity.
... Similarly, athletes who received encouragement, guidance and emotional support from others including former teammates, family, friends, coaches, sports psychologists, and others had smoother transitions (Fuller, 2014). Well-being models such as self-determination theory and PERMA , point to the importance of relationships and research shows that positive relationships are linked to health and well-being (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Character strengths can be used to enhance social support. ...
Sport, for as long as it has existed, has held a purpose of developing character in competitors. Positive psychology establishes that each of us has unique character strengths core to who we are that support our well-being. Athletes often develop their sense of self during adolescence and formative college years while competing at elite levels. This results in a strong “athlete identity” and a self-concept centered around sport participation, performance, and team membership. Each year, approximately 150,000 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes graduate, very few going on to play at professional levels. Athletic retirement is a pivotal transition where redefining one’s identity beyond the role of athlete is necessary to flourish. What if identity was redefined leveraging one’s best traits? Could character strengths developed through years of athletics support effective coping through this major life transition and lead to flourishing in new life domains? This paper reviews the research on character strengths and discusses how, when cultivated through mindfulness, goal setting, and growth mindset they can help retiring student-athletes achieve greater well-being. A model for character strengths use is presented with implementation recommendations aimed at helping student-athletes attain greater well-being at the culmination of their athletic career.
... Haidt, Seder, and Kesebir (2008) claim that we often derive fulfillment from the collective identity that forms out of community belonging. Likewise, Baumeister and Leary (1995) maintain that the human condition cannot be understood without comprehending close relationships (as cited in Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Interestingly, the study of relationships was, at first, omitted from the consideration of positive psychology. ...
In modern America, political polarization is on the rise, especially among Millennials. This paper explores why, examining moral values, worldview, and other potential moderators. In addition to a literature review and theoretical discussion, this paper will present one study of online Americans (N=500). Results indicate that subtle yet potentially important differences exist among younger generations. Younger generations were more intellectually-egotistic (p = .000; d =.65), are more overconfident in their intellect (p =.000; d =.45), and adopt a hierarchical worldview (p =.001; d =.36). Further research might examine these factors over time with long-term studies that control for the effect of aging.
... Positive relationships. Research tells us that they are linked to better health, well-being, happiness and more satisfaction with life (Diener & Seligman, 2002;Gable & Gosnell, 2011). In addition, Chris Peterson (2006), is famous for saying that all of positive psychology can be summed up in 3 words, "other people matter" (p. ...
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that typically presents with challenges of attention, impulsivity, self-regulation, memory, and sometimes, physical restlessness. Many practitioners, as well as the general public, often treat ADHD as a “disorder” that needs to be “cured,” and precious few researchers and practitioners look to understand and work with the ADHD nervous system rather than trying to align it to the “norm.” This paper will examine ADHD from a positive focus: that it is a nervous system that works extremely well as long as certain criteria are met. It will examine what ADHD is, where its unique challenges lie, and present a model of ADHD where the brain of the individual requires more interest-driven stimulation than a neurotypical brain in order to operate at its best. Positive psychology will be proposed as an essential component in any work with individuals with ADHD. Then, using the scientific debate around willpower failure (a common ADHD challenge), four differing theories of why willpower may fail will be examined and explored from the positive ADHD perspective of interest level, rather than as a dysfunction. This exploration may offer a new understanding of willpower that could greatly benefit people with ADHD, and potentially the non-ADHD population as well.
... We all need to feel connected, relate, and feel that we belong (Haidt, 2006;Haidt, Seder, & Kesebir, 2008;Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Those at the center of a large social circle of happy individuals are more likely to have a future filled with happiness (Christakis & Fowler, 2012;Fowler & Christakis, 2009). ...
Graduating from high school and moving on to college is one of the most important transitions in a young person’s life. Unfortunately, the process leading up to that milestone—during which a student considers and applies to specific colleges—is often viewed as a pointlessly painful gauntlet rather than an opportunity for growth. It does not have to be that way. Rather than a negative and anxiety-provoking experience, the college search process has the potential to be a period of increasing positivity and openness to possibilities. Evidence has demonstrated that self-knowledge of character strengths can reduce stress, inspire optimism, and increase well-being, as it has been proven to do in relationships and in a variety of settings. This paper introduces the VIA Character Strengths to the college advising process and explores their potential benefit to high school students applying to college, using evidence-based research. A framework and suggestions for character strengths interventions are provided in the context of the college application timeline. Since the potential benefits of character strengths have not been validated with young people undergoing the unique situation of the college admission process, a research study is proposed to test the first of seven interventions. Additionally, a presentation introducing character strengths to college advisors is included. By improving outcomes such as diminishing stress and increasing attributes related to well-being, applying to college becomes an enriched process.
... Fostering AHC and cultivating one's sense of community within macro-level communities presents immense opportunities for social support that is essential in the face of personal challenge or stress (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). It is possible AHC and sense of community add to our personal well-being in part because they shift our focus off ourselves, to those around us. ...
In a world that is more virtually connected than ever before, social connection is waning at an alarming rate. Extensive research has demonstrated the importance of individuals’ connection to others, and community, as central for holistic well-being. In this paper, I build a bridge between positive psychology and community psychology. I introduce a recipe for authentic human connection (AHC) and present a 3x3x3 conceptual model that explores how AHC shows up at three levels of community: micro-communities of dyads and families, meso-communities of workplaces and schools, and macro-communities of neighborhoods, cities, and countries. For each level of community, I identify facilitating factors for AHC. These include eye contact, listening, virtue, psychological safety, psychological capital, play, social capital, ritual, and sense of place. I also explore inhibiting factors for AHC such as unconscious bias, fear, social and cultural norms, power structures, competition, instability, inequality, mistrust, and physical environment. Drawing on the rich resource of positive psychology, I close my paper by presenting three strategies for individuals to cultivate authentic human connection across all levels of community.
... Being entirely absorbed in a task, losing track of time, and experiencing that you are one with the environment captures the essence of Engagement (Csikszintmihalyi, 1990;Seligman, 2011). When people are asked what makes their lives meaningful, the most cited response is personal Relationships (Gable & Gosnell, 2011;Lambert et al., 2013). Meaning can be thought of as connecting to and serving something that is larger than the self. ...
With the world of work becoming increasingly complex and uncertain, career services at colleges and universities is having a hard time keeping up. The delivery of career services has typically evolved in reaction to shifts in societal and economic norms; however, this paper suggests that the theories and research of positive psychology – the study of what makes life worth living – can offer career services a proactive approach to improve upon the current delivery model and its impact on student well-being. While it is clear that occupational well-being is central to the satisfaction of college students with 86% citing job placement as a determining factor for their college selection, we are seeing a dramatic uptick in anxiety, stress, loneliness and hopelessness on college campuses. The career center of the future must consider well-being to address this tension, as well as to more effectively prepare students to navigate the changing employment landscape with confidence and clarity. This capstone project proposes a career services-sponsored group coaching intervention to both scale the traditional model of career services and provide structured opportunities for students to increase belonging and connection while exploring their career development with one another.
... Humans thrive in positive relationships. Multiple studies have shown that a life of seclusion causes poor cardiovascular, immune and endocrine health at best and increases our risk of early death at worst (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). We need love, attachment, and bonding from the beginning. ...
Actors often describe their vocation as a passion, a calling, or even a purpose. However, the very nature of a career as an actor is rife with rejection, a lack of agency, and income instability. Such strong identification with their vocation may threaten an actor’s self-concept in the face of so much adversity. Many actors become frustrated, sometimes to the point of giving up, because the gatekeepers (agents, casting directors, network executives, etc.) decide whether they get to exercise their passion or fulfill their purpose by actually working in their chosen profession. While the body of research on resilience is robust, there have been virtually no studies on the application of resilience training to this particular ‘at risk’ population. Based on the theory, research, and practice of positive psychology, this paper proposes a resilience model for actors incorporating 1) a resilience mindset and toolkit, 2) self-compassion, 3) community, and 4) using one’s talent in service to others. It is hypothesized that this combination will enhance resilience, build a strong community, bolster actors’ well-being, and provide a volitional pathway to exercise one’s passion and purpose without sacrificing vulnerability. is is the foundation of The Resilience Compass.
... Paper II documented how perceived importance of relations had the largest explaining power on the QoL domains-domains that all, on average, were scored lower by the clinical sample than the non-clinical sample. This finding is consistent with studies that have demonstrated links between relationships, health and wellbeing ( Gable & Gosnell, 2011 experiences are linked to identity development ( Arseth et al., 2009). One can therefore cautiously assume that if professionals can contribute to the patient increasing his or her perception of relations as an important aspect of life, this would cause a gain in well-being and contentedness and perhaps move the individual towards the more beneficial identity achieved or moratorium identity statuses. ...
... From the early 1970s with popular books like Open Marriage (O'Neill & O'Neill, 1972) to recent articles in peer-reviewed journals (Finkel, Hui, Carswell, & Larson, 2014), this misinterpretation unfortunately persists. Maslow would probably have also rejected the recent concept of the "Michelangelo phenomenon" (Gable & Gosnell, 2011;Rusbult, Finkel, & Kumashiro, 2009), at least in its extreme form, that marriages should be based on each spouse's effort to promote the other's growth. For one thing, Maslow viewed child rearing as an essential aspect of married life and as a mutual, and ideally synergic, activity between spouses. ...
Maslow’s concept of self-actualization has been a bulwark of humanistic psychology for more than 50 years, and has increasingly gained international appeal beyond its original nexus within the United States. His description of the high achieving characteristics of self-actualizing men and women has influenced theorists and practitioners in such fields as counseling, education, health care, management, and organizational psychology. Through these same decades, Maslow’s formulation has also been criticized as promoting a hyperindividualistic, even narcissistic, orientation to personality growth. Because Maslow by temperament and intellectual style expressed himself in an ever-evolving set of speeches and writings that were seldom explicit about interpersonal relations, his actual outlook on the social world of self-actualizers has remained elusive. The focus of this article, therefore, is how Maslow depicted self-actualizing people with regard to five major interpersonal dimensions of life: friendship, romantic love, marriage and lasting intimacy, parenthood, and communal service. By pulling together Maslow’s comments primarily in his published works, and secondarily in his unpublished works-in-progress, it is possible to explicate his tacit viewpoint. Doing so will not only help dispel the misconception that Maslow depicted self-actualizers as loners or even hermits but also guide future theory and research on personality growth.
... We need circles of support surrounding our individual livesour parents, our romantic loves, our families, our friends, our communities, rippling out to create our networks of social connection. Research shows that strong relationships are closely linked with happiness and life satisfaction (Gable & Gosnell, 2011) and provide many benefits to support our wellbeing, including strengthening our immune systems and overall health, guarding against depression and enabling us to live longer (Haidt, 2006). Happiness is a social and collective phenomenon that has a positive, sustainable effect over our lifetimes (Fowler & Christakis, 2008). ...
In order to live well, we should love what we do and feel that what we do is important. Some of us struggle with the difficulty of finding our way onto the right life path, while others navigate with energy and enthusiasm to fulfilling, successful lives. What is it that makes the difference? I believe that the principles of positive psychology can be applied to the career navigation process to elevate and enhance our capacity to find good and right work. In this paper, I will look through a positive psychology lens at career development theory and propose a series of interventions for the career navigation process which apply strengths-based interventions that have proven effective in non-career focused settings. Focusing on signature strengths both in the career development process and as an element of the career goal can provide numerous self-reinforcing, engaging and energizing pathways. The intended outcomes include leveraging of strengths to increase well-being along the way; creative exploration and career discovery; crafting powerful visions of future possibilities; cultivation of hope and perseverance to build resilience; and linking purpose and meaning to career goals to pave the path toward good and right work.
... There are also many positive aspects to having close relationships; they enhance our ability to capitalize on good news, cultivate social support, and often lead to self-expansion by helping us see other perspectives and grow as individuals (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). Seligman (2011) frames meaning as having both subjective (what one feels is meaningful) and objective (based on logic and reason) factors that influence our decision on what gives purpose to our life and its trajectory. ...
Research suggests that the state of collegiate student-athlete psychological health is poor, and current protocols for identification and referral are insufficient. According to the NCAA and NATA, the athletic trainer plays an essential part in this identification and referral process. Yet, many ATs report lacking confidence and readiness to address the psychological components of athletic injury. They also struggle to navigate unclear policies that obfuscate effective action. While diagnosing and treating psychological illness is outside of the ATs scope of practice, in order to improve the athletic trainer’s ameliorative capacity, positive psychology should be an integral component of their educational competencies. Positive psychology, as a growing facet of psychology and healthcare, focuses on the importance of well-being as a significant contributor to mental health. In order to bolster student-athlete wellness, the NATA must strongly consider adopting initiatives that enhance positive emotions, psychological well-being, and optimal functioning, through greater incorporation of evidence-based constructs of positive psychology into the NATA Code of Ethics and Educational Competencies.
... The research of John Bowlby, Harry Harlow, and Mary Ainsworth in the mid-20th century established the importance of child attachment to his/her caregiver (Peterson, 2006). In the ensuing decades, a mountain of research has accumulated illuminating the impact of quality social interaction and relationships on the experience and spread of positive emotion, self-concept, perceptions of belonging, resilience, personal growth, and learning (Dutton & Heaphy, 2003;Gable & Gosnell, 2011). The relationship between teacher and student is ripe with opportunity for shaping wellbeing. ...
Modern education is largely focused on academic achievement, yet recent research has called into question whether academic learning is enough to foster and support mental and physical health across the lifespan. Mounting interest in more well-balanced educational approaches that integrate academic learning and character education have inspired the emergence of a new field called positive education. Despite a growing demand, comprehensive training in positive education remains limited. The Shawnee Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of positive education, aims to fill this void by launching a professional certificate in applied positive education. The following paper presents a tailored application plan for implementing a professional certificate program at The Shawnee Institute which includes a situational analysis of the education sector, as well as a literature review detailing the relevance of well-being theory, experiential learning, and personal and organizational change in education settings. The plan concludes with recommendations for professional competencies, a proposal for effective program implementation and evaluation, a detailed curriculum outline, and a sample learning module.
... Humans thrive in positive relationships. Multiple studies have shown that a life of seclusion causes poor cardiovascular, immune and endocrine health at best and increases our risk of early death at worst (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). We need love, attachment, and bonding from the beginning. ...
Actors often describe their vocation as a passion, a calling, or even a purpose. However, the very nature of a career as an actor is rife with rejection, a lack of agency, and income instability. Such strong identification with their vocation may threaten an actor’s self-concept in the face of so much adversity. Many actors become frustrated, sometimes to the point of giving up, because the gatekeepers (agents, casting directors, network executives, etc.) decide whether they get to exercise their passion or fulfill their purpose by actually working in their chosen profession. While the body of research on resilience is robust, there have been virtually no studies on the application of resilience training to this particular ‘at risk’ population. Based on the theory, research, and practice of positive psychology, this paper proposes a resilience model for actors incorporating 1) a resilience mindset and toolkit, 2) self-compassion, 3) community, and 4) using one’s talent in service to others. It is hypothesized that this combination will enhance resilience, build a strong community, bolster actors’ well-being, and provide a volitional pathway to exercise one’s passion and purpose without sacrificing vulnerability. This is the foundation of The Resilience Compass.
... Human beings are biologically programmed to love and be loved and our relationships with others significantly impact our happiness (Peterson, 2006). Our joy is amplified when we share it with others, while a lack of social connections is linked with poor functioning of cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems, and social isolation is associated with an increase in all-cause mortality risk (Gable & Gosnell, 2011). In essence, we are an ultrasocial species who have evolved to love, befriend, and help others in our social network, and deprivation from these experiences negatively affects our well-being (Haidt, 2006). ...
The pursuit of happiness is an age-old human quest; so is the axiom of “know thyself”. This book proposal explores the link between these two ancient ideas, relevant even in modern times. Using the backdrop of my personal quest for happiness in combination with findings from various scientific disciplines, I argue that our happiness, at least in part, is under our control, and that self-awareness can be an empowering tool in finding lasting happiness. There are three parts to this book proposal: Part I reviews the scientific literature on well-being and explores answers to the question: What makes us happy? Part II presents a new definition of self-awareness along with challenges associated with knowing our selves, and also offers ways to become more self-aware. Part III provides specific suggestions for people to use their self-awareness to enhance their well-being. The objective of the proposed book is to inspire people to take charge of their happiness by taking charge of themselves, instead of blaming other people or circumstances for their unhappiness. I believe that if everyone in this world used their limited time and attention to focus on aspects of well-being within their control, not only would we all be happier, we may also contribute to a better world, one filled with more love, compassion, and happiness.
... Following is just a partial list of myriad and diverse topics that are associated with positive psychology: autonomy (Brown & Ryan, 2015; Niemiec & Ryan, 2013; Schwartz, 2004), biology and evolutionary selection, (Haidt, 2006; Hill, DelPriore, & Major, 2013; Isen, 2009; Lowe, Bower, Moskowitz, & Epel, 2011; Wilson, 2012; Wilson & Wilson, 2007), curiosity and interest (Kashdan & Silvia, 2009), emotional intelligence (Caruso, Salovey, Brackett, & Mayer, 2015; Crum & Salovey, 2013), eudaimonia (Huta, 2013Huta, , 2015), flow and engagement (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990; Nakamura & Csikszentmihalyi, 2009), forgiveness (McCullough & Witvliet, 2002; Sin & Lyubomirsky, 2009), goal setting (Locke, 1996; Oettingen & Gollwitzer, 2010), gratitude (Bono, Krakauer, & Froh, 2015; Emmons, & Mishra, 2011; Emmons & Shelton, 2002; McCullough, Root, Tabak, & Witvliet, 2009; Seligman, 2011), hope theory (Magyar Moe & Lopez, 2015; Snyder, Rand, & Sigmon, 2002), intrinsic motivation (Brown & Ryan, 2015; Ryan, Huta, & Deci, 2008), meaning and purpose, (Baumeister & Vohs, 2002; Frankl, 1963; Kashdan & McKnight, 2009; Steger, 2009), mindfulness (Henry, 2013; H?lzel, et. al., 2011; Malinowski, 2013; Ricard, Lutz, & Davidson, 2014), optimism, (Carver et al., 2009; Haybron, 2013; Peterson & Steen, 2009; Reivich & Shatt?, 2002; Schneider, 2001), positive emotions (Algoe, Fredrickson, & Chow, 2011; Fredrickson, 2002 Fredrickson, , 2009), relationships (Baumeister & Leary, 1995; Fowler & Christakis, 2008; Gable, Gonzaga, & Strachman, 2006; Gable & Gosnell, 2011), resilience (Masten et al., 2009; Reivich & Shatt?, 2002), savoring (Bryant, & Veroff, 2007), self-efficacy, (Maddux, 2009), self-regulation (Baumeister, Gailliot, DeWall, & Oaten, 2006; Brown & Ryan, 2015), somatic intervention (Faulkner, Hefferon, & Mutrie, 2015; Shusterman, 2006), spirituality (Myers, 2013; Pargament & Mahoney, 2009; Pargament, Mahoney, Shafranske, Exline, & Jones, 2013), strengths (Peterson & Seligman, ROAD FROM POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY THEORY TO CORPORATE APPLICATION 53 2004; Rath, 2015), wisdom and choice (Baltes, Gluck, & Kunzmann, 2002; Kahneman, 2011; Kunzmann & Thomas, 2015; Schwartz, 2004; Schwartz & Sharpe, 2006). ...
This paper is intended to develop preliminary thoughts regarding implementation of positive psychology methods in organizations for the benefit of both the workforce and business. The first section examines the extension of positive psychology into scholarship for positive organizations. The second section reports informal qualitative interviews with selected senior corporate executives. The focus of investigation is the preliminary discovery regarding corporate awareness of, and interest in, positive psychology. The interviews will also investigate corporate executives’ attitudes regarding the practical use of academic research. The paper concludes by digging deeply into an advanced positive construct for organizations, psychological capital, substantiating that it is a greatly developed, well-studied topic acceptable for organizational application. Psychological capital will be presented as a model representing the conclusions reached in this paper regarding the state of positive psychology applications in organizations.
Why do people fall in love? Does passion fade with time? What makes for a happy, healthy relationship? This introduction to relationship science follows the lifecycle of a relationship – from attraction and initiation, to the hard work of relationship maintenance, to dissolution and ways to strengthen a relationship. Designed for advanced undergraduates studying psychology, communication or family studies, this textbook presents a fresh, diversity-infused approach to relationship science. It includes real-world examples and critical-thinking questions, callout boxes that challenge students to make connections, and researcher interviews that showcase the many career paths of relationship scientists. Article Spotlights reveal cutting-edge methods, while Diversity and Inclusion boxes celebrate the variety found in human love and connection. Throughout the book, students see the application of theory and come to recognize universal themes in relationships as well as the nuances of many findings. Instructors can access lecture slides, an instructor manual, and test banks.
This book provides an accessible and balanced introduction to positive
psychology scholarship and its applications, incorporating an overview
of the development of positive psychology. Positive Psychology:
The Basics delineates positive psychology’s journey as a discipline, takes
stock of its achievements and provides an updated overview of its core
topics, exploring the theory, research and interventions in each.
Launched as a rebellious discipline just over two decades ago, positive
psychology challenged the emphasis of applied psychology on
disease and dysfunction and offered a new, more balanced perspective
on human life. From its foundations in the late 20th century to
recent “second-wave” theories around the importance of recognizing
negative emotions, this compact overview covers the key ideas and
principles, from research around emotional wellbeing, optimism and
change, to posttraumatic growth and positive relationships. The first
jargon-free introduction to the subject, Hart introduces the reader to
a range of issues, including self-regulation and flow, character strengths
and virtues and positive relationships, concluding with a chapter on
how interventions can affect happiness and wellbeing.
Positive Psychology: The Basics is an essential resource for students,
practitioners, academics and anyone who is interested in understanding
the essence of a life well lived.
Childhood poverty has been linked with gaps in physical, emotional, and cognitive outcomes. Previous research sheds light on potential interventions for helping at-risk youth. We combine these findings with proven positive psychology interventions to create a curriculum for an organization serving at-risk youth in Trenton, New Jersey. The workshops are geared towards teaching components that enable lasting well-being using existing positive psychology frameworks, such as Martin Seligman’s PERMA. We also adapt lessons using VIA Character Strengths and resiliency factors for an adolescent population, and leverage behavioral modeling, self-agency, and environmental mastery to create sustainable programming. If successful, these interventions may teach us how positive psychology can enable flourishing in at-risk youth populations.
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) is a national non-profit organization that facilitates one-on-one mentoring between at-risk youth and adults in order to build developmental assets and promote the well-being of youth. The organization utilizes mentoring to facilitate strong, caring relationships that help marginalized youth realize their potential. The Great Lakes Bay Chapter of BBBS (Midland, Michigan) seeks to expand positive psychology resources and curriculum to: (a) bring together staff, mentors, mentees, and parents with a common language; (b) build and support strong relationships; and (c) enhance well-being in youth. This project provides a character strengths curriculum to support these goals. The project includes a train-the-trainer model and implementation recommendations to pilot the curriculum at the Great Lakes Bay chapter. If impactful, BBBS can adapt and scale the curriculum for other programs. To meet the diverse needs of the mentees, a research-informed Positive Psychology Playbook is included. The playbook is an expertise kit covering eight topics relevant to the development of at-risk youth. These topics, which include gratitude, grit, growth mindset, optimism, resilience, self- efficacy, character strengths and positive relationships, further equip the Great Lakes Bay Chapter with positive psychology knowledge, tips, and activities to support the development and well-being of marginalized youth.
Le présent essai a pour objectif de donner un aperçu – non pas une revue exhaustive – des résultats de recherche sur l’association couple – bonheur. Il existe une corrélation universelle et présente à toutes les périodes de la vie. De plus, il apparaît que la relation maritale doit être nourrie et qu’elle doit évoluer pour durer. Les résultats appuient également l’idée qu’il faut un certain temps pour que se dissipe l’effet du mariage, du divorce et du veuvage. Enfin, des études récentes font état d’une relation négative entre la cohabitation et le bonheur, mais les résultats ne sont pas concluants. En conclusion, il est suggéré d’effectuer un important travail d’éducation auprès des jeunes qui abordent la vie de couple sans préparation. Il y aurait lieu de poursuivre la recherche sur la cohabitation, particulièrement dans la société québécoise.
An imbalance exists between the role of curiosity as a motivational force in nearly all human endeavors and the lack of scientific attention given to the topic. In recent years, however, there has been a proliferation of concepts that capture the essence of curiosity-recognizing, seeking out, and showing a preference for the new. In this chapter, we combine this work to address the nature of curiosity, where it fits in the larger scheme of positive emotions, the advantages of being curious in social relationships, links between curiosity and elements of well-being, and how it has been used in interventions to improve people's quality of life. Our emphasis is on methodologically sophisticated findings that show how curiosity operates in the laboratory and everyday life, and how, under certain conditions, curiosity can be a profound source of strength or a liability. People who are regularly curious and willing to embrace the novelty, uncertainty, and challenges that are inevitable as we navigate the shoals of everyday life are at an advantage in creating a fulfilling existence compared with their less curious peers. Our brief review is designed to bring further attention to this neglected, underappreciated, human universal.
Using experience-sampling data the authors examined distinct benefits and uses of social support. As expected, emotional support buffered negative psychological states, and informational support appeared to facilitate mastery-related states, among individuals who had previously reported low well-being. An examination of social pursuits revealed that these distinct kinds of support were sought by individuals who were especially likely to need them. Participants focused on outcomes in their social lives, and therefore especially likely to be emotionally distressed when social pursuits go poorly, responded to poor social well-being by spending time with emotional supporters. Participants focused on improvement in their social lives responded to poor social well-being by spending time with others who could provide information to facilitate self-improvement--people who personified their self-ideals.
Perceived stress and satisfaction with social support were assessed in 318 men participating in a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening program. We predicted that high stress would be associated with high PSA and high social support with low PSA. We also predicted a Stress x Support interaction (buffering). Hypothesized main effects were confirmed and were not explained by recency of previous rectal examinations or current urinary symptoms. There was no evidence of buffering. Stress and social support were not associated with results of digital rectal examinations. These findings raise the possibility that psychosocial factors promote prostate disease through direct physiologic pathways. However, it is also possible that the data reflect effects of stress on health-related behaviors or that stress scores were affected by participants' anticipation of prostate problems on the basis of prior PSA tests or symptoms.
What is the good of a person? Answers to this question lie at the heart of traditional moral philosophy as well as contemporary positive psychology. For the past few years, we have been involved in a project describing important strengths of character and ways to measure them. Our research program is sometimes identified as the Values in Action (VIA) project. The VIA classification includes two dozen strengths of character on which our research has focused. Various VIA measures comprise a family of assessment devices that measure individual differences in the strengths in the classification. The present contribution describes the process by which the VIA classification was created, the ways character strengths are measured, and empirical findings: distribution and demographics; correlates and consequences; origins and development; deliberate cultivation; interventions; and structure and trade-offs. Work is ongoing to refine our measures and to use empirical findings to generate theory. Especially important lines of future research include the relationship of character strengths to hard outcome measures, cultural differences and similarities, development, interventions, and the processes by which strengths of character give rise to actual behavior. Our project supports the premise of positive psychology that attention to good character sheds light on what makes life worth living.
Love is a perennial topic of fascination for scholars and laypersons alike. Whereas psychological science was slow to develop active interest in love, the past few decades have seen considerable growth in research on the subject, to the point where a uniquely psychological perspective on love can be identified. This article describes some of the more central and well-established findings from psychologically informed research on love and its influence in adult human relationships. We discuss research on how love is defined, the significance of love for human activity and well-being, and evidence about the mechanisms by which love is believed to operate. We conclude by describing several key questions and potentially important new directions for the next wave of psychological science.
© 2008 Association for Psychological Science.
Close interpersonal relationships serve as a critical interface between intrapersonal and interpersonal processes. These processes underlying relationships have generally been considered in isolation, though with appreciable success. Although both intrapersonal and interpersonal approaches provide important knowledge about close relationships, each approach is clearly limited by that which it does not fully consider. We believe that the concept of cognitive interdependence, or the mental state characterized by a pluralistic, collective representation of self-in-relationship, represents a congenial blending of the intrapersonal and the interpersonal. The current chapter reviews the concept of cognitive interdependence, with a particular focus on some implications of the concept for the self. We begin by considering past work on the self, including a discussion of cognitive, affective, and behavioral structures linking relationship partners to the self, before turning our attention to cognitive interdependence. We close with suggested avenues for future work on self-in-relationship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
A 1972 follow-up of the L. M. Terman study of gifted men, when the Ss' average age was 62, permitted measurement of 4 target variables for which antecedents could be sought: life-cycle satisfaction with occupation, satisfaction with family life, degree of work persistence into their 60's, and unbroken marriage vs a history of divorce. The recorded events and expressions of feelings obtained at decade intervals since 1922 were searched for predictors. Both occupational satisfaction and work persistence were best predicted by feelings of satisfaction, ambition, and good health expressed as early as age 30. Family-life satisfaction and success in marriage were predicted by good childhood social adjustment, good mental health in later years, retrospective (age 40) positive attitudes toward parents, and best of all, by the Terman Marital Happiness Test (taken at age 30). Implications for personality-development theory are suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
Previous research has demonstrated that when a close romantic partner views you and behaves toward you in a manner that is congruent with your ideal self, you experience movement toward your ideal self (termed the "Michelangelo phenomenon"; Drigotas, Rusbult, Wieselquist, & Whitton, 1999). The present research represents an attempt demonstrate the phenomenon's link to personal well-being. Results of a cross-sectional study of individuals in dating relationships, with a 2-month follow-up assessing breakup, replicated previous findings regarding relationship well-being and revealed strong links between the model and personal well-being, even when accounting for level of relationship satisfaction. Such results provide further evidence for the social construction of the self and personal well-being.