Positive Psychology:
Psychology 382 Syllabus (Fall 2003)

Olin 111, x4379, e-mail: NLUTSKY@CARLETON.EDU
Web Home Page: http://www.acad.carleton.edu/curricular/PSYC/classes/psych382_Lutsky
Course Meetings: Olin 110, Tuesday and Thursday, 1:15-3:00

The seminar will examine the contemporary movement in psychology known as positive psychology. What is positive psychology? One of our initial and ongoing challenges this term is to address that question: to become familiar with current visions of positive psychology and to consider alternatives and future directions for positive psychology. At a quite general level, positive psychology can be described as an effort to use the tools of rigorous science to help us understand the sources and nature of positive human strengths, characteristics, resources, and aspirations. One aim of this effort is to use this knowledge to promote the development of those positive features of human psychology, by guiding both individuals and the institutions within which they function.

This is an advanced seminar. My expectation is that each of us will take responsibility for the conduct of each class meeting. After the first few classes, I will assign each of you to be a discussion leader for one class session this term. You should read both the assignment and a few outside readings on your topic and prepare for your discussion session. The success of your work on your class session will account for 40% of your seminar grade. Another 40% will be based on the final paper you complete on a topic in positive psychology, due November 7. The remaining 20% will be dependent on the quality of your structured and unstructured participation in class. Please read carefully, consider topics and readings seriously before class, identify and develop questions for class discussion, and participate in class discussion actively, thoughtfully, and critically.

Finally, please remember that I would enjoy talking to you about course-related issues outside of class time and invite you to stop by my office to do so.

• Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic Happiness. Free Press.
  
  
• American Psychologist (January, 2000). Special Issue on Happiness, Excellence, and Optimal Human Functioning.
  

• T 9/16 Introduction to positive psychology and the positive psychology seminar.
  
  Seligman, M. E. P., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55, 1, 5-8.**
  
  
• Th 9/18 Overview of positive psychology: Positive emotion.
  
  Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic Happiness. xi-121.
  
  
• T 9/23 Overview of positive psychology: Strength and virtue, Positive institutions.
  
  Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic Happiness. 123-260.
  
  
• Th 9/25 Subjective well-being and happiness.
  
  Diener, E. (2000). Subjective well-being: The science of happiness and a proposal for a national index. American Psychologist, 55, 1, 34-43.**
  
  Myers, D. G. (2000). The funds, friends, and faith of happy people. American Psychologist, 55, 1, 56-67.**
  
  
• T 9/30 Self-Esteem.
  
  Heatherton, T. F., & Wyland, C. L. (2003). Assessing self-esteem. In S. J. Lopez & C. R Snyder (Eds.), Positive Psychological Assessment, 219-233.
  
  Kernis, M. H. (2003). High self-esteem: A differentiated perspective. In E. C. Chang & L. J. Sanna (Eds.), Virtue, Vice, and Personality, 3-22.
  
  Watson, D., & Casillas. A. (2003). Neuroticism: Adaptive and maladaptive. In E. C. Chang & L. J. Sanna (Eds.), Virtue, Vice, and Personality, 145-161.
  
  
• Th 10/2 Hope and optimism.
  
  Snyder, C. R., Rand, K. L., & Sigmon, D. R. (2002). Hope theory: A member of the positive psychology family. In C. R Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology, 257-276.
  
  Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. (2003). Optimism. In S. J. Lopez & C. R Snyder (Eds.), Positive Psychological Assessment, 75-89.
  
  Peterson, C. (2000). The future of optimism. American Psychologist, 55, 1, 44-55.**
  
  
• T 10/7 Resiliency in the face of challenge and loss.
  
  Masten, A., & Reed, M.-G. J. (2002). Resilience in development. In C. R Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology, 74-88.
  
  B. Fredrickson et al., What good are positive emotions in crises? 365-376.
  

  American Psychological Association, Road to Resilience campaign.
  
  Taylor, S. E., Kemeny, M. E., Reed, G. M., Bower, J. E., & Gruenewald, T. L. (2000). Psychological resources, positive illusions, and health. American Psychologist, 55, 1, 99-109.**
  

• Th 10/9 Humor and flow.
  
  Lefcourt, H. M. (2002). Humor. In C. R Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology, 619-631.
  
  Nakamura, J., & Csikszentmiyalyi, M. (2002). The concept of flow. In C. R Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology, 89-105.
  

• T 10/14 Emotional intelligence.
  
  Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence. 33-126.

  Brackett, M. A., & Mayer, J. D. (2003). Convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity of competing measures of emotional intelligence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29, 9, 1147-1158.
  

• Th 10/16 Wisdom.
  
  Sternberg, R. J. (1998). A balance theory of wisdom. Review of General Psychology, 2, 4, 347-365.
  
  Baltes, P. B., & Staudinger, U. M. (2000). Wisdom: A metaheuristic (pragmatic) to orchestrate mind and virtue toward excellence. American Psychologist, 55, 1, 122-135.**
  
  
• F 10/17 Robert Sternberg at Macalester College, speaking on wisdom.
  
  
• T 10/21 Positive emotions.
  
  Fredrickson, B. L. (2003). The value of positive emotions. American Scientist, 91, 330-335.
  
  Bryant, F. B. (2001). Capturing the joy of the moment: Savoring as a process in positive psychology. Presentation to the Positive Psychology Network, Washington, DC.
  
  Salovey, P., Rothman, A. J., Detweiler, J. B., & Steward, W. T. (2000). Emotional states and physical health. American Psychologist, 55, 1, 110-121.**
  
  
• F 10/24 Barbara Fredrickson at Carleton speaking on positive psychology.
  
  Lunch meeting: Exact arrangements to be determined.
  Presentation: 3:30-4:40, Olin 141.
  

• T 10/28 Creativity.
  
  Simonton, D. K. (2000). Creativity: Cognitive, personal, developmental, and social aspects. American Psychologist, 55, 1, 151-158.**
  
  Winner, E. (2000). The origins and ends of giftedness. American Psychologist, 55, 1, 159-169.**
  
  
• Th 10/30 Religiosity.
  
  Pargament, K. I. (2002). The bitter and the sweet: An evaluation of the costs and benefits of religiousness. Psychological Inquiry, 13, 3, 168-181.
  
  Exline, J. J. (2002). Stumbling blocks on the religious road: Fractured relationships, nagging vices, and the inner struggle to believe. Psychological Inquiry, 13, 3, 182-189.
  
  Pargament, K. I. (2002). Is religion nothing but...? Explaining religion versus explaining religion away. Psychological Inquiry, 13, 3, 239-244.
  
  
• T 11/4 Applications of positive psychology to relationships.
  
  Gottman, J. M., & Silver, N.(1999). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. 1-24.
  
  McCullough, M. E., Emmons, R. A., & Tsang, J. (2002). The grateful disposition: A conceptual and empirical typography. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 112-127.
  
  
• Th 11/6 Applications of positive psychology to organizations and clinical psychology.
  
  Maddux, J. E. (2002). Stopping the "madness": Positive psychology and the deconstruction of the illness ideology and the DSM. In C. R Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology, 13-25.
  
  
• T 11/11 Presentations.
  
  
• Th 11/13 Presentations.
  
  
• T 11/18 Closure.