Positive Psychology:
Psychology 382 Syllabus (Fall 2008)

Olin 111, x4379, e-mail: NLUTSKY@CARLETON.EDU
Course Meetings: Olin 101, Tuesday and Thursday, 8:15-10:00

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 30% of your seminar grade. Another 35% will be based on the final paper you complete on a topic in positive psychology (due November 11) and your class presentation on that topic (November 18). The remaining 35% 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.
  
  
• Diener, E., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2008). Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth. Blackwell.
  

• 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 A founding overview of positive psychology: Positive emotion.
  
  Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic Happiness. xi-121.
  
  Lyubomirsky, S. (2002). The How of Happiness. 88-101.
  
  
  
• T 9/23 A founding overview of positive psychology: Strength and virtue, Positive institutions.
  
  Seligman, M. E. P. (2002). Authentic Happiness. 123-260.
  
  
• Th 9/25 Evaluating research in positive psychology.
  
  Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 377-389.
  
  Lyubomirsky, S. (2002). The How of Happiness. 112-124.
  
  
  
• T 9/30 A contemporary overview of positive psychology: Sources of wealth.
  
  Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 377-389. [continued]
  
  Diener, E., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2008). Happiness. ix-87.
  
  
• Th 10/2 A contemporary overview of positive psychology: Happiness.
  
  Diener, E., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2008). Happiness. 91-233.
  
  Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). The How of Happiness. 138-149.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• T 10/7 Broaden and build? Theory and research on positive emotions.
  
  Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology. American Psychologist, 56, 218-226.
  
  Fredrickson, B. L., Tugade, M. M., Waugh, C. E., & Larkin, G. R. (2003). What good are positive emotions in crises? A prospective study of resilience and emotions following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 365-376.
  
  
• Th 10/9 Research study development.
  
  Macdonald, C., Bore, M., & Munro, D. (2007). Values in action scale and the Big 5: An empirical indication of structure. Journal of Research in Personality, 42, 787-799.
  
  
• T 10/14 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.
  
  Marino, G. (2008). In praise of disappointment. The Chronicle of Higher Education. p. 1.
  
  
• Th 10/16 Happiness: Material and biological foundations.
  
  Myers, D. G. (2000). The funds, friends, and faith of happy people. American Psychologist, 55, 1, 56-67.
  
  Inglehart, R., Foa, R., Peterson, C., & Welzel, C. (2008). Development, freedom, and rising happiness. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3, 264-285.
  
  Lucas, R. E. (2007). Long-term disability is associated with lasting changes in subjective well-being. Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, 92, 717-730.
  
  
• T 10/21 Social comparison, neuroticism, and self-esteem.
  
  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 10/23 Positive psychology and relationships.
  
  Gottman, J. M., & Silver, N.(1999). The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. 1-24.
  
  Mayer, J. D., Salovey, P., & Caruso, D. R. (2008). Emotional intelligence: New ability or eclectic traits? American Psychologist, 63, 503-517.
  
  Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). The How of Happiness. 169-179.
  
  Thompson, L. Y., & Snyder, C. R. (2003). Measuring forgiveness. In S. J. Lopez & C. R. Snyder (Eds.), Positive Psychological Assessment, 301-312.
  
  
• T 10/28 Positive conservation psychology. [Susan Clayton visit]
  
  Clayton, S., & Brook, A. (2005). Can psychology save the world? A model for conservation psychology. Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy, 5, 87-102.
  
  
• 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.
  
  Fredrickson, B. L., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., Cohn, M. A., & Finkel, S. M. (2008). Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 95, 1045-1062.
  
  Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). The How of Happiness. 228-239.
  
  
• T 11/4 Optimal functioning, short and long term.
  
  Keyes, C. L. (2002). The mental health continuum: An agenda for the 21st century. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 43, 2, 207-221.
  
  Nakamura, J., & Csikszentmiyalyi, M. (2002). The concept of flow. In C. R Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology, 257-276.
  
  Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). The How of Happiness. 181-190.
  
  
• Th 11/6 Happiness, physical activity, and health.
  
  Salovey, P., Rothman, A. J., Detweiler, J. B., & Steward, W. T. (2000). Emotional states and physical health. American Psychologist, 55, 110-121.
  
  Cohen, S., & Pressman, S. D. (2006). Positive affect and health. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 15, 122-125.
  
  Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). The How of Happiness. 240-244, 244-250.
  
  
  
• T 11/11 Coping with difficulty; Rumination.
  
  [Two copies of major papers due]
  
  Masten, A., & Reed, M.-G. J. (2002). Resilience in development. In C. R Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology, 74-88.
  
  Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). The How of Happiness. 112-123 [review], 150-168.
  
  
• Th 11/13 Positive psychology of organizations and careers; Goal pursuit.
  
  Harter, J. K., Schmidt, F. L., & Keyes, C. L. M. (2003). Well-being in the workplace and its relationship to business outcomes. In C. L. M. Keyes & J. Haidt (Eds.), Flourishing: Positive Psychology and the Life Well-Lived, 205-224.
  
  Lyubomirsky, S. (2008). The How of Happiness. 205-226.
  
  [Paper review sheets due to paper author and instructor by Friday, 11/14, 5PM]
  

• T 11/18 Closure.
  
  [Revised major papers due]