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Second Wave Positive Psychology Positive psychology is currently equated with theory and research on the positive aspects of life The reality could not be further from the truth Positive psychology investigates and researches some of the most difficult and painful experiences Second Wave Positive Psychology: Embracing the Dark Side of Life is an innovative and groundbreaking textbook that explores a variety of topics we consider to be part of the ‘dark side’ of life while emphasising their role in our positive functioning and transformation as human beings This more nuanced approach to the notions of ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ can be described as the ‘second wave’ of positive psychology Positive psychology is one of the fastest-growing and least understood branches of psychology Exploring topics at the heart of positive psychology, such as meaning, resilience, human development, mortality, change, suffering and spirituality, this book engages with so-called negative matters from a positive psychology angle, showing how the path of personal development can involve experiences which, while challenging, can lead to growth, insight, healing and transformation Containing useful resources, case studies, practical exercises and chapter summaries, Second Wave Positive Psychology is an essential guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying positive psychology, as well as clinicians wanting to know more about the subject It will also be relevant to the layperson who is interested in positive psychology Itai Ivtzan is a positive psychologist, a senior lecturer and the program leader of Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) at the University of East London (UEL) His research areas are mindfulness meditation, spirituality, and meaning in life In addition to many journal papers and book chapters, he is the author of several books and the leading editor of Mindfulness in Positive Psychology: The Science of Meditation and Wellbeing Tim Lomas is a lecturer at the UEL, where he is the associate programme leader for the MSc in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology as well as having published numerous peer-reviewed papers and books Kate Hefferon is a chartered psychologist, senior lecturer and the head of the Posttraumatic Growth Research Unit at the UEL Her interests lie within the areas of posttraumatic growth (PTG), physical activity, health and wellbeing She is the author of numerous peer-reviewed papers and book chapters as well as lead author on popular positive psychology textbooks Piers Worth is a chartered psychologist, accredited psychotherapist and head of Academic Department – Psychology for Bucks New University Piers wrote and leads the Bucks MSc Applied Positive Psychology programme ‘Second Wave Positive Psychology: Embracing the Dark Side of Life is not only about seeing the reality of positive psychology more clearly, it’s about seeing who we are as human beings more clearly Positive psychology studies and embraces all the vicissitudes of life And here is the book that outlines this for us.What is most incredible and impactful about this book? Is it that it represents the thought leadership and scholarship of four distinguished positive psychology luminaries? Is it that it is the first positive psychology book to deeply integrate the positive and negative of human experience across a wide array of topics? Is it that it’s a clear and interesting read, easily peaking the reader’s curiosity page after page? Is it that those who crack the book open will immediately make it required reading for their students? Or, is it that despite being a scholarly, scientific work the book is also eminently practical in its guidance for readers to reflect and explore that which is personal and meaningful? My answer is clear: All of the above.’ —Ryan M Niemiec, PsyD, author of Mindfulness and Character Strengths: A Practical Guide to Flourishing, and Psychologist and Education Director, VIA Institute on Character ‘This timely book is a must read for anybody seriously interested in positive psychology Rightly or wrongly, positive psychology has been often perceived as focusing only on the positive aspects of human life However, as it reaches maturity, the discipline is increasingly moving in the direction of embracing human life as a whole from a positive, constructive perspective For example, can we have something like ‘Positive Death’? These are issues that this courageous book is grappling with Written by scholars who have an excellent knowledge and experience of positive psychology, this book may well become a landmark in the evolution of the field.’ —Nash Popovic, PhD, author of Personal Consultancy: A model for integrating counselling and coaching ‘In a climate where the span of positive psychology science so often is reduced to simplistic instructions just to smile, count your blessings, and look on the bright side of life, it is inspiring and exciting to see such a high-quality book guiding us through the most compelling and complex reaches of the field This book engagingly demonstrates that positive psychology finds its true strength when it unifies happiness and positivity with the kinds of suffering, doubt, and adversity that are part and parcel with human life It is written with a strong eye toward education, which is completely fitting because Second Wave Positive Psychology is written by scientists who are experts at teaching people how to apply research and theory to improve everyday life Each chapter is an authoritative review of an important topic within positive psychology, from emotions and development to mortality and spirituality It is a great recipe, blending quality science, insightful reflections and exercises, and new perspectives on the universal human pursuits not just of a brighter smile, but of a richer, more authentic, and more meaningful life.’ —Michael Steger, PhD, Head of the Laboratory for the Study of Meaning and Quality of Life ‘The long awaited book on second wave positive psychology is finally here – clear evidence that positive psychology has entered a new stage of development Gone are the smiley face and the existential critique At long last, positive psychology has openly embraced the dark side of life not only as an inevitable aspect of the human condition, but also an essential part in optimal functioning and transformation The authors have skilfully provided a new narrative, buttressed by empirical evidence that engagement with the challenge and distress in life can contribute to our healing, growth and flourishing I highly recommend this book to both the positive psychology community and all my friends in the humanistic-existential community.” —Paul T P Wong, PhD, editor of The Human Quest for Meaning Second Wave Positive Psychology Embracing the Dark Side of Life Itai Ivtzan, Tim Lomas, Kate Hefferon and Piers Worth First published€2016 by Routledge Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN and by Routledge 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY€10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor€& Francis Group, an informa business © 2016 Itai Ivtzan, Tim Lomas, Kate Hefferon and Piers€Worth The right of Itai Ivtzan, Tim Lomas, Kate Hefferon and Piers Worth to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections€77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act€1988 All rights reserved No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe British Library Cataloguing in Publication€Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication€Data A catalog record for this title has been requested ISBN: 978-1-138-81865-1 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-138-81866-8 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-315-74001-0 (ebk) Typeset in Frutiger and Joanna by Apex CoVantage, LLC Contents Introduction 1 The dialectics of emotion Positive development – our journey of growth 31 The dark side of meaning in€life 55 Adversity, resilience and transformational growth 75 Mortality and positive psychology 103 Wellbeings: Suffering, compassion and interconnectedness 134 Spirituality – transcending the€self 153 The hero’s journey 175 Index 197 This page intentionally left blank Introduction Thank you for joining us for this adventure of Second Wave Positive Psychology: Embracing the Dark Side of Life What is the first image that comes to our mind when positive psychology (PP) is mentioned? For most of us, it is the smiley emoticon This symbol of happiness, optimism and joy reflects the way PP is commonly conceived and portrayed, both within the PP discipline and in society at large In fact, PP is often equated with theory and research on the positive aspects of life As such, whatever is labelled as ‘negative’ is frequently rejected and considered to be outside the sphere of PP But this could not be further from the truth PP actually investigates and researches some of the most difficult and painful human experiences The present book explores a variety of topics that could be considered as part of the ‘dark side’ of life and emphasises the role they play in the positive aspects of our functioning and transformations as human beings While doing this, cutting-edge theories, research, and practices are also introduced The ‘dark side’ refers to challenging experiences, thoughts, emotions and behaviours which trigger discomfort in us Such discomfort is frequently avoided as it carries an engagement with fear, pain, distress or confusion However, engaging with the challenge and discomfort has great potential for growth, healing, insight and transformation In other words, the ‘dark side’ contains the seed for a potential positive outcome, even when the path towards this outcome is testing This book is a product of our collaborative work on the MSc in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) – delivered at the University of East London (UEL) and at Bucks New University Dr€Ivtzan, Dr€Hefferon and Dr€Lomas run the UEL programme, whereas Dr€Worth runs the Bucks programme The UEL programme is the largest PP postgraduate programme in Europe, with 100 new students every year Bucks New University opened its programme a couple of years ago and now boasts more than 40 new students This book is a product of our MAPP work, where we interact with brilliant students who, we believe, are the future of PP Over the years, we have seen many students feeling uncomfortable about the idea of sharing difficulty and pain in the framework of a PP course Some of them even felt they were not able to join the weekends of teaching while they were experiencing difficulty in their lives as they felt they were being disingenuous or betraying the need for positivity We all felt this issue should be cleared up, and this triggered the writing of this book We wanted students and other people who are interested in this field to feel they were allowed to include the aspects of life we might call ‘negative’ INTRODUCTION in their PP experience Moreover, we wished to make it clear that these aspects of life were frequently necessary for the experience of growth and flourishing to be complete To achieve this, we describe in this book the current state of affairs in the field of PP, with a view to dispel the myth of its ‘positivity’ People believe that PP deals only with the positive because they confuse experiences with outcomes Indeed, the outcomes of PP theory and research are always positive in some way, and yet the paths, the journeys, what we experience on the way to these outcomes may be painful and challenging PP must recognise and acknowledge this journey, and this is what this book aims to This misconception that first emerged within the field of PP has extended to other branches of psychology (clinical, educational, developmental, etc.) and to the general public The erroneous impression is that discussing the negative is out of bounds in PP We hope this book allows all concerned to re-conceptualise their view of PP and, hopefully, invite a larger audience to participate in the important ongoing discussions in the field PP is one of the fastest-growing and least understood branches of psychology By exploring various topics that are at the heart of PP, such as meaning, resilience, human development, mortality, change, suffering and spirituality, this book engages with so-called negative matters from the PP angle Furthermore, this book clearly illustrates how these ‘negative’ experiences can have positive outcomes if we approach them in a certain way A€trauma, for example, may lead to anxiety and depression as well as, in coexistence, to growth and flourishing Various topics and aspects of life exemplify the likelihood of such outcomes What is the ‘second wave of PP’ that we are referring to? In its early years, the PP movement differentiated itself from ‘psychology as usual’ by strongly emphasising the ‘positive’ (thoughts, emotions, traits, etc.) Whereas psychology as usual was characterised as focusing mainly on ‘negative’ mental states and experiences, PP would redress the balance by concentrating on ‘positive’ qualities and outcomes Moreover, within this characterisation, there was the implicit message that ostensibly negative states and experiences were undesirable, and thus people should aim to avoid or eschew these, whereas ‘positive’ qualities and outcomes were necessarily beneficial and should be promoted and sought However, over recent years, scholars within PP have begun to take a far more nuanced approach to the notions of ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ It has been recognised that seemingly positive qualities can be detrimental to wellbeing under certain circumstances For example, as Seligman (1990) recognised, one must be careful not to be a ‘slave to the tyrannies of optimism’, but must be ‘able to use pessimism’s keen sense of reality when we need it’ (p.€292) Conversely, as this book summarises, the path of personal development can involve experiences which, while ostensibly challenging, can lead to growth and transformation Back in 2004, Held (2004) suggested that this more nuanced approach to the notions of ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ might be described as the ‘second wave’ of PP Thinking along similar lines, Wong (2011) labelled these new developments in the field as PP ‘2.0’ We feel that this book reflects and represents these recent currents in the field, capturing a key dimension of this emergent second wave, namely an engagement with the ‘darker side’ of life In giving this book its title, we must emphasise a number of important INTRODUCTION points Firstly, we are certainly not claiming that this book is creating this second wave; as we show throughout these pages, research that we are identifying as embodying or reflecting this second wave has been ongoing for years through the combined efforts of scholars worldwide Secondly, we are not even taking credit for identifying or naming this emergent movement; this due goes to Held (2004), who first used the phrase, and also to Wong (2011), who more actively identified and explained the new movement Finally, we are not implying that the content of this book exhausts or covers all the strands of this new wave; we are simply highlighting what we see as some important elements in this new wave of research and theory; readers may construe or appraise these developments in their own ways Nevertheless, we want to use the name ‘second wave’ to explicitly name and celebrate these recent developments in the field and to show some of the key ways in which the field is evolving as it matures and progresses as a discipline The book will take you through a journey that focuses on aspects of life often regarded as negative and yet ones that could be conducive to our psychological wellbeing Although we collectively thought of and believe in this book and its components, we independently undertook the creation and writing of two chapters about which we felt the most passionate Hence, each chapter is clearly linked to its associated writer The first chapter of the book discusses the ‘Dialectics of Emotions’ (Dr€Tim Lomas) and investigates the way the labels ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ are being used in the context of PP and how using these terms is not as straightforward as it might appear at first The following chapter offers an overview of ‘Positive Development – Our Journey of Growth’ (Dr€Piers Worth), investigating the challenges of different stages in life and the way they can lead to positive change Based on these different stages of development, the chapter ‘The Dark Side of Meaning in Life’ (Dr€Itai Ivtzan) elaborates on the difficulties and joys that are part of what we experience as meaning and purpose in life Next is ‘Adversity, Resilience and Transformational Growth’ (Dr€Kate Hefferon), which reviews our capacity to bounce back, stand strong and, in some cases, thrive after trauma and adversity One of the most challenging human realisations, our mortality, is then discussed (‘Mortality and Positive Psychology’ by Dr€Kate Hefferon), including ways in which our own mortality awareness can create an enhanced existence in the here and now The chapter on ‘Well-Being: Suffering, Compassion and Interconnectedness’ (Dr€Tim Lomas) explores the way opening ourselves to suffering can generate compassion, which in turn can lead to positive changes in one’s sense of self The chapter ‘Spirituality – Transcending the Self’ (Dr€Itai Ivtzan) relates to the spiritual journey, focusing on self-awareness while recognising the pain and difficulty involved in taking this path The book’s final chapter deals with ‘The Hero’s Journey’ (Dr€Piers Worth), inviting us to face our personal challenges and the changes we undergo to fulfil our potential in€full In addition to theoretical discussions and research, the book also offers practical exercises to give the readers a chance to implement in person the ideas proposed We believe that reading or talking about an idea is just the beginning of the way to truly understanding it To be able to grasp the meaning of a certain topic, practical engagement with it is required That is why each chapter offers you the opportunity to experiment with exercises that would deepen your personal experience of the topic In addition, the chapters 194 THE HERO’S JOURNEY spiral€– engagement with it and acceptance of it fuels the process and allows the growth process to take place Is this journey a description of the experiences of men and women? Campbell asserted that it was However we have to acknowledge the huge majority of myths have a male figure as a hero The characters of Psyche, Persephone and Demeter are examples of a few female characters Murdock (1990) and Frankel (2010) write movingly of how they see the woman’s hero’s journey From these the author infers that while the stages may be the same, the difference is in an experience that reflects gender experiences Yet there is a commonality between the male and female experience: that of being willing to step away from what society shapes us to and listen for and encounter an awareness of our uniqueness and unique contributions, from within Given the depth of Campbell’s descriptions of the final stages, it is hard to believe that this is solely a male outcome but a reflection of where our life’s journey takes us€all Campbell’s opening words in describing the hero’s journey echo why this refers to humankind rather than men alone We embark on a life journey that is about expanding our consciousness, living our uniqueness and self-realisation The journey is about becoming more fully who we truly are Yet in the act of doing so, we meet a paradox: in finding who we truly are through the creative incubation of the belly of the whale, in the road of trials, by experiencing the creativity and destruction that is part of life, and in encountering not just the good in life and ourselves but also the negative, we also find our commonality or shared humanity If we find, as Campbell believed, an increased capacity for compassion and love towards others, we in turn start to give away, to share that self we have discovered as a means of contributing to and changing the world in which we€live SUMMARY – THIS CHAPTER HAS ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING • • • • Summarised the stages of the hero’s journey Illustrated the stages of the hero’s journey by examples from famous literature and film Offered reflective questions to support the reader in exploring these topics Offered resources for following up these ideas in other literature RESOURCES AND SUGGESTIONS The DVD series of the Power of Myth programmes shows us Joseph Campbell as an engaging and influential speaker The website for the Joseph Campbell Foundation (https://www.jcf.org/new/index.php) offers audio downloads at reasonable prices of many lectures given by Campbell THE HERO’S JOURNEY BIBLIOGRAPHY Albert, R.â•›S (Ed.) (1992) Genius and eminence (2nd ed.) Oxford, UK: Pergamon Barron, F (1988) Putting creativity to work In R Sternberg (Ed.), The nature of creativity: Contemporary psychological perspectives Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press Campbell, J (1949/1988) The hero with a thousand faces (Paladin ed.) London: Grafton Campbell, J (2004) Pathways to bliss: Mythology and personal transformation Novato, CA: New World Library Cousineau, P (2001) Once and future myths: The power of ancient stories in modern times Berkeley, CA: Conari Cousineau, P (2008) Stoking the creative fires San Francisco: Conari Erikson, E H (1980) Identity and the life cycle: Areissue New York: Norton Erikson, E.â•›H., Erikson, J.â•›M., & Kivnick, H.â•›Q (1986).Vital involvement in old age London: W W Norton Flowers, B.S (Ed) (1988) The power of myth London: Anchor Doubleday Frankel, V (2010) From girl to goddess: The heroine’s journey through myth and legend London: McFarland Fredrickson, B.â•›L (2009) Positivity New York: Crown Fredrickson, B.â•›L (2013) Love 2.0 London: Hudson Street Gilligan, S.,  & Dilts, R (2009) The hero’s journey: A  voyage of self-discovery Carmarthen, Wales: Crown House Hollis, J (2005) Finding meaning in the second half of life New York: Penguin Joseph, S., & Linley, A (2006) Positive therapy: A meta-theory for positive psychology practice London: Routledge Levinson, D (1996) The seasons of a woman’s life New York: Knopf Levinson, D J., Darrow, C N., Klein, E B., Levinson, M A., & McKee, B (1978) Seasons of a man’s life New York: Knopf Linley, P.,  & Joseph, S (2007) Therapy work and therapists’ positive and negative well-being Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26, 385–403 McAdams, D.â•›P (1988) Power, intimacy and the live story: Personological inquiries into identity London: Guildford McAdams, D P (1995) The stories we live by: Personal myths and the making of the self London: Guildford McAdams, D P (2001) The psychology of life stories Review of General Psychology, 5(2), 100–122 McAdams, D.â•›P (2006) A new big five: Fundamental principles for an integrative science of personality American Psychologist, 61(3), 204–217 McAdams, D.â•›P (2006a) The person: A  new introduction to personality psychology (4th ed.) London: John Wiley and Sons McAdams, D.â•›P (2006b) The redemptive self: Stories Americans live by Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press 195 196 THE HERO’S JOURNEY Murdock, M (1990) The heroine’s journey Boston: Shamballa Osbon, D.â•›K (Ed) (1991) A Joseph Campbell companion: Reflections on the art of living London: Harper Collins Parks, A.â•›C., & Schueller, S.â•›M (Eds.) (2014) The Wiley Blackwell handbook of positive psychology interventions London: Wiley Blackwell Rogers, C (1961) On becoming a person Boston: Houghton Mifflin Ryff, C.â•›D., & Singer, B.â•›H (2008) Know thyself and become what you are: A eudaimonic approach to psychological well-being Journal of Happiness Studies, 9, 13–39 Snyder, C R (1994) The psychology of hope London: Free Press Snyder, C R (Ed.) (2000) The handbook of hope: Theories, measures and applications London: Academic Press Vaillant, G (1977) Adaptation to life Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press Vaillant, G (2002) Aging well Boston: Little Brown Vogler, C (2007) The writer’s journey: Mythic structure for storytellers and screenwriters (3rd ed.) London: Pan Books Worth, P (2010) Four questions of creativity: Keys to a creative life Bloomington, IL: Trafford Zuckerman, H (1977) The scientific elite: Nobel laureates’ mutual influences New York: Free Press Index abuse 10↜–↜11,€ 65 acceptance 110; death 110, 119↜–↜20, 124; of life 190; self- 63, 87, 162↜–↜4; of unknown 184↜–↜5 action 57, 93; of agency 49; cognition and 94; compensatory 15↜–↜16; creation in, process of 187; expressing change in 93; growth behaviour focused on 94; happiness and taking 13; meaning of life through 56↜–↜7, 66; psychological wellbeing and 164; purpose and 57; specialized adult 189; theory and€57 action-focused growth behaviour change€94 activating events 80↜–↜2 actualising tendency 42, 176↜–↜7,€179 adaptive behaviours€47 adversarial growth 83↜–↜4,€90 adversity during cancer 84; fostering resilience through 79; humour in face of 47; personal strength through 85; reconfiguration resilience through 77; resilience through 76↜–↜9; transformational growth through 83↜–↜4; during trauma 3, 84, 86, 90,€94 aesthetics 22; of dialectics 19↜–↜24; of Eastern philosophies 8, 21; Taoist-influenced 22; Zen 22↜–↜4 afterlife 106, 110, 125,€127 agape 20,€138 age/aging 45↜–↜6; death and 106↜–↜8, 122↜–↜3; good death and 122↜–↜3; “good death” and, concept of 122↜–↜3; life transitioning and 23; positive 45↜–↜7, 178; positive development and 47; quality of 32; self-transcendence and 155↜–↜6 aggression 10, 111,€145 aloneness€23 altruism 63; abuse and 11; as coping mechanism 47; empathy- 137; forgiveness and 9↜–↜11; humility and 14; prosocial values for enhancing€115 American Psychological Association (APA)€5 American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS)€154 anatman€145 anger 13, 15↜–↜17, 120; cancer, associated with 12; compassion and 137; denial and 120; as destructive emotion 15; expressions of 15; forgiveness and 15; holding onto 17; love and 20; positive thinking and 12; regrets and 122; righteous€16 anitya€145 anti-compassion€137 anxiety 83, 165; dark side and 180; death and 110, 114, 125↜–↜6; denial and 110; freedom and, perceptive linking of 10; humanity and 137; love and 20; meaning of life and 59; morality awareness and 110↜–↜11; physical resilience and 83; PTG and 90; self-compassion and 165; transitions in life and 43; trauma and 2,€92 APA see American Psychological Association (APA) Apotheosis 190↜–↜2 appreciation 19, 22, 85, 111; death and 111, 115, 128; of dialectics 21; of existence 23; existential awareness and 104; of life 85↜–↜6,€ 124 approach acceptance€110 approach behaviour€89 archetypes€49 198 Index ARIS see American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) Aristotle€11 assimilation€88 assumptions 90; about the world 89, 92; shattered 84, 88, 90; trauma and 84,€87 authentic happiness€134 authenticity 58↜–↜9, 140; awareness and 58; beliefs and 58; control and 58; dark side and 58↜–↜9; death and 111; defined 58; experience of 58; life transitions and 45; meaning of life and 56, 58; selfhood and 140; wellbeing and€58 authentic living€110 autobiographical memory€48 autonomy 34, 37, 58, 87,€140 Avalokiteshvara€191 awakening experiences 122↜–↜3 awareness 58, 114; authenticity and 58; of beliefs 58; conscious 189; as coping mechanism 46; corporeal 86; of death 110↜–↜11; defined 58; existential 86, 103↜–↜4; of mortality 114; self-referential 158; self-concept and 65, 159↜–↜60; wellbeing and 162; see also morality awareness (MA); self-awareness behaviour adaptive 47; approach 89; authenticity and 58; compassion and 135↜–↜6; controlling 79; defined 58; goal-driven 56, 189; growth 94; health 86, 94; motivation and 114, 136; in time€47 behavioural compassion€135 behavioural meaning of life€57 beliefs 63, 80↜–↜2; afterlife 127; authenticity and 58; awareness of 58; core 81, 87, 89; cultural 111; death and 125; political 63; religious 63; self-esteem and 111; sociological 63; spirituality and 154↜–↜5 benefit finding scale (BFS)€89 best practice€91 beyond sadness€136 BFS see benefit finding scale (BFS) bhavanga€148 biomarkers€89 body image€83 brain death€105 brief resilience scale 78↜–↜9 Bruner, Jerome€176 Buber, Martin€142 Buddhism 14↜–↜15, 18, 23, 137, 143; Chan 22↜–↜3; compassion as essence of 136↜–↜8, 142; dark side of life and 144↜–↜5; freedom and 15; happiness in 12, 18; humility in 14; love in 23; meditation and 108; reality in 145; selfhood in 145; self-transcendence in 145↜–↜6; Taoism and 22; wellbeing in€18 Buddhist meditation€108 Buddhist philosophy 107↜–↜8 call to adventure 179↜–↜80; to change 179↜–↜80; mentor and 182↜–↜3; refusal to€181 Campbell, Joseph€176 Camus, Albert 107↜–↜8 cancer 12, 84, 94,€114 care, strength of€35 career consolidation€45 Carnegie Mellon University€121 Cartesian I€140 CBT see cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) CD-RISC, see Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC) chaironic happiness 24, 158↜–↜9 challenges 178↜–↜9, 185↜–↜6; dark side of 7, 62, 65, 178; life 14, 69, 177↜–↜8; personal 3; positive change through€3 Chamber of Secrets,The€187 Chan Buddhism 22↜–↜3 change action, expressing in 93; call to 179↜–↜80; committing to 182↜–↜3; concept of 64↜–↜5; growth and 186↜–↜7; growth behaviour and 94; identifying 93; in meaning 63↜–↜8; and nature cycle of life 187; of philosophy in life 85; psychological growth and 176; purpose and 64↜–↜5; uncertainty and€187 changed philosophy 85↜–↜6 changed priorities€86 changed world€88 changes in outlook questionnaire (CIOQ)€89 characters, Jungian concepts of€49 China, meditation in€141 Christianity 83, 138↜–↜9,€143 CIOQ see changes in outlook questionnaire (CIOQ) Index clinical death€105 cogito ergo sum€140 cognition and action€94 cognitive behavioural psychology 80↜–↜3 cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)€80 cognitive compassion 135,€144 cognitive experience€56 cognitive meaning of life€57 collective well 12↜–↜13 compassion 17, 115, 135↜–↜9; advocate for 137↜–↜8; anger and 137; behaviour and 135↜–↜6; Buddhism, as essence of 136↜–↜8, 142; cognitive 135, 144; concept of 134; conundrum of 136; emotional 135; empathy and 135; motivation and 135↜–↜6; natural 137; religion of 138; research on 144; self-transcendence and 143↜–↜8, 146; significance of 144; suffering and 135, 190; sympathy and 135; theoretical models of 135; value of 137↜–↜8; violence and 137; wellbeing and 143↜–↜4 compassionate impulse 136↜–↜7 compensatory action 15↜–↜16 competence€34 Comprehensive Soldier Family Fitness (CSFF) programme€92 confrontation of death 125↜–↜6 Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC) 78↜–↜9 conscious awareness€189 conscious death reminders 114↜–↜15 consciousness 140, 190↜–↜2 consequences 80↜–↜2 constructive self-disclosure€92 contemplation of death 125↜–↜6 contemporary theories of identity€141 control 84; authenticity and 58; behavioural 79; death and being in 123; inner space and 139↜–↜40; relinquishing 49; sharing 49; trauma and€85 coping altruism as 47; awareness as 46; mechanisms of 46↜–↜7, 120; with mortality 120; positive 79; proactive 13↜–↜14 core beliefs 81, 87,€89 corporeal awareness€86 cortical death€105 co-valenced emotions€19 creation 178, 186↜–↜8 creativity 63, 115,€134 crisis 33, 36,€65 cross-cultural existence€84 CSFF see Comprehensive Soldier Family Fitness (CSFF) programme cultural beliefs€111 Dalai Lama 17, 137↜–↜8 dana€142 dark side anxiety and 180; authenticity and 58↜–↜9; Buddhism and 144↜–↜5; of challenges 7, 62, 65, 178↜–↜9; concept of 1, 179; of death 123; defined 135; experiences of 65↜–↜6, 183↜–↜6, 190; isolation and 65; of life 135, 137, 139, 143↜–↜5, 190; of life cycle theory 37; of meaning 58↜–↜9, 63↜–↜8; of mortality 104, 123; of PP 183; of purpose 58↜–↜9; of reality 85; relationships, to embracing 168; of self-awareness 160↜–↜2, 168; of spirituality 154; trauma and, link between€84 Dark Side of Close Relationships,The€20 death 105; acceptance of 110, 119↜–↜20, 124; age and 106↜–↜8, 123; anxiety and 110, 114, 125↜–↜6; appreciation and 111, 115, 128; authenticity and 111; awareness of 110↜–↜11; beliefs and 125; cancer and 114; certainty of 108; concept of 104↜–↜5; confrontation of 125↜–↜6; conscious reminders of 114↜–↜15; contemplation of 125↜–↜6; control, and being in 123; creativity and 115; dark side of 123; defined 105↜–↜6; denial of 108↜–↜10, 109↜–↜10; education on 125; existence after 105; experiencing versus shielding of 124; exposure to 115; fear of 35, 107, 110↜–↜14, 122; good 122↜–↜3; MA and 127; mini 122; mortality and 112, 123; philosophy, as inspiring genius of 107; process of 109; pro-social behavior and 114; quality of life and 124; reaction of 120; reality of 105, 109, 112; recollection of 108; reflection 112↜–↜13, 115; stages of 105; stage theory of 120↜–↜1; therapies for 125↜–↜7; as ultimate concern 126; unconscious 114; wellbeing and 110, 124,€127 death-affirming societies 109↜–↜10,€123 199 200 Index Death Attitudes Profile↜–↜Revised scale 115↜–↜19 death doulas€124 death reflection conditions€115 defense mechanisms for terminally ill patients€120 defensiveness, mortality-induced 111↜–↜12 demand retaliatory 15↜–↜16 denial 86, 110,€120 depression 83, 120, 162,€165 Descartes, Rene€140 despair 35↜–↜6,€ 45 destruction 178,€187 de-structuring 178,€187 developmental periods 38↜–↜9 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders€17 dialectics, aesthetics of 19↜–↜24 dialogical self€141 doubt 34,€140 duhkha€145 dying 122; see also death Eastern philosophy 8, 19,€21 Eckhart, Meister 147↜–↜8 ego 139, 183↜–↜4; despair vs 35↜–↜6; idea of 46; skin-encapsulated€142 Ehrenreich, Barbara€12 Elliot, T S.€181 emergent virtues€47 emotion aesthetics of dialectics of 19↜–↜24; anger as destructive 15; compassion and 135; co-valenced 19; experience of 7, 135; meaning of life and 57; negative 9↜–↜18; positive 9↜–↜18; transcendent€46 empathy 115, 135,€137 empathy↜–↜altruism hypothesis€ 137 end of life 119↜–↜20; see also death enlightened self-interest€136 enlightenment 84,€153 Enlightenment, the€140 environmental mastery€87 EP see existential philosophy (EP) Epicurus€107 eras of development 38↜–↜9 Erikson, Erik 32; see also life cycle theory Erikson, Joan€36 eudaimonia 176↜–↜7 eudaimonic happiness€11 eudaimonic wellbeing 87↜–↜8, 90, 110, 114↜–↜15 existence 21, 110, 186↜–↜7; after death 105; appreciation of 23; concept of 107; cross-cultural 84; depths of 24; dialectical nature of 21↜–↜2; fluidity of 186↜–↜7; impermanence of 23; key qualities of 145; non-, state of 107; positive dimensions of 19; self-awareness of€160 existential awareness 86, 103↜–↜4 existential philosophy (EP) 58,€107 existential psychotherapy 125↜–↜6 experience 122↜–↜4; of authenticity 58; cognitive 56; dark side of 65↜–↜6, 183↜–↜4; emotional 7, 135; female 194; flow 159; human dimensions of 18↜–↜19; male 194; of meaning 57, 60, 63, 69; motivation for 62, 65; mystical 156; negative 62; peak 24; seekers of positive 62; of self-hood 147; of self-transcendence 157↜–↜8; spiritual 22, 69, 155; transformative 84; traumatic 85↜–↜6; universal€91 expert companion 91↜–↜2 expression creativity and 63; of love 17; personal 31; self- 179,€190 extrinsic goals 114↜–↜15 false consciousness€13 fear of death 35, 107, 110↜–↜14, 122; of love 20; of the polarity in life 178; of rejection 183; of terrorism€11 Fellowship of the Ring,The 182↜–↜4, 186↜–↜8,€ 190 female experience€194 fidelity 34,€37 flow experience€159 fluidity of existence 186↜–↜7 forgiveness 10↜–↜11, 13, 115; altruism and 9↜–↜11; anger and€15 ‘Four Quartets’€181 Frankl, Victor 55, 60,€126 Franklin, Benjamin€14 freedom 10, 13↜–↜14, 126; anxiety and, perceptive linking of 10; Buddhism and€15 Freudian ego defences€46 Fuller, Thomas€ generativity 35, 45↜–↜6,€50 genetics€156 Index gerontology 155↜–↜6 goals 64, 154; behaviour driven by 189; changed priorities and 86; extrinsic 114↜–↜15; growth-oreinted 111, 114; intimacy and 62; life 62, 86↜–↜7; long-term 15; personal 35; pursuit of 56↜–↜7; self-esteem and 10; spiritual€154 God 139, 140, 147↜–↜8 good death 122↜–↜3 good life€105 ‘Grail Legend’ 176↜–↜7 Grant Study of Adult Development 36, 44↜–↜6,€ 178 Greek philosophy 11,€107 grief 17,€84 group-based interventions 93↜–↜4 growth 63; adversarial 83↜–↜4, 90; behaviour change in 94; change and 186↜–↜7; definitions of 77; enlightenment and 84; following trauma 94; goals and 111, 114; mortality-induced 111↜–↜12; personal 63, 87, 110; psychological 176; stress-related 83; transformational 75, 83↜–↜4 guidance 189↜–↜90 Hadfield, Chris€14 happiness 11↜–↜12; authentic 134; believing in 12↜–↜13; in Buddhism 12, 18; chaironic 24, 158↜–↜9; cultural expectations of 17↜–↜18; hedonic 12, 86, 110; pitfalls of 13; promoting activities and 16; quest for 23; and taking action€13 Harry Potter 180, 182↜–↜6, 188, 190↜–↜1 hate 15↜–↜17,€ 20 health behaviour 86,€94 health optimism€114 hedonic happiness 12, 86,€110 hedonic pleasure€11 hedonic wellbeing 87,€110 hedonism€63 Hefferon, Dr.€Kate 1,€3 Hegelian notion of thesis↜–↜antithesis↜–↜synthesis€ 19 Hero,The€176 hero’s journey 175↜–↜96 Hero With a Thousand Faces,€193 Holocaust€126 hope 33↜–↜4, 93, 120,€179 human experience 18↜–↜19 identity 45; based on stories 32; confusion of 34↜–↜5; contemporary theories of 141; creation of 49; forming 48; fusion of 141; interconnectedness and 139↜–↜43; intersubjective 135; maturity of 64; motivation and 48; self and, concept of 139; sense of 63↜–↜4; theories of 139; of women€36 I↜–↜it relationships€ 142 individual development€64 individualism 139↜–↜41 individualist↜–↜collectivist distinction 140↜–↜1 individuation 41,€43 inner space 139↜–↜40 integrity 35, 37,€45 interconnectedness 139↜–↜43; identity and 139↜–↜43; self-transcendence and 144,€155 intersubjective selfhood€148 intersubjectivity 135, 141, 146,€148 intimacy 35↜–↜6, 45, 49, 62; communion and 49; goals and 62; isolation vs 35, 37; in life cycle 45; meaning of 62; power and 49; stages of€36 in time behaviour€47 Introduction to Positive Psychology€134 intuitive empathy€137 isolation 35, 120, 126; dark side and 65; denial and 120; intimacy vs 35, 37; negative consequences of 164; as ultimate concern€126 I↜–↜thou relationships 142, 146,€148 Ivtzan, Dr.€Itai 1,€3 Jefferson, Thomas€ 11 Jesus€138 Joseph, Stephen 87,€92 journey, committing to 182↜–↜3 Judaism€83 Jung, Carl€177 Jungian psychology 41, 42,€49 Kali€187 karuna€142 Keeper of Meaning€45 Kenko, Yoshida 23↜ 201 202 Index kindness 11, 115, 164, 187; abuse and 11; loving 142↜–↜3, 148; pro-social values and, strengthening of 115; self-compassion and€164 King, Dr.€Martin Luther Jr 16↜–↜17 King James Bible€138 Kübler-Ross, Elizabeth 119↜–↜20 Kwan Yin€ 191 Lao Tzu€ 21 Last Lecture,The€121 L’etranger 107↜–↜8 Levinson, Daniel€32 Lewis, C S.€20 life acceptance of 190; appreciation of 85↜–↜6, 124; challenges in 14, 69, 177↜–↜8; creation of 186↜–↜9; dark side of 135, 137, 139, 143, 190; death, and the imminence of 107; end of 119↜–↜20; fear of the polarity in 178; goals in 62, 86↜–↜7; good 105; meaning in 55↜–↜6; natural cycle of 187; negative aspects of 3; new possibilities in 85; resignation of 190; structure of 38↜–↜40, 43; transitions in (see transitions in life); zest for 112; see also meaning of€life life cycle theory 32↜–↜6; dark side of 37; developmental periods within 37↜–↜43; intimacy in 45; positive psychology and€37 lifespan, milestones across 122↜–↜3 life work 63,€126 Linley, Alex€87 living, authentic€110 LKM, see loving kindness meditation (LKM) logotherapy€126 Lomas, Dr.€Tim 1,€3 long-term goals€15 Lord of the Rings,The 176,€180 loss 76,€120 love 19↜–↜20, 35; anger and 20; anxiety and 20; in Buddhism 23; expression of 17; fear of 20; intersubjective selfhood and 148; pathos of 20; phenomena of 22↜–↜3; power of 23; risks and 21; vulnerability and€20 loving kindness 142↜–↜3,€148 loving kindness meditation (LKM) 143, 146↜–↜7 ludus€20 Lyle, Lesley€31 MA see morality awareness (MA) male experience€194 mania€20 Manichean perspective€19 Man’s Search for Meaning€60 MAPP, see MSc in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) mature adaptive mechanisms 46↜–↜7 McAdams, Dan 32, 48, 176↜–↜8 meaning authenticity and 58↜–↜9; changes in 63↜–↜8; concept of 56, 111; dark side of 58↜–↜9, 63↜–↜8; depth of 68↜–↜9; emergence of 64; experience of 57, 60, 63, 69; interrelation between 57↜–↜8; of intimacy 62; levels of 68↜–↜9; natural changes in 65↜–↜6; presence and 60↜–↜1; purpose and 56↜–↜8; research on 59↜–↜60; search for 60↜–↜2; sources of 62↜–↜4; strength and€60 Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ)€61 meaning management theory (MMT)€114 meaning of life 55↜–↜7; anxiety and 59; authenticity and 56, 58; optimism, associated with 59; psychological study of 56; through action 56↜–↜7, 66; as ultimate concern 126; wellbeing and€59 meditation 108, 159; Buddhist 108; in China 141; loving kindness 143; mindfulness 66↜–↜8; Tonglen€ 146 mentor 181↜–↜3 metta€142 Mill, John Stuart€12 mindfulness and mortality€126 mindfulness intervention program 66↜–↜8 mindfulness meditation 66↜–↜8 mini deaths€122 mistrust 33↜–↜4 MLQ see Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ) MMT see meaning management theory (MMT) monological consciousness€140 mono no aware 22↜–↜3 morality 10, 110↜–↜14, 138; philosophy, and heart of 108; reflection of€106 morality awareness (MA) 110↜–↜11 moral philosophy 137,€147 mortality 103↜–↜4, 114; awareness of 114; coping with 120; dark side of 104, 123; death and 112, 123; death denial and Index 108;€mindfulness and 126; negotiating 110; optimism as risk to 9; personal awareness of 45; reflections on 86, 106, 111; symbolic 111; taboo surrounding discussing 125; terror management theory and 111; wellbeing and, effects of€128 mortality awareness (MA) 103, 114,€127 mortality-induced defensiveness 111↜–↜12 mortality-induced growth 111↜–↜12 mortality salient (MS) environment 111↜–↜12,€ 126 motivation 135↜–↜6; behaviour and 114, 136; for experiences 62, 65; identity and 48; for power 49; reflection and 166; rumination and 166; spirituality and€154 motivational meaning of life€57 Moyers, Bill 181↜–↜2 MS see mortality salient (MS) environment MSc in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP)€1 NASA€14 negative emotion 9↜–↜18 negative experiences 2, 6↜–↜7, 33,€62 negative thinking 13↜–↜14,€81 Neolithic period€106 neurotic perfectionism€165 neutral acceptance€110 Nichomachean Ethics€11 non-beingness€107 non-existence€107 ‘non-zero-sum’ goods 10↜–↜11 nursing theory€156 obtaining€63 On Death and Dying€119 oneself, sense of€85 oppression 15↜–↜16 optimism 2, 9↜–↜10, 13↜–↜14, 179; excessive 9; health 114; meaning of life associated with 59; mortality, as risk to 9; pitfalls of 13↜–↜14; positive thinking and 9; self-esteem and 10; shades of 9↜–↜10; tyrannies of 2, 9; unrealistic€9 organismic valuing theory of PTG 87↜–↜8 partner abuse€11 Pausch, Randy€121 peak experience€24 Pennebaker, James€47 perceived benefits€83 perfectionism€165 permeable self€141 personal: awareness 45; consciousness 190↜–↜2; expression 31; goals 35; growth 63, 87, 110; potential 68; reflection 59; strength€85 personality 77↜–↜8 personality theory€156 pessimism 2, 13↜–↜15 Peterson, Chris€121 philosophical myths 137,€147 philosophy 85, 107, 108; Buddhist 107↜–↜8; cautious and un-hubristic 14; changed 85↜–↜6; death as inspiring genius of 107; Eastern 19, 21; existential 58, 107; Greek 11, 107; humanity and 137; moral 137, 147; morality and heart of 108; myths in 137, 147; Western 137↜–↜8 physical resilience€83 playing 7,€36 pleasure 5, 11, 24,€63 PMP see Positive Mindfulness Programme (PMP) positive: adaptation 84; adjustment 84; affect 79; age/aging 45↜–↜7, 178; by-products 84; coping 79; development and aging 47; emotion 9↜–↜18; mental health 90; power 13↜–↜14; relations with others€87 Positive Mindfulness Programme (PMP) 66↜–↜9 positive psychology (PP): boundaries of 4; conception of 1; contextual approach to 11; dark side of 183; dialectical movement within 13; emergence of 6↜–↜7; growth of 2; life cycle theory and 37; negative 1↜–↜2; new frontier for 103; optimism and 9; origin story of 5; positive 1↜–↜2; premise of 19; second wave of, defining 2; Thanology and 127↜–↜8; variables of€4 positive terror management (PTM)€114 positive terror management theory (PTMT) 114↜–↜19 positive thinking 12, 17↜–↜18, 79, 91, 94; anger and 12; optimism and 9; tyranny of 12, 17↜–↜18, 91,€ 94 posttraumatic changes questionnaire (PWB-PTCQ)€89 203 204 Index posttraumatic growth (PTG) 8, 77, 83, 86; academic field of 91; action-focused growth behaviour change approach to 94; anxiety and 90; applying 91; caveats of 86↜–↜7; in clinical practice 91↜–↜2; conceptualising 85↜–↜6; as good thing 90↜–↜1; measuring 88↜–↜9; organismic valuing theory of 87↜–↜8; perspectives on 89; process of 87↜–↜8; programmes for 92↜–↜4; PTSD and 90↜–↜1; religious component to 86; structured guidelines on facilitating 91; theoretical perspectives within 85, 114↜–↜15; transformational model of 87↜–↜8; universal phenomenon of€86 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 10, 90↜–↜1 power 49; of agency 49; barriers of 120; of existential awareness 103↜–↜4; intimacy and 49; of love 23; motivation for 49; of negative thinking 13↜–↜14; in religions 147; of self-transcendence 159; trauma and 86; universal€24 Power of Myth,The€176 PP see positive psychology (PP) pragma€20 Praise of Shadows€23 prejudice 111,€115 proactive coping 13↜–↜14 pro-social behavior€114 pro-social values€115 psychiatric genetics€156 psychological: growth 176; resilience 77, 80; shadow 161↜ psychological wellbeing 11, 89, 154, 162, 175; action and 164; core dimensions of 162; eudaimonic 11; measuring 162; self-awareness and 164↜–↜5; spirituality and 154; trauma and€89 psychology cognitive behavioural 80↜–↜3; Jungian 42, 49; self-awareness and 160; spirituality and€160 psychopathology€17 psychospiritual development 147↜–↜8; growth€147 psychotherapy 125↜–↜6 PTG see posttraumatic growth (PTG) PTGI 88↜–↜9 PTM see positive terror management (PTM) PTMT see positive terror management theory (PTMT) PTSD see posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) pure pessimism€14 purpose 34; action and 57; change and 64↜–↜5; concept of 56, 111; of the hero’s journey 192; of life 58, 87; meaning and, interrelation between 57↜–↜8 PWB-PTCQ, see posttraumatic changes questionnaire (PWB-PTCQ) racial discrimination€111 rational-choice economic theory€10 rational choice theory€136 rational emotional behaviour therapy (REBT)€80 reality 85; in Buddhism 145; dark side of 85; of death 105, 109, 112; expectations and 12; pessimism and sense of 2, 9; resilience in€78 ‘Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams’€121 re-authoring€93 REBT rational emotional behaviour therapy (REBT) reconfiguration resilience€77 recovery resilience€77 redemption€50 reflection 59, 166↜–↜8; death 112↜–↜13, 115; of morality 106; motivation and 166; personal 59; rumination vs 166↜–↜8 regrets€122 rejection, fear of€183 relationships dark side to embracing 168; I↜–↜thou 142, 146, 148; maturity of 64; with others 85↜–↜6; self-awareness and 161; sense of 85; sources of meaning in 62↜–↜3 religion 13, 63, 83, 86, 138; abolition of 13; afterlife beliefs and 127; approach acceptance linked to 110; beliefs in 63; of compassion 138; dignity in 13; power in€147 Renaissance€140 resilience 76↜–↜7; applications of 75; building 80↜–↜3; concept of 77, 79; defining 77↜–↜8; fostering 79↜–↜80; measuring 78↜–↜9; physical 83; psychological 77, 80; in reality 78; research on 77↜–↜8; scales of 78↜–↜9; scientific understanding of 75; through adversity 76↜–↜9 resilience scale for adults (RSA) 78↜–↜9 Index resilient personality 77↜–↜8 resistance resilience€77 Return of the King 182, 191,€193 righteous anger€16 Rikyu, Sen€no 24 river of time 186↜–↜7 Rogers, Carl 42, 176↜–↜7 role models 123↜–↜5 RSA, see resilience scale for adults (RSA) Rumi€18 rumination 90, 165, 166↜–↜8 Rumination↜–↜Reflection Questionnaire 166↜–↜8 sabi 22↜–↜3 sadness 13, 17, 23, 90, 135↜–↜6 St.€Paul€138 Schwartz, Morrie€124 ‘seasons’ of a man’s and woman’s life 37↜–↜44 self: concept of 64↜–↜5, 139, 159↜–↜60, 177; dialogical 141; expression of 179, 190; individualistic sense of 135; permeable 141; sense of 63↜–↜4; separate 145↜–↜6 self-acceptance 87, 162↜–↜4; depression and 162; self-compassion and 162↜–↜6; sources of meaning in€63 self-actualisation€111 self-actualized existence€110 self-attentiveness€166 self-awareness 69, 159; avoidance and 161; compassion and 164↜–↜5; concept of 160; dark side of 160↜–↜2, 168; of existence 160; importance of 166; relationship and 161; self-observation and 161; self-transcendence and 161; spirituality and 160; theory of 160; transforming 162↜–↜6 self-boundaries 155, 162↜–↜3 self-compassion 162↜–↜6; anxiety and 165; kindness and€164 self-criticism 164↜–↜5 self-determination 10,€140 self-disclosure€92 self-esteem 111, 114, 140; beliefs and 111; goals and 10; optimism and 9↜–↜10; pitfalls of€13 self-expression€179 self-forgetting€14 selfhood authenticity and 140; autonomy and 140; in Buddhism 145; conception of 139; context of 145; experience of 147; individualistic model of 142↜–↜5; intersubjective 146, 148; narrow view of 141, 145↜–↜6; sense of 142; transcendence and€147 self-identity 66, 68,€139 self-interest 68,€136 selfish genes€136 selfishness 142↜–↜3 self-judgment€161 self-observation€161 self-perception€83 self-preoccupation€68 self-realisation€185 self-referential awareness€158 self-regulation theory€12 self-report questionnaires 88↜–↜9 self-transcendence 68↜–↜9, 143↜–↜4, 155↜–↜8; aging and 155↜–↜6; Buddhism 145↜–↜6; compassion and 143↜–↜8, 146; concept of 144, 156, 158; experience of 157↜–↜8; flow and 159; gerontology and 155↜–↜6; interconnectedness and 144, 155; in positive psychology 158↜–↜60; power of 159; psychospiritual growth and 147; self-awareness and 161, 164; self-boundaries and 155; sources of meaning in 62; suffering and 144↜–↜5; well-being and 159↜–↜60 self-worth€114 Seligman, Martin€5 separate self 145↜–↜6 shame 34,€37 shared suffering 135↜–↜6 sharing control€49 shattered assumptions 84, 88,€90 Shattered Assumptions Theory€ 84 silver lining scale€89 Simon and Garfunkel€21 Sioux€33 skin-encapsulated ego€142 social: cohesion 138; maturation 32, 46; wellbeing€175 societal inequality€13 sociological beliefs€63 Socrates€12 sorrow€76 Sources of Meaning Profile (SOMP)€64 205 206 Index specialised adult action€189 sphere of concern€142 spiritual experience 22, 69,€155 spiritual goals€154 spirituality appreciation of 85; beliefs and 154↜–↜5; dark side of 154; defined 154; depth of 189; essence of 153↜–↜5; motivation and 154; psychological wellbeing and 154; psychology and 160; self-awareness and 160; sources of meaning in 63; transcendence and 154↜–↜5 spousal abuse€10 SRGS see stress-related growth scale (SRGS) stage theory of death 120↜–↜1 stagnation 35, 37, 45,€179 Stanford (Terman) Study of Gifted Children€44 Star Wars 176, 180, 182↜–↜4, 186↜–↜8,€190 strategic pessimism€14 strength 60, 85, 176↜–↜7; of care 35; of competence 34; of fidelity 34↜–↜5; of hope 33↜–↜4; human 33; of love 35; personal 85; of purpose 34; of will 34; of wisdom 35↜–↜6 stress-related growth scale (SRGS) 83,€89 subjective wellbeing 11,€175 subjectivity€139 sublimation 47↜ substance abuse€65 suffering 84; compassion and 190; self-transcendence and 144↜–↜5; shared 135↜–↜6 superego€189 supernatural aids 181↜–↜2 support 189↜–↜90 suppression 47,€126 symbolic mortality€111 sympathy 8, 49,€135 synthesis 6↜–↜7, 13,€19 taking stock€93 ‘Tale of the Heike, The’ 23↜ Taoism 21↜–↜2 Taoist-influenced aesthetics€22 Tao Te Ching€21 TCI see Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) 156↜–↜8 terrorism, fear of€11 Terror management theory (TMT) 111↜–↜15,€ 126 Thanology 106, 127↜–↜8 theory action and 57; of chaironic happiness 158↜–↜9; of self-transcendence 162↜–↜3; of the shattered vase€88 thinking 80; see also positive thinking THRIVE€92 through-time 47,€50 Tibetan independence€17 TMT see Terror management theory (TMT) tolerance€115 Tonglen meditation 146↜–↜7 Top Regrets of the Dying,The€122 trait mindfulness€126 tranquility€23 transcendence of a narrow self-identity 141; notion of 154↜–↜5; of self and others 68; selfhood and 147; of self-interest 69; spirituality and 154↜–↜5; see also self-transcendence transcendent emotions€46 transformational growth 75, 83↜–↜4 transformational model of PTG 87↜–↜8 transformative experience€84 transitions in life 43; age/aging 23; anxiety and 43; authenticity€45 trauma 84↜–↜6; adversity during 3, 84, 86, 90, 94; anxiety and 2, 92; assumptions and 84, 87; control and 85; power and€86 traumatic experience 85↜–↜6 true self 181↜–↜2 trust 33↜–↜4 Tuesdays With Morrie 124↜–↜5 ‘two arrows’€18 Two Towers€182 ubiquitous individualism€141 uncertainty 40, 43, 108, 175,€187 unconscious death€114 unconscious MS€115 United States Army€92 universal: egoism 136; experience 91; power€24 unknown, acceptance of 184↜–↜5 unlived life€122 unrealistic optimism€9 Index Vaillant, George 32, 36, 41,€43 Values in Action (VIA) 93, 154↜–↜5 van Gogh, Vincent€138 VIA see Values in Action (VIA) violence 16,€137 virtues 13↜–↜14, 37, 47, 155,€179 vulnerability€20 wabi 22↜–↜4 well 12↜–↜13 wellbeing authenticity and 58; awareness and 162; compassion and 143↜–↜4; criterion of 162; eudaimonic 87, 88, 90, 110, 114↜–↜15; hedonic 87, 110; mortality and, effects of 128; positive qualities and 19; psychological 11, 89, 162, 175; psychological resilience and 80; seeking 18; self-transcendence and 159↜–↜60; social 175; subjective 11, 175; see also psychological wellbeing Western individualism 140↜–↜1 Western philosophy 137↜–↜8 will€34 wisdom 35↜–↜6 Wong, Paul€126 world assumptions 89,€92 worldview 112,€115 Worth, Dr.€Piers€3 Yurok American Indian tribes€33 Zen: aesthetics 22↜–↜4; art€22 207 .. .Second Wave Positive Psychology Positive psychology is currently equated with theory and research on the positive aspects of life The reality could not be further from the truth Positive psychology. .. the Bucks MSc Applied Positive Psychology programme  Second Wave Positive Psychology: Embracing the Dark Side of Life is not only about seeing the reality of positive psychology more clearly,... our positive functioning and transformation as human beings This more nuanced approach to the notions of positive and ‘negative’ can be described as the second wave of positive psychology Positive