Activities for Teaching Positive Psychology

Jeffrey J. Froh, PsyD, is an associate professor of psychology at Hofstra University and a leading scholar in positive youth psychology. His research, which has been featured in mainstream media such as The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, focuses on the wellsprings, assessment, outcomes, and enhancement of gratitude in children and adolescents. He is past associate editor for the Journal of Positive Psychology, and his research has been funded by the John Templeton Foundation.  Acacia C. Parks, PhD, is an assistant professor of psychology at Hiram College. She received her PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, where she worked under Martin Seligman at the Positive Psychology Center. Her research focuses on the efficacy of positive interventions and the psychological and behavioral characteristics of individuals who use them. She serves as an associate editor of the Journal of Positive Psychology and was recently guest editor of the special issue amp quot Positive Psychology in Higher Education. amp quot She is also editor of a forthcoming handbook of positive psychological interventions from Wiley-Blackwell. Dr. Parks is an active teacher of positive psychology and critical writing, and maintains a blog at Psychology Today.

• ContributorsPrefaceIntroduction Jeffrey J. Froh and Acacia C. ParksI. Conceptual ExplorationsCourage What Makes an Action Courageous? Cynthia L. S. PuryHumility Humility, the Modest Strength Robert A. EmmonsStrengths Using a Strengths Approach to Build Perspective-Taking Capacity Michelle C. LouisEudaimonia Contrasting Two Conceptions of Happiness: Hedonia and Eudaimonia Alan S. WatermanWork The Value(s) of Work Christopher MichaelsonCulture and Identity Integrating an Understanding of Cultural Context Into a Discussion of Positive Traits Jennifer Teramoto PedrottiPurpose Understanding Purpose Through Interviews Timothy S. Reilly and William DamonSpirituality Spiritual Struggles as a Fork in the Road to the Sacred Maria R. Gear Haugen and Kenneth I. PargamentII. ExperimentsPositive Emotion How Positive Emotions Broaden and Build Bethany E. Kok and Barbara L. FredricksonPositive Health Heart Rate Variation With Positive Psychology Exercises Sarah D. Pressman and Tara L. KraftRelationships Capitalizing on Positive Events Shelly L. GableEmpathy Perspective Taking and Prosocial Behavior: Caring for Others Like We Care for the Self Michael W. Myers and Sara D. HodgesCulture and Subjective Well-Being Culture Influences the Ingredients of a Good Life and Conceptualizations of Happiness Christie Napa Scollon, Derrick Wirtz, and Xuan-yi WeiWealth and Subjective Well-Being Spending Money on Others Leads to Higher Happiness Than Spending on Yourself Lara B. Aknin and Elizabeth W. DunnMindfulness Cultivating Mindfulness Through Listening Shauna L. Shapiro and Timothy R. MarielsForgiveness Teaching Forgiveness in Positive Psychology Everett L. Worthington Jr., Aubrey L. Gartner, David J. Jennings II, and Don E. DavisFlow Flow and Optimal Learning Environments David J. Shernoff and Brett AndersonIII. Self-ReflectionsGratitude Taking Care of Business With Gratitude Philip C. Watkins, Amy Sparrow, and Amy C. WebberCuriosity Curiosity as a Social Lubricant: Transforming Conversations to Be Interesting, Engaging, and Meaningful Todd B. Kashdan and Paul J. SilviaHappiness Promotion Using Mindful Photography to Increase Positive Emotion and Appreciation Jaime L. Kurtz and Sonja LyubomirskyHope Hope Projects to One's Future Self Jeana L. Magyar-MoeMaterialism A Teaching Tool for Disengaging From Materialism: The Commercial Media Fast Yuna L. Ferguson and Tim KasserSavoring The Savoring Expedition: An Exercise to Cultivate Savoring Patrick R. Harrison, Jennifer L. Smith, and Fred B. BryantMotivation Internalized Motivation in the Classroom Kennon M. SheldonEngagement Civic Engagement Constance Flanagan and Brian D. ChristensIndexAbout the Editors