Positive psychology is a rapidly expanding area of study that is of great interest to students at the graduate, undergraduate, and high school levels. But the field is so broad that teachers who want to cover all the bases when designing a positive psychology course may have difficulty locating and selecting materials. Activities for Teaching Positive Psychology addresses this problem by presenting a comprehensive set of fun, interactive classroom activities devised by contributors who are experienced teachers as well as leading scholars in their areas. Chapters cover all the topics typically included in existing positive psychology textbooks, emphasizing the hands-on experience that makes positive psychology courses so powerful. Extensive reading lists point interested readers towards a fuller understanding of the topics. The book is a rich source of ideas for all teachers of psychology, from novice to experienced instructors. Contributors Preface Introduction Jeffrey J. Froh and Acacia C. Parks I. Conceptual Explorations Courage What Makes an Action Courageous? Cynthia L. S. Pury Humility Humility, the Modest Strength Robert A. Emmons Strengths Using a Strengths Approach to Build Perspective-Taking Capacity Michelle C. Louis Eudaimonia Contrasting Two Conceptions of Happiness: Hedonia and Eudaimonia Alan S. Waterman Work The Value(s) of Work Christopher Michaelson Culture and Identity Integrating an Understanding of Cultural Context Into a Discussion of Positive Traits Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti Purpose Understanding Purpose Through Interviews Timothy S. Reilly and William Damon Spirituality Spiritual Struggles as a Fork in the Road to the Sacred Maria R. Gear Haugen and Kenneth I. Pargament II. Experiments Positive Emotion How Positive Emotions Broaden and Build Bethany E. Kok and Barbara L. Fredrickson Positive Health Heart Rate Variation With Positive Psychology Exercises Sarah D. Pressman and Tara L. Kraft Relationships Capitalizing on Positive Events Shelly L. Gable Empathy Perspective Taking and Prosocial Behavior: Caring for Others Like We Care for the Self Michael W. Myers and Sara D. Hodges Culture and Subjective Well-Being Culture Influences the Ingredients of a Good Life and Conceptualizations of Happiness Christie Napa Scollon, Derrick Wirtz, and Xuan-yi Wei Wealth and Subjective Well-Being Spending Money on Others Leads to Higher Happiness Than Spending on Yourself Lara B. Aknin and Elizabeth W. Dunn Mindfulness Cultivating Mindfulness Through Listening Shauna L. Shapiro and Timothy R. Mariels Forgiveness Teaching Forgiveness in Positive Psychology Everett L. Worthington Jr., Aubrey L. Gartner, David J. Jennings II, and Don E. Davis Flow Flow and Optimal Learning Environments David J. Shernoff and Brett Anderson III. Self-Reflections Gratitude Taking Care of Business With Gratitude Philip C. Watkins, Amy Sparrow, and Amy C. Webber Curiosity Curiosity as a Social Lubricant: Transforming Conversations to Be Interesting, Engaging, and Meaningful Todd B. Kashdan and Paul J. Silvia Happiness Promotion Using Mindful Photography to Increase Positive Emotion and Appreciation Jaime L. Kurtz and Sonja Lyubomirsky Hope Hope Projects to One's Future Self Jeana L. Magyar-Moe Materialism A Teaching Tool for Disengaging From Materialism: The Commercial Media Fast Yuna L. Ferguson and Tim Kasser Savoring The Savoring Expedition: An Exercise to Cultivate Savoring Patrick R. Harrison, Jennifer L. Smith, and Fred B. Bryant Motivation Internalized Motivation in the Classroom Kennon M. Sheldon Engagement Civic Engagement Constance Flanagan and Brian D. Christens Index About the Editors About the Editors: 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 "Positive Psychology in Higher Education." 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. |