Dimensions of well being : research and intervention

Positive Psychology is an innovative approach to the study of individual behavior and social processes that is attracting increasing interest among scholars and practitioners. This book includes a selection of papers presented at the Second European Conference of Positive Psychology, organized in Verbania, Italy in 2004. The contributors - coming from Europe, South-East Asia, South Africa, USA, and Australia - are researchers and professionals in various fields of basic and applied psychology. Each part of the book deals with a specific perspective within positive psychology: the cross-cultural investigation of well-being; dimensions of positive development throughout the life span; contextual and personal factors promoting well-being in education and work; psychotherapy approaches focused on individual resources and strengths; interdisciplinary perspectives connecting the study of psychological well-being with art, sociology, philosophy, and religion. The chapters, widely differing as concerns topics, instruments and methodologies, tackle various theoretical and research issues. However, they share the common goal of identifying components of psychological well-being and intervention models that can effectively promote development and positive growth at the individual and cultural levels.