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Dmitry Leontiev1Positive Psychology: An Agenda for the New Century
2012.
Vol. 9.
No. 4.
P. 36–58
[issue contents]
The This paper presents a detailed overview of the development and present situation within positive psychology, a trend that has recently emerged in psychology. The appearance of this trend was determined by the post-war skew in the psychological knowledge: the quantity of studies in negative emotions was significantly prevailed overgreater than those studies of positive ones. The author demarcates the stages in development of this trend and discusses its problems, challenges, and topics presently under debate, differentiates positive and humanistic psychology, and considers the three-level model of positive life by M. Seligman. Particular attention is given to debunking some of the myths that surround positive psychology. The author shows the dynamics of the way positive human functioning has been conceptualized, gradually moving from the superficial to the profound, from one-sided to integral and dialectic ways. One of the main challenges of this movement is seen as forming a metapsychological perspective on the basis of synthesis of positive and negative aspects of human experience and functioning. Positive psychology is viewed as a proving ground for new approaches in general psychology that correspond to the tasks and challenges of the new century. The article reproduces the pPoints of view of various researchers about major breakthroughs in, and the limitations of, positive psychology are reproduced. In conclusion, the author notes that this trend did not and does not long seek to oppose the rest of psychology and all the morenor to devalue it, was never aimed intended to range positive phenomena against negative ones, and never craved to “sell happiness”. On the contrary, positive psychology aims to consolidate various fields of psychology, continues continuing to move from the surface to the depths, trying to remain just a science.
Citation:
Leontiev, D. A. (2012). Pozitivnaya psikhologiya – povestka dnya novogo stoletiya [Positive Psychology: An Agenda for the New Century]. Psychology. Journal of Higher School of Economics, 9(4), 36-58. (in Russian)
Keywords:
meaning;
positive psychology;
emotions;
humanistic psychology;
well-being;
happiness;
traits;
strenghts;
health
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