Building an integrated positive psychology

Abstract

The recent emphasis on positive psychology is welcome, and has spurred much relevant research. But, there are still many unresolved conceptual and research issues, which seem to be increasing rather than decreasing. This highlights the importance of conceptually more detailed and comprehensive approaches, so that development of the field can be hastened by addressing emerging issues definitively. The present paper outlines a potentially useful conceptual approach. The paper concludes with a call for issue-resolving research through which orientations and actions proposed as part of positive psychology can be compared in their contributions to performance and health.

Keywords:

• Positive psychology
• courage
• hardiness
• hardy attitudes
• hardy coping
• hardy social support
• hardy self-care