Pursuing Human Strengths

A Positive Psychology Guide

Second Edition

Publication Date: October 13, 2015

Paperback ISBN: 9781319004484

Pages: 272

Practical applications of positive psychology for a full and meaningful life

Pursuing Human Strengths gives instructors and students the information and strategies they need to understand the field of positive psychology and to put what researchers in the field have learn to effective use in their own lives. The new edition welcomes coauthor Dana Dunn,...

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1. Introduction
The Why of Human Behavior • Human Freedom • Human Limits • Initiative and Human Values • Overview of Positive Psychology

2. Love
Attachment • Exploring Love • Building Close Relationships

3. Empathy
Seeing and Feeling from Another’s Perspective • Dangers of Snap Judgments • Forgiveness • Cultivating Empathy

4. Self-control
Power of Immediate Rewards • Controlling Our Internal States • Fostering Self-Control

5. Wisdom
Emotional Intelligence • Successful Intelligence • Understanding Wisdom • Learning Wisdom

6. Commitment
Strivings • Commitment in Our Strivings • Fostering Commitment

7. Happiness
Assessing Happiness • Satisfying Life Experiences • Pursuing Happiness

8. Self-respect and Humility
Self-Concept • Self-Esteem • Humility • Practicing Self-Forgetfulness

9. Hope
Optimism • Exploring Hope • Fostering Hope

10. Friendship and Social Support
Functions of Friendship • Features of Friendship • Forming Friendships

11. Epilogue: Meaning and Flourishing
Life is Pretty Meaningful • Flourishing in the Future

Self-assessment exercises throughout the book help students gauge their progress in recognizing and building positive characteristics in themselves.

Research-based suggestions conclude each chapter and give students the chance to apply they’ve learned to their own lives.

Self-contained chapters may be read in any order and do not depend on one another for comprehension.

In Review boxes remind students of the key topics covered and give tips and interesting tidbits of information to make learning more enjoyable..

New author, Dana Dunn is an award-winning teacher, experienced author, and distinguished scholar. He is active in the Society for the Teaching of Psychology where he served as President in 2010 and received the Charles L. Brewer Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award in 2013. In Pursuing Human Strengths, 2e, Dana preserves the wonderful voice of the prior edition and adds to it in ways that forge connections between readers, the text, and the pursuit of human strengths.

New section defining positive psychology and reviewing its brief history

Discussion of key factors of happiness (the "happiness pie") highlighting which personal factors we can change and which ones are fixed

Significant new research cited throughout, on a full range of topics including: forgiveness, affective forecasting, resilience, emotional intelligence, subjective well-being, happiness, gratitude, and more

New and updated self assessments including the GRIT scale, flourishing scale, Revised Life Orientation Test, and Maximization Scale

New Critical Thinking Exercises and Activities on Attention Restoration Theory, Prosocial Spending, Thinking of Your Best Possible Self, and more

New concluding chapter explores meaning and flourishing

Martin Bolt

Martin Bolt was a Professor of Psychology at Calvin College, where he taught classes in general and social psychology for over 38 years. Martin passed away in 2009 but he is remembered for his skills in the classroom, including his innovative teaching methods and his mentoring of students and faculty.

Dana S. Dunn

Dana S. Dunn is Professor of Psychology and Assistant Dean for Special Projects at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA. He earned his PhD in experimental social psychology from the University of Virginia and his BA in psychology from Carnegie Mellon University.

A Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA Divisions 1, 2 and 22) and the Association for Psychological Science, Dunn is active in the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP - APA Division 2) where he served as President in 2010. In 2013, Dunn received the Charles L. Brewer Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award from the American Psychological Foundation and in 2015 he was the APA’s Harry Kirke Wolfe lecturer. He is a member of the editorial boards of several journals and is a frequent speaker at national and regional psychology conferences. Dunn is past board member of the Eastern Psychological Association (EPA) and formerly served on the Program Committee for the National Institute for the Teaching of Psychology (NIToP).

The author of over 150 articles, chapters, and book reviews, Dunn writes about the teaching of psychology, the social psychology of disability, and liberal education. He is the author or editor of 20 books and writes a blog on the teaching psychology called "Head of the Class" for Psychology Today. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of the Oxford Bibliographies (OB): Psychology.

At Moravian, Dunn has held various leadership positions, including serving as Chair of the Department of Psychology for six years and Acting Chair of the Department of Philosophy for three and one-half years. As past Director of the Learning in Common (LinC) Curriculum, Dunn oversaw Moravian’s general education program.