| Since the early 90s, a charged-up group of | | | | mental pathologies. "Positive Psychological |
| writers, researchers and educators has been | | | | Assessment: A Handbook of Models and |
| deconstructing the psychological profession's focus | | | | Measures" by C. R. Snyder and Shane J. Lopez |
| on pathology and rebuilding it with the study of | | | | addresses the subject of testing and metrics that |
| what can go right with people and institutions. | | | | assess positive psychological characteristics. |
| They call themselves positive psychologists. These | | | | Since 2000, authors and researchers have placed |
| thinkers don't claim to have invented anything | | | | quite a bit of emphasis on positive organizational |
| new or created a new profession. They distinguish | | | | psychology as an application of this new |
| themselves by their perspective. The value of | | | | perspective. University of Michigan professor Kim |
| positive psychology"lies in its uniting of what had | | | | S. Cameron, a major voice on positive psychology |
| been scattered and disparate lines of theory and | | | | in the workplace, predicts that "...positive |
| research about what makes life most worth | | | | organizational scholarship will become embedded in |
| living," writes Martin Seligman, a leading "positive" | | | | the questions asked and the approaches used in a |
| psychologist. | | | | wide variety of organizational studies..." There are |
| Leading Lights in Positive Psychology: Dr. Martin | | | | institutes, degree programs, conferences, blogs, |
| Seligman, University of Pennsylvania, is one of the | | | | journals, and Web sites developing around this |
| most visible thought leaders on | | | | topic. For anyone with an interest in human |
| positivepsychology. Seligman's work on | | | | resources assessment and development, this list |
| depression, "learned pessimism" and "learned | | | | is worth review: |
| optimism" earned him a solid reputation long | | | | Books on Positive Organizational Psychology: |
| before he became a proponent of positive | | | | Perhaps the most widely cited book on this topic |
| psychology. Since the early 1990s, he has focused | | | | in academic literature is "Positive Organizational |
| on the study of positive subjective experience, | | | | Scholarship: Foundations of a New Discipline" by |
| positive individual traits, and positive institutions. | | | | Kim S. Cameron. Another work that promotes |
| During his term as president of the American | | | | this perspective is titled "Positive Organizational |
| Psychological Association Seligman promoted the | | | | Behavior," which is edited by Debra Nelson and |
| study of positive psychology. Seligman's Authentic | | | | Cary Cooper. Other titles that develop this |
| Happiness Web site ( is a treasure trove of | | | | perspective include "Positive Psychology In |
| resources and news on the topic. Dr. Mikhail | | | | Business Ethics And Corporate Responsibility," |
| Csikszentmihalyi, Claremont Graduate University, is | | | | which focuses on positive environmental ethics in |
| another keythought leader. Csikszentmihalyi is the | | | | business. The "Handbook of Positive Psychology" |
| author of the best selling "Flow: The Psychology | | | | by C. R. Snyder and Shane J. Lopez has a chapter |
| of Optimal Experience," as well as numerous | | | | on organizational behavior. |
| scholarly and popularbooks and articles. He led the | | | | "Psychological Capital: Developing the Human |
| establishment of the first positive organizational | | | | Competitive Edge" by Luthans, Youssef, and |
| psychology degree programs at Claremont | | | | Avolio explores the concept of an organization's |
| Graduate Universityand runs the university's | | | | psychological capital, as distinguished from the |
| Quality of Life Institute. The refreshing | | | | more widely known idea of human capital. Fred |
| perspective offered by this field has a great deal | | | | Luthans is one of the most prolific authors on this |
| of appeal and we expect that its messages will | | | | topic. "Work, Happiness and Unhappiness" by Peter |
| make continuous inroads in the practices of our | | | | Warr examines the problems of measuring |
| profession. Books to Read: For a general | | | | happiness at work. In addition to the books |
| introduction to positive psychology, "A Primer in | | | | mentioned above, other resources are shown |
| Positive Psychology" by Christopher Peterson is an | | | | below: Videos on Positive Psychology: If video is |
| excellent general introduction written in | | | | your information M. O., no problem. Visit the |
| conversational style. Peterson and Seligman | | | | University of Pennsylvania Web site for a current |
| coauthored "Character Strengths and Virtues: A | | | | listing. (http:// Online Assessments: Visit Martin |
| Handbook and Classification," offering the positive | | | | Seligman's Authentic Happiness site to chose from |
| psychologist' s answer to the Diagnostic | | | | almost 20 free online assessments that relate to |
| andStatistical Manual (a.k.a. DSMIII), a book widely | | | | positive psychology. |
| used by psychologists and psychiatrists to classify | | | | |