A Psychology of Human Strengths: Fundamental Questions and Future Directions for a Positive Psychology

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Summary: A more balanced Handbook of Positive Psychology
Review: Just published a few days ago, there is now a second positive psychology handbook available, "A Psychology of Human Strengths" edited by Aspinwall and Staudinger. Compared to the first handbook, the new one's 23 chapters by various leading psychologists (including Seligman) are not only, well, "newer" -- they also have a better scholarly balance. For example, the chapter by Cantor on "Constructive Cognition" discusses her work with Norem on constructive pessimism, and this makes a good academic link to the recent book "The Positive Power of Negative Thinking" by Julie Norem. Individual differences mean that no single model of psychological health fits all of us. Realistic psychology must take into account our differences in personality and cultural values.