Positive Psychology at the Movies

For educators, researchers, and anyone striving for personal growth and a fulfilling life! This completely revised edition of the popular Positive Psychology at the Movies provides a unique way to learn and appreciate what is right and best about human beings. Now with discussions of nearly 1,500 movies, dozens of 100 evocative movie images, and much more! Positive psychology is regarded as one of the most important developments in the field of psychology over the past century. This inspiring book uses movies as a medium for learning about the latest research and concepts, such as mindfulness, resilience, meaning, positive relationships, achievement, well-being, as well as the 24 character strengths laid out by the VIA Institute of Character. Films offer myriad examples of character strengths and other positive psychology concepts and are uniquely suited to learning about them and inspiring new ways of thinking. This book systematically discusses each of the 24 character strengths, balancing film discussion, related psychological research, and practical applications. Each chapter outlines Key Concepts, Relevant Research, an Exemplar from a key movie, Overuse/Underuse, Key Enablers and Inhibitors, Practical Applications, International Cinema, and a Summary. Watching the films recommended in this book will help the reader to practice the skill of strengths-spotting in themselves and others, inspiring self-improvement. Practical resources include a suggested syllabus for a complete positive psychology course based on movies, a list of suitable movies for children, adolescents, and families as well as a list of questions for classroom and therapy discussions. Positive Psychology at the Movies is conceived for educators, students, practitioners, and researchers, but anyone who loves movies and wants to change their lives for the better will find it inspiring and relevant. Read this book to learn more about positive psychology and watch these films to become a stronger person!

From the Reviews of the Previous Edition"It becomes clear at first glance that the authors have a thorough fundamental understanding of positive psychology, extensive experience in critiquing and evaluating films, and a true passion for uniting the two."Derrick Carpenter, MAPP, in Positive Psychology News Daily. For full review see http://pos-psych.com/news/derrick-carpenter/200810221090."There is so much to learn from this book. Using the model of character strengths and virtues from Positive Psychology, Niemiec and Wedding have developed an outstanding way to view movies and learn about your strengths and virtues."Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD, http://servingsuccess.blogspot.com/2010/02/movies-that-move-you.html"Positive Psychology at the Movies is an engaging read. As well as providing a plethora of ideas for educating students about values, it also stimulates intellectually and would inspire anyone with an interest in films to compile a list of must-see movies. I would see this book as a useful teaching tool for many university courses. Each chapter can be read on its own. The significance of the movies for the particular strength is linked with a clear synopsis of relevant themes and characters. I also could also envisage the whole text used as a university elective in either psychology or education."Melissa Monfries, PhD, in the Australian Journal of Educational & Developmental Psychology, Vol. 9, 2009After reading and reviewing this book, I find that I no longer have an excuse to avoid including this medium of popular culture in my classroom in a more serious and thorough way Connecting with students and connecting students to course material by watching and discussing positive films with them seems like a great idea. This book is a practical and enjoyable guide to good ways to use powerful, engaging movies to explore and understand character and values. We and our students will all benefit from dipping into this fine book. So, pop in the DVD, turn out the lights, and let your heart and mind open up to the positive benefits of cinema.Dana S. Dunn in PsychCRITIQUESThis book is both accessible and rigorous. Reading it will not only help you better understand the field of positive psychology, it could actually make you happier.Prof. Tal Ben Shahar, PhD, author, consultant, and teacher including the most popular class at Harvard University, Psychology 1504, Positive PsychologyA wonderful example of how positive psychology affords ways to make sense of movies that show what is best about people.This is a good and smart book.Prof. Christopher Peterson, PhD, Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship, Ross School of Business, University of MichiganAn encyclopedic, detailed and utterly uplifting visit to the movies. A ground-breaking new look at the role movies can play in enriching our lives, making us stronger, and better. The uses of this book are legion educational, clinical, personal growth, to name a few, as well as giving the delight of seeing films for the joy but also for much much more. The metaphors and stories we turn to, to illustrate, to illuminate life, are so often from the movies. This book takes positive psychology into our dominant popular art form, and enriches both the psychology and the art. For readers interested in either or both, this is the read of the year.Frank Farley, PhD, Former President, American Psychological Association (APA), President, APA Division of Media Psychology". a useful and inspiring work. most suitable for students on postgraduate courses in psychology. final-year undergraduates studying clinical or health psychology modules may also find it useful. of use to academics involved in the teaching of positive psychology, particularly as a basis for developing inspiring teaching materials for their students. practitioners might also find this book to be of value in working with some of their clients."David Heathcote, Bournemouth University, in Psychology Learning and Teaching, Vol. 8, 2009

Vorwort
"This is the most important book about movies of our times." Frank Farley, PhD, L. H. Carnell Professor, Temple University, Philadelphia, Former President of the American Psychological Association (APA)

Autorentext

Ryan M. Niemiec, PhD, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist in Cincinnati. He is Education Director of VIA Institute on Character, a certified coach with Hummingbird Coaching Services, and a frequent lecturer and workshop leader. He is author of a number of articles and film editor of PsycCRITIQUES. He received a specialization in film studies from Michigan State University. Danny Wedding, PhD, MPH, trained as a clinical psychologist at the University of Hawaii. He is currently Associate Dean for Management and International Programs at the California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant University. For many years he was Professor of Psychiatry, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine and Director of the Missouri Institute of Mental Health (MIMH). Dr. Wedding is the author or editor of 12 books and is editor for PsycCRITIQUES: Contemporary Psychology and APA Review of Books.

Inhalt

Table of Contents About the Authors ... ii Dedication ... v In Memoriam ... vii Foreword to this Second Edition ... viii Foreword to the First Edition ... ix Preface ... x Acknowledgments ... xiii Section I: Introduction and Background ... 1 1. Introduction ... 3 Section II: Character Strengths at the Movies ... 27 The Virtue of Wisdom and Knowledge ... 29 2. Wisdom and Knowledge I: Creativity and Curiosity ... 31 3. Wisdom and Knowledge II: Judgment , Love of Learning , and Perspective ... 54 The Virtue of Courage ... 83 4. Courage I: Bravery and Perseverance ... 85 5. Courage II: Honesty and Zest ... 108 The Virtue of Humanity ... 131 6. Humanity I: Love ... 133 7. Humanity II: Kindness and Social Intelligence ... 151 The Virtue of Justice ... 177 8. Justice: Teamwork , Fairness , and Leadership ... 179 T…