Pninit Russo-Netzer

‘Learning from success’: A close look at a popular positive psychology course

This article is a case study of an undergraduate course in positive psychology taught by Dr Tal Ben-Shahar. The course has been taught three times between 2004 and 2008 in the Department of Psychology at the Harvard University. It is currently being taught at the School of Psychology, ‘Interdisciplinary Center’, Herzliya (one of Israels leading colleges), in both English and Hebrew. The courses main emphasis is on transformation rather than information, while exploring the main question: ‘How can we help ourselves and others – individuals, communities, and society – to become happier?’ The course was innovative in its content as well as in its teaching methods. When taught, it was the most popular course at Harvard with the largest attendance in the history of the psychology department – with enrollment reaching over 855 students (about one out of every seven undergraduate students). Understanding the uniqueness of this course could contribute to the development of teaching the popular and broad field of positive psychology at the undergraduate level and to varied populations.

Understanding Universal Elements in Mental Health Recovery A Cross-Examination of Peer Providers and a Non-Clinical Sample

In our study, we examined underlying human elements embedded in mental health recovery, by exploring shared positive change among peer providers with serious mental illnesses in recovery and a normative sample in spiritual growth following adversity. We conducted secondary analysis based on two independent qualitative study samples consisting of 31 American peer providers and 27 Israeli adults. We identified three shared and two distinct enablers of positive change: peer groups, significant mentor, self-transcendent experiences. Distinct enablers were having meaningful task/role (clinical sample) and deliberate choice to commit to change in face of uncertainty (non-clinical sample). Enablers facilitated positive processes of meaning making and enhancement of agency. Enablers provided opportunities to which the person responded and made use of—thus, enacting a positive reinforcement of change processes. The findings highlight the value of examining mental health recovery in a broad holistic perspective and have implications for practice.

Spiritual Identity outside Institutional Religion: A Phenomenological Exploration

This study explores the essence and meaning of the lived experience of spirituality outside institutional religion among individuals who experienced spiritual change. Based on a phenomenological analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with 25 Israeli adults, 12 men and 13 women between the ages of 25 and 66 years (M = 45.3), the findings indicate that the developmental process experienced by the participants yielded the establishment of a new identity—a clear and committed spiritual identity different from the modern (e.g., identity statuses) and some of the postmodern (i.e., hyphenated or hybrid) customary conceptualizations of identity. Within this general sense of spiritual identity, three major themes were identified that can be seen as dialectic dimensions: (1) self-centeredness and authenticity together with self-dissolution and surrender, (2) “being there” together with becoming, and (3) alienation together with a sense of mission. The similarities and differences between this spiritual identity and other forms of identity are discussed.

Psychologies of Meaning

The psychological conceptualization of meaning has been addressed through different prisms and viewed as carrying multifaceted functions and manifestations, such as cognitive (for example, meaning-making, a sense of coherence); motivational (for example goals, purpose); types (micro or meaning in life versus macro or ultimate meaning-meaning of life); the search for, or presence of, meaning; as well as dimensions and sources of meaning. While positive psychology focuses on human strengths and positive emotions and tends to emphasize the “brighter” side of human functioning, existential psychology traditionally tends to address the ‘‘darker’’ or unsettling aspects of human existence, such as guilt, suffering, and mortality. Both traditions make ample reference to meaning, yet there seems to be a surprisingly small overlap between the empirical and theoretical work of both fields. Both traditions uncover important aspects of the still incomplete understanding of meaning itself and its role in human psychology. It is argued that a combination of both approaches may benefit each of them and embody a substantial step toward a deeper understanding of meaning and purpose.

Clinical Perspectives on Meaning: Understanding, Coping and Thriving through Science and Practice

The will to meaning is a fundamental and basic need relevant to all people. With respect to the mental health professions, therapists, clinicians, and scholars are constantly confronted with existential questions, about which existing textbooks and diagnostic manuals carry little, if any, information. Despite the mounting research findings underscoring the importance of meaning for human coping and thriving, little research has focused on methods one can follow in order to nurture or reinforce it. This chapter introduces a book which aims to redress this imbalance, bringing together diverse and varied perspectives, bridging the gaps between disciplines and branches of meaning-oriented psychologies. This chapter reviews the book’s overarching goals and objective, extending the current literature in the rapidly growing and promising area of meaning, demonstrating its vital relationship to human health, well-being, and existential fulfillment considering a range of mental health settings, applications, and contexts.

Positive Growth From Adversity and Beyond: Insights Gained From Cross-Examination of Clinical and Nonclinical Samples.

Growth following adversity is a well-known phenomenon. Yet studies often focus on specific populations and/or specific types of adversities, thus limiting opportunities to identify underlying common processes of growth. The present study sought to identify shared positive change processes in different samples of individuals each of whom faced life adversities (clinical/nonclinical) and experienced growth as a result. We conducted a secondary analysis comparing in-depth interviews from 2 independent study samples including 27 Israeli adults that experienced spiritual growth and 31 American mental health peer-providers in recovery. Using the grounded theory approach (Strauss & Corbin, 1998), the findings point to existing shared transformative positive change pertaining to ones way of being and adhering to a generative orientation (Erikson, 1963) in the world. These changes were conceptualized under 3 growth dimensions: (a) strengthened sense of self, manifested in self-integration, self-acceptance, and enhanced ability to face further adversity; (b) development of compassion, acceptance of others, and a deep sense of connection to others; and (c) a prosocial commitment characterized by generativity and active contribution. These findings point to shared growth processes among individuals with a different backgrounds and different kinds of adversities. This change goes beyond mere coping, to an inner transformation in ones self, connection to others, and development of a proactive-prosocial approach in the world. The implications for health care practitioners and the importance of acknowledging the potential for growth following adversity and supporting such growth are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record