CBT and Positive Psychology?

Recently there has been increasing interest in "positive psychology" i.e. focusing on the positive aspects of human functioning rather than only on the alleviation of psychopathology. Marty Seligman has been emphasizing this in his role as President of the American Psychological Association but others have been exploring these areas as well.

CBT has focused extensively on the alleviation of psychopathology with good results, but it can be argued that improving the human condition involves more than just the elimination of psychopathology. Seligman's work on optimism is fairly well known and CBT investigators have worked on a number of other concepts which seem to apply directly to positive psychology such as self-efficacy, self-esteem and problem-solving. Let's start thinking about how CBT applies in areas other than the treatment of psychopathology.

Replies:

The role of Hope in CBT, by Jim Pretzer, 10/09/00 CBT to Increase Optimism in Adults, by Jim Pretzer, 10/14/00 Grad Students, are you looking for a good dissertation topic?, by Jim Pretzer, 10/14/00 A good source for current research and theory on optimism, by Jim Pretzer, 10/15/00 Optimism/pessimism, Stress appraisal, and Adjustment, by Jim Pretzer, 10/25/02 Funding Opportunities for Research into Positive Psychology?, by Jim Pretzer, 08/09/01

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