Positive Psychology In Latin America

This volume describes a culture-fair perspective on positive psychology research and practice in Latin America. It provides a deep understanding of the ways in which context can affect practice, intervention and research results. The development of Positive Psychology in areas such as test adaptation and construction, prediction of academic achievement and empowerment of children at risk is presented. Furthermore, topics related to positive communities and citizenship behaviors are included. The volume is organized into four sections. The first section presents the importance of test adaption and construction in order to assess Positive Psychology constructs, with a special focus on well-being as a core construct. The second section summarizes a group of research studies carefully designed to predict academic achievement applying Positive Psychology constructs. The third section outlines a set of studies intended to develop flow, resilience, social skills and positive emotions in children at risk. And finally the fourth and last section introduces two points of view focused on communities in order to assess positive dimensions and to promote positive behaviors. This volume, aimed at researchers and Psychology, Education, Health and the Social Sciences students, is a useful tool for people interested in the development of Positive Psychology in Latin American countries.

This book discusses child well-being, with children and adolescents as key informants, from a Latin American perspective. It explores theoretical and empirical issues related to well-being and associated aspects, in order to understand the well-being of this population. Topics analyzed in this volume address for instance environment and community, rights, leisure time, technologies, interpersonal relationships and spirituality and their implications for changes in the well-being in children and adolescents. Especially relevant for scholars and professionals in the social and health sciences, as well as policy makers, seeking to promote child well-being, regardless of the area in which they operate.

This handbook discusses the latest findings from different fields of positive psychology from a global perspective by providing a coherent framework to get a better understanding of the development and practice of positive psychology. It starts with the parameters of positive psychology and a summary of the historical rise of positive psychology (both first wave and second wave of positive psychology) in the US, and its slow but steady growth on a global scale. This handbook highlights the major contributions of positive psychologists across 17 major regions of the world on theory, research, assessment and Practice. It discusses how positive psychology can progress human living in different countries and it shows the reasons why positive psychology has become an important source in research and education around the world.

This contributed volume is a real “who is who” in Latin American psychology. Edited by the most prominent psychology researcher alive in the region, the book presents a comprehensive panorama of psychology in Latin America as a science, as a profession and as a way of improving the quality of life of individuals and communities. Despite its achievements, Latin American psychology is little known by the international psychological community. In order to fill this gap, Dr. Rubén Ardila has invited the most important researchers and practitioners in the region to present an overview of psychology as both a profession and a research field in Latin America in the following areas: · Scientific research · Professional issues · Clinical and health psychology · Developmental psychology · Educational and school psychology · Organizational and work psychology · Social psychology · Community psychology · Legal and forensic psychology Psychology in Latin America – Current Status, Challenges and Perspectives seeks to place Latin American psychology on the map of international psychology, and by doing so it aims to foster cooperation between researchers, practitioners and students from the region with its peers from all over the world.

This book presents original happiness research from and about a region that shows unexpectedly high levels of happiness. Even when Latin American countries cannot be classified as high-income countries their population do enjoy, on average, high happiness levels. The book draws attention to some important factors that contribute to the happiness of people, such as: relational values, human relations, solidarity networks, the role of the family, and the availability and gratifying using of leisure time. In a world where happiness is acquiring greater relevance as a final social and personal aim both the academic community and the social-actors and policy-makers community would benefit from Happiness Research in Latin America.

Since the turn of the twenty-first century, the field of positive psychology has sought to implement a science of human flourishing so that we may lead happier, more fulfilling lives. It has found expression not only in academic papers but also popular books and, increasingly, in government policy. The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Positive Psychology is the first volume dedicated to a critical appraisal of this influential but controversial field of study. The book critically examines not only the scientific foundations of positive psychology, but also the sociocultural and political tenets on which the field rests. It evaluates the current field of knowledge and practice, and includes chapters analysing the methodological constructs of the field, as well as others that question what positive psychology actually means by ideas such as happiness or well-being. Taking the debate further, the book then discusses how positive psychology can be applied in a wider variety of settings than is presently the case, helping communities and individuals by acknowledging the reality of people’s lives rather than adhering strictly to debateable theoretical constructs. Including contributions from disciplines ranging from psychoanalysis to existential therapy, theology to philosophy, and contributors from throughout the world, The Routledge International Handbook of Critical Positive Psychology will be enlightening reading for anyone interested in how psychology has sought to understand human well-being.

This biographical encyclopedia will provide the first comprehensive reference work on leading scholars and professionals who have contributed to the development and institutionalization of psychology in Latin America. The figures biographed will include scholars who have made a significant theoretical contribution to the discipline, as well as, practitioners and those who have contributed to the institutionalization of psychology, through their work in scientific organisations, professional bodies and publications. All persons included are recognized authorities and either natives of, or long-term residents in the region. It will offer an invaluable reference point, in particular for scholars of the history of psychology, Latin American studies, the history of science, and global psychology; as well as for historians, psychologists and social scientists seeking international perspectives on the development of the discipline.

Latin America has increased its share of world scientific publications by nearly twofold during the last two decades (approximately from 2 to 4%). Despite this positive trend, the scholarly impact of scientific research produced in the region - measured in terms of citation rate - remains low. Two interrelated factors that contribute to this situation is that most research groups tend to work in isolation or in local sporadic collaboration, and results are often published in journals that are not indexed in major citation databases (e.g., SCOPUS, or Web of Science). Ultimately, part of Latin American high-quality research seems to remain hidden from the rest of the world. Over the last decades, an important number of Latin American scientists have developed fruitful research agendas on questions on learning and emotion, focusing on basic and/or translational research with humans and other animal models, and implementing diverse methodologies. Notwithstanding the important contributions of these research programs, Latin American research on emotion and learning has followed the overall trend of other research fields throughout the region; namely, remaining partially hidden from the large scientific community of the world. This Research Topic aimed to engage researchers from Latin America to share their empirical and conceptual work on learning and emotion. Ultimately, this effort was expected to strengthen and integrate our regional community of experts, enhance global networking, and establish new challenges and developments for future investigation.