Interdisciplinary Psychology:

     William Compton’s book was very informative and thorough.  The chapters were well thought out and organized.  Beginning with the definition of positive psychology and the history of its development, Compton offers an insight to how positive psychology materialized and how it continues to grow.  In part two of the book, chapters 3-6, Compton discusses positive emotional states.  Two of the chapters that stood out for me were Chapter 5 – Love and Well-Being and Chapter 6 -  Wellness, Health Psychology, and Positive Coping.  Chapter 5 interested me because just as the book states, “…the search for love and supportive relationships is a significant factor in the lives of many people.” mine included.  Before reading this book, I had read information on the studies of married couples being happier and healthier than single people, but two things I found particularly interesting about this chapter were:  1) Arlene Skolnick’s research on marital stability.  She states, “…each marriage is really two marriages: the husband’s and the wife’s.”  For some reason that statement really struck me because I have always thought of a marriage as two people coming together as one.  The idea of a marriage being two marriages makes perfect sense.  Skolnick discusses how each person in a marriage has a different interpretation of satisfaction in a marriage and that a “…a successful marriage is built on a variety of behaviors…What is less important is how people behave, just as long as those behaviors enhance affection, support, and the necessary processes.” (emphasis added because I found that comment interesting).  I would like to have read more about her theory of the “two marriages.”  2)  the Gottman’s suggestions to enrich a marriage.  Looking back on my marriage (I am currently divorced) I realize that a lot of were we went wrong was due to the fact we did not nurture our relationship.  We didn’t work on building our relationship on a daily basis.  It was much easier to walk away than try to fix our problems.  Having read their seven principles to make a marriage work, the fourth principle, Let Your Partner Influence You, is difficult for me.  I am stubborn in some ways and I can see (looking back on previous relationships) how I damaged relationships because of my stubbornness – something to work on.

            Chapter 6 was difficult for me because two weeks ago I found out a friend of mine is terminally ill with cancer and he won’t allow me to come see him nor will he speak to me on the phone.  I have called and left messages for him and have sent him cards, but have never received any response.  His family tells me that he is in a lot of pain and doesn’t want anyone to see him in that state.  I wish my friend read the section on social support, and how important it is to have people who love you and support you around during this time.  The chapter stated how humor is great medicine, and he and I used to laugh about everything and anything.  We found humor in all that was around us.  I can’t imagine what he is thinking or feeling.  I have never had anyone close to me die and the thought of him dying is overwhelming.  I want to be there for him, making him laugh and holding his hand and just letting him know how important he is to me, hoping the support may give him more time.

            In Part III, Positive Traits, I found Chapter 8 to be intriguing especially the section on resilience.  I found myself wondering if the children in the studies came from difficult family lives then resilience must be an innate trait.  I say this because if the environment that the child is raised in is abusive, has chronic poverty, or is neglectful, I don’t see how the child can learn resilience, it must be something they are born with.  I would think environments like these would lead a child to have a life of misery, self doubt and unhappiness.  But contrary to what I think, the book states that these children “…seem to know how to bounce back from life’s difficulties.”  The section went on to list five characteristics of resilient children:  1) the ability to find a nurturing surrogate parent – I can see how a child would do this,  2) the child has good communication and social skills – this characteristic impresses me because given their situations, I would think they would more likely withdrawal than be social, 3) the child has creative outlets – this would make sense – somewhere to escape to- giving them a sense of pride, 4)  believing that somehow life would work out – this characteristic amazes me – because where does this sense of hope come from – maybe hope is all they have? and 5) religion.  The final comment made in this section was that the children seek out what they lack at home and avoid the unhealthy relationships.  They are not passive instead they are proactive.   Again, I am truly amazed given their family lives and I wonder if their resilience stays with them throughout the rest of their lives?

            Like I stated previously, this book was well written and touched on a lot of important concepts.  I am glad to read that positive psychology is evolving and is a very high level of interest in undergraduate (myself included) and graduate students.  I would like to see more of the public become aware of the benefits of positive psychology and incorporate it into their lives in order to live a more meaningful life.