An Introduction To Positive Psychology By William C. Compton

William Compton’s book covers the basics of positive psychology in four different areas.  These areas were the foundations of positive psychology, positive emotional states, positive traits, and the positive institutions and looking toward the future in the study of positive psychology.  Mr. Compton began his discussion by giving us the definition of “the good life”.  He wrote that it refers to the factors that contribute most to a well-lived and fulfilling life.  He quoted Martin Seligman on page 7 as the good life as “using your signature strengths every day to produce authentic happiness and abundant gratification”.  The good life has been seen as a combination of our positive connections to others, positive individual traits, and life regulation qualities.

Mr. Compton refers to Mihayi Csikszentmihalyi many times in the publication.  He quotes Dr. Csikszentmihalyi (1990) on page 11, “enjoyment involves meeting expectations or fulfilling a need and then going beyond those expectations to create something new, unexpected, or even unimagined …one of the tasks of positive psychology is to investigate how people create both pleasurable experiences and a deeper sense of enjoyment in life.”    I thought that this idea is the basis of positive psychology.

In section two of the publication, I found jewels of the secrets of positive psychology.  For example, on page 52 he writes, “intimate social relationships appear to provide even greater enhancements of subjective well-being.  One study found that intimacy, defined as relationships with spouse and family and high-quality friendships, was the strongest predictor of life satisfaction (Cummings 1996), more so than other predictors such as material well-being, health, and leisure satisfaction.”  What a gem.

Section three covers positive traits.  What was most interesting is why religiosity is related to well-being?  This is because it provides social support, supports healthy lifestyles, promotes personality integration, and may increase generativity.  Religiosity also provides unique coping strategies and provides a sense of meaning and purpose. (pg 198)  I was very pleased to see Viktor Frankl used as a resource in the book.  Compton uses Viktor’s existentialist therapy as quoted, “our approach to suffering was one of the primary determinants of how we experience meaning in life.  Through suffering and difficulties people are forced to reevaluate their lives.  Through this reevaluation, there is a possibility for transformation”.  Pg 203)

In section 4 Compton discusses the newer career paths of positive psychology as being life coaching.  As he points out, many people are well adjusted and functioning satisfactorily but may find themselves stuck at some point.  They need only a few suggestions, a new perspective, or a little encouragement to get moving again.  It is hoped that positive psychologists will become interested in life coaching in the future and will find a way to regulate or standardize the training and certification for such.

My personal conclusion of this publication is that it was a very hard read.  There were too many repetitions, overly wordy, too long, and very dry.  Reader’s Digest condensed version would be a great thing.  It would be difficult to recommend this book to anyone.