Movies are a powerful and enjoyable medium for learning. This book shows exactly how to use film to learn about the concepts and the real-life benefits of positive psychology, both for self-improvement and in classes or seminars.
Positive psychology is a science concerned with strengths and virtues, particularly those that lead to fulfillment, connectedness, and meaning in life. Drawing on the authors’ vast experience of teaching, movie discussion groups, and with patients, Positive Psychology at the Movies combines research-based advice on how to improve life and flourish with clear explanations of the scientific background – using movies to exemplify, illuminate, and inspire.
Positive psychology and its “founding fathers” Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, Christopher Peterson, and Martin Seligman have identified 6 “virtues” and 24 “strengths” that are nearly universal across cultures. This book leads systematically through them, in each case outlining Key Concepts, Relevant Research, an Exemplar from a key movie, other movie portrayals (including international cinema), Antitheses, Key Enablers and Inhibitors, Practical Applications, and Summary. Readers or classes are invited to consider key issues – and the book also provides a syllabus for positive psychology courses based on movies.
Positive Psychology at the Movies is uniquely suited for: (1) individuals or groups wanting to understand the concepts of positive psychology and thus improve their own lives; and (2) for teaching the concepts and practical benefits of positive psychology, in university/college, work, or other settings.
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From the reviews
"It becomes clear at first glance that the authors have a thorough fundamental understanding of positive psychology, extensive experience in critiquing and evaluating films, and a true passion for uniting the two."
Derrick Carpenter, MAPP, in Positive Psychology News Daily.
For full review see http://pos-psych.com/news/derrick-carpenter/200810221090.
"There is so much to learn from this book. Using the model of character strengths and virtues from Positive Psychology, Niemiec and Wedding have developed an outstanding way to view movies and learn about your strengths and virtues."
Andrea T. Goeglein, PhD, http://servingsuccess.blogspot.com/2010/02/movies-that-move-you.html
"Positive Psychology at the Movies is an engaging read. As well as providing a plethora of ideas for educating students about values, it also stimulates intellectually and would inspire anyone with an interest in films to compile a list of must-see movies. I would see this book as a useful teaching tool for many university courses. Each chapter can be read on its own. The significance of the movies for the particular strength is linked with a clear synopsis of relevant themes and characters. I also could also envisage the whole text used as a university elective in either psychology or education."
Melissa Monfries, PhD, in the Australian Journal of Educational & Developmental Psychology, Vol. 9, 2009
“After reading and reviewing this book, I find that I no longer have an excuse to avoid
including this medium of popular culture in my classroom in a more serious and thorough
way… Connecting with students – and connecting students to course material – by watching and
discussing positive films with them seems like a great idea. This book is a practical and
enjoyable guide to good ways to use powerful, engaging movies to explore and understand
character and values. We and our students will all benefit from dipping into this fine book.
So, pop in the DVD, turn out the lights, and let your heart and mind open up to the positive
benefits of cinema.”
Dana S. Dunn in PsychCRITIQUES
“This book is both accessible and rigorous. Reading it will not only help you better understand the field of positive psychology, it could actually make you happier.”
Prof. Tal Ben Shahar, PhD, author, consultant, and teacher – including the most popular class at Harvard University, Psychology 1504, “Positive Psychology”
“A wonderful example of how positive psychology affords ways to make sense of movies that show what is best about people….This is a good and smart book.”
Prof. Christopher Peterson, PhD, Center for Positive Organizational Scholarship, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan
“An encyclopedic, detailed and utterly uplifting visit to the movies. A ground-breaking new look at the role movies can play in enriching our lives, making us stronger, and better. The uses of this book are legion – educational, clinical, personal growth, to name a few, as well as giving the delight of seeing films for the joy but also for much much more. The metaphors and stories we turn to, to illustrate, to illuminate life, are so often from the movies. This book takes positive psychology into our dominant popular art form, and enriches both the psychology and the art. For readers interested in either or both, this is the read of the year.”
Frank Farley, PhD, Former President, American Psychological Association (APA), President, APA Division of Media Psychology
"... a useful and inspiring work... most suitable for students on postgraduate courses in psychology... final-year undergraduates studying clinical or health psychology modules may also find it useful... of use to academics involved in the
teaching of positive psychology, particularly as a basis for
developing inspiring teaching materials for their students... practitioners might also find this book to be of value
in working with some of their clients..."
David Heathcote, Bournemouth University, in Psychology Learning and Teaching, Vol. 8, 2009
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