Addressing the criticisms and critiques of positive psychology: recommendations for improving the science and practice of the field
This article presents two checklists designed to help researchers, practitioners, and evaluators address common critiques of Positive Psychology (PP) identified in a recent systematic review. These critiques focus on PP's theorizing, methodology, and its perception as a decontextualized, capitalistic endeavor. The checklists offer practical recommendations for improving future research and practice, with one tailored for researchers and the other for practitioners and evaluators. Key focus areas include self-reflection, cultural sensitivity, methodological diversity, collaboration, and ethical considerations. By acknowledging past critiques and offering concrete solutions, this paper aims to foster a more inclusive and rigorous future for PP.
Authors
- Jaclyn Gaffaney
- Stewart I. Donaldson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0873-8187)
Institutions
- Claremont Graduate University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Psychology
- Published
- 2025-03-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1548612
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 12.19