Resonances and reservations between the Bible and Positive Psychology

The field of positive psychology (PP), the scientific study of well-being, is a relatively new discipline that has generated considerable interest in both acadamia and general public. Workplaces, schools, healthcare, and public policy and more are talking about how to incorporate well-being into policies and actions. Constructs such as love, spirituality, gratitude, and hope were previously ignored by science, but now are being empirically studied. Notably, many of the concepts of the field return to Biblical principles. This paper explores PP from a Biblical perspective. First, the Biblical occurrences of PP constructs are identified. Second, psychological evidence for these constructs are reviewed. Third, the implications of constructs that go beyond Biblical principles are considered. From both a Biblical and historical perspective, areas supported by scripture should be developed and cultivated, while areas that result in short-term benefit but long-term destruction should be avoided. For students interested in psychology, this review demonstrates how Christianity can be aligned with psychology. For religious-based schools, it identifies which PP concepts best align with Biblical principles. For researchers, it provides direction as to where studies in PP should focus, with warnings about the potential results of misdirected efforts.The field of positive psychology (PP) – the scientific study of well-being – is a relatively new discipline that has generated considerable interest in both acadamia and general public. Workplaces, schools, healthcare, and public policy and more are talking about how to incorporate well-being into policies and actions. Constructs such as love, spirituality, gratitude, and hope were previously ignored by science, but now are being empirically studied. Notably, many of the concepts of the field return to Biblical principles. This paper explores PP from a Biblical perspective. First, the Biblical occurrences of PP constructs are identified. Second, psychological evidence for these constructs are reviewed. Third, the implications of constructs that go beyond Biblical principles are considered. From both a Biblical and historical perspective, areas supported by scripture should be developed and cultivated, while areas that result in short-term benefit but long-term destruction should be avoided. For students interested in psychology, this review demonstrates how Christianity can be aligned with psychology. For religious-based schools, it identifies which PP concepts best align with Biblical principles. For researchers, it provides direction as to where studies in PP should focus, with warnings about the potential results of misdirected efforts.

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University of Melbourne
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4
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5