Description
Positive psychologists focus on ways that we can advance the lives of individuals and communities by studying the factors that increase positive outcomes such as life satisfaction and happiness. Evolutionary psychologists use the principles of evolution, based on Darwin's understanding of life, to help shed light on any and all kinds of psychological phenomena. This book brings together both fields to explore positive evolutionary psychology: the use of evolutionary psychology principles to help people and communities experience more positive and fulfilling lives. Across eleven chapters, this book describes the basic ideas of both evolutionary and positive psychology, elaborates on the integration of these two fields as a way to help advance the human condition, discusses several domains of human functioning from the perspective of positive evolutionary psychology, and finally, looks with an eye toward the future of work in this emerging and dynamic field. Over the past few decades, evolutionary psychologists have begun to crack the code on such phenomena as happiness, gratitude, resilience, community, and love. This book describes these facets of the human experience in terms of their evolutionary origins and proposes how we might guide people to optimally experience such positive phenomena in their everyday lives.
About the Author
Glenn Geher is Professor of Psychology and Founding Director of Evolutionary Studies at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Geher has won numerous awards in the domains of teaching and research, including the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in both Teaching and Scholarship. An advocate of evolution education, Glenn has published extensively on various topics related to evolution and human behavior. Nicole Wedberg served as the assistant for the Evolutionary Studies program and supervisor for the Evolutionary Psychology lab at the State University of New York at New Paltz. She has won numerous awards in the domains of writing and research, including the SUNY New Paltz Award of Distinction for Excellence in Writing. As a researcher in evolutionary and positive psychology, she has published in various academic journals with work on the topics of the evolutionary origins of homosexuality, the evolutionary function of orgasm, and the evolutionary underpinnings of warfare.
Reviews
Positive Evolutionary Psychology is a superb book-well-written, anchored in the best science, it provides a roadmap for leading a happier and more fulfilling life. It should be required reading for everyone. * David M. Buss, author of Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind *
How important is a Darwinian, evolutionary perspective to psychology? Does it matter? By way of analogy, if we are to understand the planet we live on, a foundational framework, namely plate tectonics, is literally "earth shaking." If we are to even scratch the surface of understanding the universe we live in, a quantum view of reality is non-negotiable, otherwise we are left with musings about "God playing dice." Glenn Geher and Nicole Wedberg bring evolution from the theoretical to the practical in Positive Evolutionary Psychology, this is a work with equal value to the researcher, clinician, and lay reader who wants to better understand why we are who we are. * Robb Wolf, Bestselling author of The Paleo Solution and Wired to Eat *
With Psychology focused so much on the dark aspects of human behavior, Geher is a breath of fresh air for two main reasons: paying proper attention to the subfield of positive psychology, and grounding his approach on the most solid foundation we have for Psychology at the moment, and even the social sciences in general-evolutionary theory. With this delight of a read, you will be shown that there are more than enough reasons to appreciate the many good aspects of human nature. On this journey, you might also get some useful insight into what is missing in your life, and learn how to look out for more of what makes human life worth living. * Ricardo Lopes, host of "The Dissenter" Podcast *
Finally the old narrow view that evolution favors the selfish and the cutthroat is being broadened to the more informed opinion that evolution often favors creativity, cooperation, and care. Hopefully this book marks the start of a new focus for evolutionary study. Evolution as a theory can be applied to the entire repertoire of human behavior and can be used to solve problems and improve lives. * Rebecca Burch, President of the NorthEastern Evolutionary Psychology Society *
In Positive Evolutionary Psychology, Geher and Wedberg pull together an in depth review of the positive aspects of human psychology and explain them using evolutionary theory. Readers will learn to understand everything from forgiveness, resilience, and living a healthy life through a new lens. This book is engaging, entertaining, and enlightening -- and ends with essentially a to-do list to improve your life using evolutionary principles. The authors use relatable examples to explain elements of human evolution that affect our present day lives. Not sure what we can learn about human functioning by studying dandelions? Read this book to find out! * Rose Sokol, NorthEastern Evolutionary Psychology Society Fellow and co-founder of the Feminist Evolutionary Perspectives Society *
Together with his co-author Nicole Wedberg, Geher takes the reader along on a psychological journey guided by no other than Charles Darwin himself. I really enjoyed the ride, which is intended to be uplifting, raising one's awareness of the bright aspects of the human psyche and the practical applications of evolutionary psychology. * Darwinian Medicine *
"This is a timely, engaging, and well-written book on the application of evolutionary theory to an emerging and promising new field in clinical psychology. It constitutes a compelling and elegant example of how evolutionary theory has the potential to eventually influence and maybe even subsume the entire field of psychology." * Gordon G. Gallup, Jr., Professor of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York *
"I found this book to be an incredibly refreshing, integrative, forward-looking treatise on what humans could be, without ignoring what we are." * Scott Barry Kaufman, author of Ungifted and Wired to Create, from his Foreword *
Book Information
ISBN 9780190647124
Author Glenn Geher
Format Hardback
Page Count 168
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 386g
Dimensions(mm) 157mm * 236mm * 20mm
About the Author
Glenn Geher is Professor of Psychology and Founding Director of Evolutionary Studies at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Geher has won numerous awards in the domains of teaching and research, including the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in both Teaching and Scholarship. An advocate of evolution education, Glenn has published extensively on various topics related to evolution and human behavior. Nicole Wedberg served as the assistant for the Evolutionary Studies program and supervisor for the Evolutionary Psychology lab at the State University of New York at New Paltz. She has won numerous awards in the domains of writing and research, including the SUNY New Paltz Award of Distinction for Excellence in Writing. As a researcher in evolutionary and positive psychology, she has published in various academic journals with work on the topics of the evolutionary origins of homosexuality, the evolutionary function of orgasm, and the evolutionary underpinnings of warfare.
Reviews
Positive Evolutionary Psychology is a superb book-well-written, anchored in the best science, it provides a roadmap for leading a happier and more fulfilling life. It should be required reading for everyone. * David M. Buss, author of Evolutionary Psychology: The New Science of the Mind *
How important is a Darwinian, evolutionary perspective to psychology? Does it matter? By way of analogy, if we are to understand the planet we live on, a foundational framework, namely plate tectonics, is literally "earth shaking." If we are to even scratch the surface of understanding the universe we live in, a quantum view of reality is non-negotiable, otherwise we are left with musings about "God playing dice." Glenn Geher and Nicole Wedberg bring evolution from the theoretical to the practical in Positive Evolutionary Psychology, this is a work with equal value to the researcher, clinician, and lay reader who wants to better understand why we are who we are. * Robb Wolf, Bestselling author of The Paleo Solution and Wired to Eat *
With Psychology focused so much on the dark aspects of human behavior, Geher is a breath of fresh air for two main reasons: paying proper attention to the subfield of positive psychology, and grounding his approach on the most solid foundation we have for Psychology at the moment, and even the social sciences in general-evolutionary theory. With this delight of a read, you will be shown that there are more than enough reasons to appreciate the many good aspects of human nature. On this journey, you might also get some useful insight into what is missing in your life, and learn how to look out for more of what makes human life worth living. * Ricardo Lopes, host of "The Dissenter" Podcast *
Finally the old narrow view that evolution favors the selfish and the cutthroat is being broadened to the more informed opinion that evolution often favors creativity, cooperation, and care. Hopefully this book marks the start of a new focus for evolutionary study. Evolution as a theory can be applied to the entire repertoire of human behavior and can be used to solve problems and improve lives. * Rebecca Burch, President of the NorthEastern Evolutionary Psychology Society *
In Positive Evolutionary Psychology, Geher and Wedberg pull together an in depth review of the positive aspects of human psychology and explain them using evolutionary theory. Readers will learn to understand everything from forgiveness, resilience, and living a healthy life through a new lens. This book is engaging, entertaining, and enlightening -- and ends with essentially a to-do list to improve your life using evolutionary principles. The authors use relatable examples to explain elements of human evolution that affect our present day lives. Not sure what we can learn about human functioning by studying dandelions? Read this book to find out! * Rose Sokol, NorthEastern Evolutionary Psychology Society Fellow and co-founder of the Feminist Evolutionary Perspectives Society *
Together with his co-author Nicole Wedberg, Geher takes the reader along on a psychological journey guided by no other than Charles Darwin himself. I really enjoyed the ride, which is intended to be uplifting, raising one's awareness of the bright aspects of the human psyche and the practical applications of evolutionary psychology. * Darwinian Medicine *
"This is a timely, engaging, and well-written book on the application of evolutionary theory to an emerging and promising new field in clinical psychology. It constitutes a compelling and elegant example of how evolutionary theory has the potential to eventually influence and maybe even subsume the entire field of psychology." * Gordon G. Gallup, Jr., Professor of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York *
"I found this book to be an incredibly refreshing, integrative, forward-looking treatise on what humans could be, without ignoring what we are." * Scott Barry Kaufman, author of Ungifted and Wired to Create, from his Foreword *
Book Information
ISBN 9780190647124
Author Glenn Geher
Format Hardback
Page Count 168
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 386g
Dimensions(mm) 157mm * 236mm * 20mm
