Positive Psychology of Love

Edited by Mahzad Hojjat and Duncan Cramer

Series in Positive Psychology

First book to examine aspects of close relationships such as romantic love, friendship, positive emotions, and sexuality through the lens of positive psychology.
Suggests ways of having more fulfilling close and intimate relationships and how these relationships may enhance our lives.
Addresses topics including sexuality, attachment, communication, forgiveness, conflict resolution, self-esteem, relational maintenance, mental health, physical health, and culture.
Explores how close relationships function as an important aspect of our personal health, growth, happiness, and well-being.

Positive Psychology of Love

Edited by Mahzad Hojjat and Duncan Cramer

Description

Many topics within the study of close relationships are relevant to positive psychology, such as love, friendship, social support, and forgiveness. However, very little has been done to specifically connect and thus expand these two interrelated and rapidly growing fields.

Positive Psychology of Love fills this void by bringing together the latest research and theory in the field of close relationships from a positive psychology point of view, suggesting how we can have more fulfilling close and intimate relationships and how these relationships may enhance our lives. Each of the chapters focuses on a different aspect of close and intimate relationships as related to positive psychology, such as romantic love, friendship, positive emotions, sexuality, attachment, communication, forgiveness, conflict resolution, self-esteem, relational maintenance, mental health, physical health, and culture. International contributors from a variety of disciplines explore how these areas of close relationships relate to positive psychology, and how close relationships function as an important aspect of our personal health, growth, happiness, and well-being. This unique and fascinating approach will be of interest to researchers, educators, and students in a number of fields including psychology, sociology, counseling, social work, communication, family studies, marriage and family therapy, and nursing.

Positive Psychology of Love

Edited by Mahzad Hojjat and Duncan Cramer

Series in Positive Psychology

Foreword by Pat Noller
Introduction: Towards a Positive Psychology of Love by M. Hojjat and Duncan Cramer
About the Editors
About the Contributors

PART I: Major Aspects of Love
1. The Positive Psychology of Romantic Love
Jennifer M. Tomlinson and Arthur Aron

2. Intimacy and Positive Psychology
Karen J. Prager, Forouz Shirvani, Jennifer J. Garcia, and Minnotis Coles

3. Friendship, Positive Being-with-Others, and the Edifying Practices of Storytelling and Dialogue
William K. Rawlins and Laura D. Russell

4. The Features and Functions of Positive Emotions in Close Relationships
Julie Fitness and Vicki Williams

5. From Risk to Pleasure: Toward a Positive Psychology of Sexuality
Emily A. Impett, Amy Muise, and Juliana G. Breines

6. Attachment Theory as a Framework for a Positive Psychology of Love
Mario Mikulincer and Phillip R. Shaver

PART II: Handling Difficult Times
7. Positive Psychology of Love and Communication
Brian Asbury and Steve Duck

8. Compassionate Love: What we know so far
Beverley Fehr and Susan Sprecher

9. Forgiveness and Positive Psychology
M. Hojjat and Brian Ayotte

10. Handling Conflicts Positively
Lorne Campbell and Sarah C. E. Stanton

PART III: Physical and Mental Health & Growth
11. Self-Esteem, Relationships, and Positive Psychology: Concepts, Research, and Connections
Christopher J. Mruk

12. Aspects of love: Connecting, romancing, and caring
Brian R. Little and David M. Frost

13. Positive Psychology and Mental Health
Jeana L. Magyar-Moe

14. Love and Physical Health
Aubri A. Paxson and Shauna L. Shapiro

15. Connecting Happiness to Relational Maintenance: Understanding the importance of fairness
Jennifer Marmo and Daniel J. Canary

16. Positive Psychology, Culture, and Personal Relationship Processes
Stanley O. Gaines, Jr. and Sarah Ketay

PART IV: CONCLUSION
17. Conclusions/Epilogue
Clyde Hendrick and Susan S. Hendrick

Positive Psychology of Love

Edited by Mahzad Hojjat and Duncan Cramer

Series in Positive Psychology

Author Information

Mahzad Hojjat is Associate Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Her research has focused on a variety of topics including love, satisfaction, betrayal, and forgiveness in friendships and romantic relationships.

Duncan Cramer is a Chartered Psychologist and Professor of Psychological Health at Loughborough University, England. His research interests and publications include mental health, personality, personal relationships, psychotherapy and counselling.

Contributors:

List of contributors

M. Hojjat
Department of Psychology
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Duncan Cramer
Social Sciences Department
Loughborough University
Leicestershire, United Kingdom

Arthur Aron
Department of Psychology
State University of New York at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, New York

Bryan Asbury
Department of Psychology
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

Brian J. Ayotte
Department of Psychology
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts

Juliana Bienes
Department of Psychology
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California

Lorne Campbell
Department of Psychology
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario

Daniel J. Canary
School of Human Communication
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona

Minnotis Coles
Department of Psychology
University of Texas at Dallas
Dallas, Texas

Steve Duck
Department of Communication Studies
University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa

Beverley Fehr
Canadian Psychological Association

Julie Fitness
Department of Psychology
Macquarie University
Sydney, Australia

David M. Frost
Department of Sexuality Studies
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

Stanley O. Gaines, Jr.
School of Social Sciences
Brunel University
Uxbridge, Middlesex, United Kingdom

J.J. Garcia
Department of Psychology
University of Texas at Dallas
Dallas, Texas

Clyde Hendrick
Department of Psychology
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Susan S. Hendrick
Department of Psychology
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, Texas

Emily Impett
Department of Psychology
University of Toronto Mississauga
Mississauga, Ontario

Sarah Ketay
Department of Psychology
Bard College
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York

Brian Little
Department of Social and Developmental Psychology
Cambridge University
Cambridge, United Kingdom

Jeana L. Magyar-Moe
Department of Psychology
University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Jennifer Marmo
School of Human Communication
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona

Mario Mikulincer
New School of Psychology
Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya
Herzliya, Israel

Christopher Mruk
Department of Psychology
Bowling Green State University Firelands College
Huron, Ohio

Amy Muise
Department of Psychology
University of Toronto Mississauga
Mississauga, Ontario

Patricia Noller
School of Psychology
University of Queensland
St Lucia, Australia

Aubri Paxson
Department of Psychology
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, California

Karen J. Prager
Department of Psychology; Department of Gender Studies
University of Texas at Dallas
Dallas, Texas

William K. Rawlins
Department of Communication Studies
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio

Laura D. Russell
Department of Communication
Denison University
Granville, Ohio

Shauna L. Shapiro
Department of Psychology
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, California

Phillip R. Shaver
Department of Psychology
University of California, Davis
Davis, California

Forouz K Shirvani
Department of Psychology
University of Texas at Dallas
Dallas, Texas

Susan Sprecher
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

Sarah Santon
Department of Psychology
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario

Jennifer Tomlinson
Department of Psychology
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania

Vicki Williams
Sydney Behavioral Health Clinic
Sydney, Australia

Positive Psychology of Love

Edited by Mahzad Hojjat and Duncan Cramer

Series in Positive Psychology

Reviews and Awards

"It is refreshing to come across a volume that effectively combines positive psychology with the multifaceted and fascinating study of love and close relationships. This volume represents an important turning point in the marriage of these areas of study (which should be a long and fruitful one). The authors included in this volume represent a multidisciplinary, international, and renowned group who are true experts in their particular areas of focus. This work will undoubtedly long remain an important resource for academics (from a variety of disciplines) and clinicians who focus on personal relationships." --Paul Mongeau, Professor of Communication, Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Arizona State University

"In Positive Psychology of Love, Hojjat and Cramer have done a splendid job of assembling a cast that includes some of the best scientists in the field of relationships. Guided by sound theory and solidly anchored in scientific research, each chapter provides a synthesis of research at the intersection of love and positive psychology from a variety of perspectives. A must-read for anyone interested in relationships and/or positive psychology." --Robert J. Vallerand, Ph.D., President, International Positive Psychology Association

"Hojjat and Cramer rounded up all the top researchers on love and asked them for their best thoughts on the topic. My big takeaway from this impressive work, The Positive Psychology of Love, is that when we love deeply we are better human beings." --Shane Lopez, Research Director, The Clifton Strengths Institute