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Positive Psychology At The Movies: Using Films to Build Virtues and Character Strengths
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 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.
308 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2008
About the author
Ryan M. Niemiec
6 books24 followersRyan M. Niemiec, Psy.D. is a leading figure in the education, research, and practice of positive psychology. He’s education director of the VIA Institute on Character, a global, non-profit organization in Cincinnati that leads the advancement of the science of character strengths. Ryan is author of 9 books including the brand new consumer-oriented books The Power of Character Strengths (a #1 Amazon bestseller) and The Strengths-Based Workbook for Stress Relief, as well as practitioner-focused books that are leaders in their respective fields including, Character Strengths Interventions, Mindfulness and Character Strengths, and Positive Psychology at the Movies.
Ryan is creator of the evidenced-based, 8-week program, Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice, used across the globe by practitioners; MBSP was the first positive-oriented mindfulness program, the only mindfulness program to target what’s best in us (our character strengths), and the only one to use positive qualities (our character strengths) to improve meditation and mindful living.
Ryan has penned over 80 scholarly/peer-reviewed articles and given more than 700 workshops, keynotes, and webinars on positive psychology topics across the globe. He’s a columnist for Live Happy Magazine and for Psychology Today, the latter which his column has 1-2 million reads. He’s an award-winning psychologist, certified coach, annual instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, and adjunct professor at Xavier University. Ryan received a “distinguished early career award” from the American Psychological Association in 2011, and was granted Fellow status of the International Positive Psychology Association in 2017.
On a personal note, Ryan lives in Cincinnati with his wife and three young, zestful children who travel the globe together. Ryan is an avid collector of vintage Pez dispensers, a passionate fan of The Walking Dead, only listens to 1990s alternative rock music, and is a zealot for his alma mater, Michigan State University. His highest strengths are hope, love, curiosity, honesty, fairness, and appreciation of beauty.
Ryan is creator of the evidenced-based, 8-week program, Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice, used across the globe by practitioners; MBSP was the first positive-oriented mindfulness program, the only mindfulness program to target what’s best in us (our character strengths), and the only one to use positive qualities (our character strengths) to improve meditation and mindful living.
Ryan has penned over 80 scholarly/peer-reviewed articles and given more than 700 workshops, keynotes, and webinars on positive psychology topics across the globe. He’s a columnist for Live Happy Magazine and for Psychology Today, the latter which his column has 1-2 million reads. He’s an award-winning psychologist, certified coach, annual instructor at the University of Pennsylvania, and adjunct professor at Xavier University. Ryan received a “distinguished early career award” from the American Psychological Association in 2011, and was granted Fellow status of the International Positive Psychology Association in 2017.
On a personal note, Ryan lives in Cincinnati with his wife and three young, zestful children who travel the globe together. Ryan is an avid collector of vintage Pez dispensers, a passionate fan of The Walking Dead, only listens to 1990s alternative rock music, and is a zealot for his alma mater, Michigan State University. His highest strengths are hope, love, curiosity, honesty, fairness, and appreciation of beauty.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 9, 2015
Like Peterson's and Seligman's "Character Strengths and Virtues," on which it is based, this book unfortunately works in a historical vacuum and fails to engage the 2,500-year-old virtues tradition. The book is useful nevertheless for indexing a great collection of films to various virtues or character strengths. For each virtue, one needs to narrow down the list and read reviews from other sources before investing one's time in actually watching the film.
March 8, 2023
This book introduced me to positive psychology, which has gone on to become one of my favorite psychology lens. I don't think I can watch any movie or just any kind of story without considering the character's virtues and strengths, but I don't mind because it makes my viewing experiences even more powerful.
The content of the book itself is incredibly interesting and readable--even for a person who may not be a psychology major such as myself.
The content of the book itself is incredibly interesting and readable--even for a person who may not be a psychology major such as myself.
Want to Read
June 6, 2010ref by my positive psychology list Seligman
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews