This book brings together the latest research on positive psychology
from an international cast of researchers, mostly from Europe. Carefully
chosen articles describe research and practice from diverse fields of
positive psychology. Chapters cover different topics: happiness and
well-being, measurement, motivation and goals, personality, academic
performance and coping, and intervention. The book comprises selected
papers presented at the 4th European Conference of Positive Psychology
held in 2008 in Croatia. There are only few books which brought together
European researchers in positive psychology. This book includes work of
some distinguished authors like Ruut Veenhoven, Giovanni A. Fava and
Shane J. Lopez, but it also presents valuable studies of less well known
authors, thus giving insight into studies of growing body of European
researchers in positive psychology. The book emphasizes cross-cultural
approach to human pursuit of well-being. It presents research from
different cultures, like Russia, Croatia, Portugal, New Zeland and South
Africa. Until now, most research in positive psychology was conducted in
Western cultures. Selection of studies from different cultures aims at
broadening our understanding of those aspects of human experience that
make life worth living in diverse cultural conditions.
