Literature+Review

Jess Kramer 2/28/11   D-Block Literature Review There is no doubt that the high-school years can be a trying time for many people. For most, high-school marks the final step between relative dependence and relative independence. It is a time when students are trying to figure out what path they want to take in life; what they think will make them happiest in the future. The young discipline of positive psychology offers enormous insight into what leads to true life satisfaction concerning the past, present, and future. Under the umbrella of positive psychology, my research question asks how an understanding and nurturing of flow and meaning can improve the average high-school student's life. Flow and meaning are two fundamental components of positive psychology, and there is a plethora of literature concerning both topics, and their role in positive psychology. The concept of flow is a major aspect of positive psychology.

The pioneer of flow research, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, defines flow as, "the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it (10, 14)." Over the past three decades, Csikszentmihalyi had dominated research regarding this fascinating topic. He has written a vast amount of books and articles on his discoveries (4, 21, 22), and given many speeches (14), lectures, and courses (13) concerning his findings. Many others have joined and supported Csikszentmihalyi in his fascinating investigation, such as Martin Seligman, Daniel Pink, Edward Deci, and Marcus Buckingham (2, 5, 6, 11, 15, 16, 17).

Unlike the discipline of positive psychology and the concept of flow, the concept of meaning in the study of psychology has been around since psychology began. However, the study of meaning is a fundamental aspect of the new discipline of positive psychology. Perhaps the most well-known contemplation of meaning in life comes from Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning" (7). Frankl made numerous other contributions to the study of meaning in psychology during his life (8, 24). More recently, there have been many developments in the study of meaning in life (1, 21, 22), and how it connects to the new discipline of positive psychology (11, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22).

There is a sizable selection of reputable literature concerning flow and meaning in positive psychology, as both concepts are central to the young discipline. According to research regarding positive psychology, flow and meaning in life act as part of the foundation for true life satisfaction. Knowledge of these topics can help any individual increase overall life satisfaction. These concepts could also be implemented in schools, workplaces, and homes to foster increased happiness, cooperation, success, and much more. A thorough understanding of these topics should enable me to answer my question of how flow and meaning can improve the average high-school student's life.

__Bibliography__ 1) Baumeister, Roy F. //Meanings of Life//. New York: Guilford, 1991. Print.

2) Buckingham, Marcus. //Go Put Your Strengths to Work: 6 Powerful Steps to Achieve Outstanding Performance//. New York: Free, 2007. Print.

3) Christopher J. Mruk, //Self-Esteem Research, Theory, and Practice: Toward a Positive Psychology of Self-Esteem//, 3rd ed. (New York: Springer, 2006) iii, //Questia//, Web, 12 Feb. 2011.

4) Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. //Flow the Psychology of Optimal Experience//. New York [u.a.: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2009. Print.

5) Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly, Kevin Raymond Rathunde, and Samuel Whalen. //Talented Teenagers: the Roots of Success and Failure.// Cambridge [England: Cambridge UP, 1993. Print.

6) "Dan Pink on the Surprising Science of Motivation | Video on TED.com." //TED: Ideas worth Spreading//. Web. 26 Feb. 2011. .

7) Frankl, Viktor E. //Man's Search for Meaning//. Boston: Beacon, 2006. Print.

8) Frankl, Viktor Emil. //Viktor Frankl Recollections: an Autobiography//. London: Insight, 1997. Print. "Viktor Frankl: Why to Believe in Others | Video on TED.com." //TED: Ideas worth Spreading//. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. .

9) Fredrickson, Barbara. //Positivity//. New York: Crown, 2009. Print.

10) "Go with the Flow on Facebook, but Avoid Undertows." //Social Meteor//. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. .

11) //Martin Seligman on Positive Psychology | Video on TED.com//. Perf. Dr. Martin Seligman. //TED: Ideas worth Spreading//. Web. 12 Feb. 2011. <http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/martin_seligman_on_the_state_of_psychology.html>.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">12) M.Elizabeth Lewis Hall, Richard Langer, and Jason Mcmartin, "The Role of Suffering in Human Flourishing: Contributions from Positive Psychology, Theology, and Philosophy," //Journal of Psychology and Theology// 38.2 (2010), //Questia//, Web, 17 Feb. 2011.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">13) "Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi." //Claremont Graduate University//. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. <http://www.cgu.edu/pages/1871.asp>.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">14) //Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi on Flow | Video on TED.com//. //TED: Ideas worth Spreading//. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. <http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow.html>.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">15) Ryan, Richard, and Edward Deci. "Self-determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic to Motivation, Social Development, and Well-being." //American Psychologist// (2000): 68-78. Print.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">16) Seligman, Martin. //Authentic Happiness :: Using the New Positive Psychology//. Web. 25 Feb. 2011. <http://www.authentichappiness.com>.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">17) Seligman, Martin E. P. //Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment//. New York: Free, 2002. Print.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">18) Seligman, Martin E. P. "Can Happiness Be Taught?" //Daedalus// 133.2 (2004): 80-87. Print.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">19) Seligman, Martin E. P. //Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life//. New York: Vintage, 2006. Print.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">20) Seligman, Martin E. P., Tracy A. Steen, Nansook Park, and Christopher Peterson. "Positive Psychology Progress: Empirical Validation of Interventions." //American Psychologist// 60.5 (2005): 410-21. Print.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">21) Snyder, C. R., and Shane J. Lopez. //Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology//. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2002. Print.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; line-height: 24pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">22) Snyder, C. R., and Shane J. Lopez. //Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology//. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2009. Print. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">23) Stickel, Sue A., and Yvonne L. Callaway. "Neuroscience and Positive Psychology: Implications for School Counselors." //ERIC – World’s Largest Digital Library of Education Literature//. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. <http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/recordDetail?accno=ED498365>.

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: -0.5in;">24) "Viktor Frankl: Why to Believe in Others | Video on TED.com." //TED: Ideas worth Spreading//. Web. 26 Feb. 2011. <http://www.ted.com/talks/viktor_frankl_youth_in_search_of_meaning.html>.