Second Wave Positive Psychology: Embracing the Dark Side of Life

Jul 9, 2026

Uploaded by Rowan

Second Wave Positive Psychology: Embracing the Dark Side of Life reframes positive psychology as an inquiry into difficult, painful experiences and their role in human functioning, growth, insight, healing, and transformation. The book presents a “second wave” approach that integrates positive and negative aspects of life across themes such as meaning, resilience, development, mortality, change, suffering, and spirituality. It includes resources, case studies, practical exercises, and chapter summaries, supporting students, postgraduate learners, clinicians, and interested readers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages215

Reading Time5 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction to Second Wave Positive Psychology

Reframing Positive and Negative Experiences

Core Themes: Meaning, Resilience, Development, Mortality, Change, Suffering, Spirituality

Educational Resources and Learning Tools

Author Profiles and Research Interests

Second Wave Positive Psychology Positive psychology is currently equated with theory and research on the positive aspects of life. The reality could not be further from the truth. Positive psychology investigates and researches some of the most difficult and painful experiences. Second Wave Positive Psychology: Embracing the Dark Side of Life is an innovative and groundbreaking textbook that explores a variety of topics we consider tobe part of the ‘dark side’ of life while emphasising their role in our positive functioning and transformation as human beings. This more nuanced approach to the notions of‘positive’ and ‘negative’can be described as the ‘second wave’ of positive psychology. Positive psychology is one of the fastest-growing and least understood branches of psychology. Exploring topics at the heart of positive psychology, such as meaning, resilience, human development, mortality, change, suffering and spirituality, this book engages with so-called negative matters from a positive psychology angle, showing how the path of personal development can involve experiences which, while challenging, can lead to growth, insight, healing and transformation. Containing useful resources, case studies, practical exercises and chapter summaries, Second Wave Positive Psychology is an essential guide for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying positive psychology, as well as clinicians wanting to know more about the subject. It will also be relevant to the layperson who is interested in positive psychology. Itai Ivtzan is a positive psychologist, a senior lecturer and the program leader of Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) at the University of East London (UEL) . His research areas are mindfulness meditation, spirituality, and meaning in life. In addition to many journal papers and book chapters, he is the author of several books and the leading editor of Mindfulness in Positive Psychology: The Science of Meditation and Wellbeing. Tim Lomas is a lecturer at the UEL, where he is the associate programme leader for the MSc in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology as well as having published numerous peer-reviewed papers and books. Kate Hefferon is a chartered psychologist, senior lecturer and the head of the Posttraumatic Growth Research Unit at the UEL. Her interests lie within the areas of posttraumatic growth (PTG), physical activity, health and wellbeing. She is the author of numerous peer-reviewed papers and book chapters as well as lead author on popular positive psychology textbooks. Piers Worth is a chartered psychologist, accredited psychotherapist and head of Academic Department – Psychology for Bucks New University. Piers wrote and leads the Bucks MSc Applied Positive Psychology programme. ‘SecondWave Positive Psychology: Embracing the Dark Side of Life is not only about seeing the reality of positive psychology more clearly, it’s about seeing who we are as human beings more clearly. Positive psychology studies and embraces all the vicissitudes of life. And here is the book that outlines this for us.What is most incredible and impactful about this book? Is it that it represents the thought leadership and scholarship of four distinguished positive psychology luminaries? Is it that it is the first positive psychology book to deeply integrate the positive and negative of human experience across a wide array of topics? Is it that it’s a clear and interesting read, easily peaking the reader’s curiosity page after page? Is it that those who crack the book open will immediately make it required reading for their students? Or, is it that despite being a scholarly, scientific work the book is also eminently practical in its guidance for readers to reflect and explore that which is personal and meaningful? My answer is clear: All of the above.’ —Ryan M. Niemiec, PsyD, author of Mindfulness and Character Strengths:A Practical Guide to Flourishing , and Psychologist and Education Dir

FAQs

What distinguishes “second wave” positive psychology in the book?

It treats difficult and painful experiences as central to positive psychology and emphasizes integrating positive and negative aspects of human experience. This nuanced framing supports personal functioning and transformation.

Which topics are explored as part of the core curriculum?

The book engages with meaning, resilience, human development, mortality, change, suffering, and spirituality. It approaches these “negative matters” through a positive psychology lens.

What learning supports does the book include for readers?

It provides useful resources, case studies, practical exercises, and chapter summaries. Each chapter offers an authoritative review of an important positive psychology topic and guidance for reflection and application.

Jul 9, 2026

Uploaded by Rowan