Showing papers by "John H. Harvey published in 2004"

Modesty, Humility, Character Strength, and Positive Psychology

Abstract: Park, Peterson, and Seligman (in press) provide interesting evidence about character strength and satisfaction with life. We were not surprised at some of the main findings, to wit: Zest, curiosity, love, hope, and gratitude were all fairly strongly associated with satisfaction with life. Furthermore, the more intensely these characteristics were endorsed, the more life satisfaction was reported. As the authors suggest, these characteristics seem to be logically connected with satisfaction. For example, love frequently is associated with life satisfaction (Diener & Seligman, 2002), and qualities such as gratitude and hope may connect past and future well in the minds of respondents. What is most remarkable about this evidence is the very meager relationship between modesty and humility and life satisfaction. Looking at the sample, which was found on the Internet and which was made up of a very large number of adults at midlife, it is difficult to understand why so many people at this point in their lives would not endorse modesty and humility as essential to life satisfaction. The VIA definition of modesty and humility (e.g., “not regarding oneself as more special than one is) also strikes us as true to these concepts. In addition, the data show that related concepts such as perspective/wisdom are much more strongly related to life satisfaction. Perhaps the ideas of humility and modesty simply are not well appreciated in our culture? Self–esteem enhancement movements often eschew humility, and there is evidence that elevated self–esteem may be associated with displaced aggression

Children of Divorce: Stories of Loss and Growth

Abstract: Featuring excerpts of essays collected from over one thousand young adults while in the throes of divorce, this book paints a picture of the pain and the hope shown by the storytellers. By framing the narratives with an analysis of the most recent divorce literature, the authors provide readers with a greater and more vivid understanding of the effects of divorce. Challenging the contention that most children will be irretrievably hurt by their parents' divorce, some stories clearly demonstrate the strength and resilience many have learned in dealing with a divorce in the family. Emphasis is placed on how hope about the possibilities of having close relationships - as well as a willingness to create stronger families in their own lives - represent abiding motivations in this sample of young people. The authors hope that the use of the raw input of respondents will make the experiences more realistic and ultimately help people deal with major loss events in their lives. Highlights of the new edition include: 1. A new chapter (7) that demonstrates the messiness of divorce (infidelity, dysfunctional interactions, multiple marriages/relationships, and the financial expense), the fading stigma of divorce, the latest divorce rates, the increased average age of first time marriages, and the recent hook-up phenomenon wherein young people are showing a reluctance to commitment 2.Updated throughout with the most current demographic data, new findings from the top researchers in the field, and the latest intervention programs 3.A review of the Divorce Variability and Fluidity Model (DVFM) that helps predict variability in adjusting to divorce 4.More suggestions to help children adapt to divorce, including material on parenting education classes and mediation as a method for easing the process 5.A list of readings and suggested websites for further review 6.More tables and graphs to summarize key concepts. An ideal supplement for courses on divorce, family studies, close relationships, and loss and trauma taught in human development and family studies, and clinical, counseling, and social psychology, as well as communication, social work, and sociology, these engaging stories also appeal to practitioners and those interested in the effects of divorce in general.

Commentary on “The Black Struggle”: Metaphors of Depression

Abstract: The famous actor Rod Steiger died in 2002. He suffered severe depressive episodes throughout much of his life. His depression was related to major losses: a childhood of poverty, an ambivalent relationship with his virtually absent mother, and being out on his own in his early youth. But somehow in the midst of these experiences and abiding memories of hardship, Steiger persevered to the point of achieving a prominent acting career. Shortly before he died, he told an interviewer that losses had become a pervasive memorial representation in his mind. He said that nature shows no mercy in what is going to be a memory. It is just natural to feel and cognize, sometimes unconsciously, about major loss. Yet Steiger also had a motto that he displayed on his California license plate: “Just keep on going.” I was interested in Jim Maddux’s offer to Rick Snyder and myself to write this commentary on Schoeneman, Scheneman, and Stallings’ thoughtful content analysis of Styron’s influential memoir Darkness Visible because I think we learn a lot about ourselves and the worst and best of human life by hearing the stories of people who talk/write openly about their major losses. I have argued that a psychology of loss would be a useful subarea of contemporary psychology (e.g., Harvey & Miller, 1998). The argument is that losses are a central part of life, and we can learn from them and give back to others based on our experiences in dealing with losses. To me, this case has both an empirical base and an applied one (e.g., there is a value in teaching about loss in psychology curricula, Harvey & Hofmann, 2002, as well as in therapy). In teaching about loss over the past decade, I have been taught many lessons by my students about how natural and potentially devastating depression is in our lives. One powerful tenet of studying loss is that people who are sensitive to issues of living in their own and others’ lives will suffer degrees of deJournal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 23, No. 3, 2004, pp. 352-353