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Positieve psychologie kan niet zonder negativiteit

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Psychologie en Gezondheid

Abstract

Positive psychology should embrace negative experiences

Positive psychology will harm itself if it submits to the tyranny of positivity (Held, 2002), that is apparent in parts of the self-help literature and for some of its prominent members. Negative emotions serve a critical function in our lives, and will enable us to stay focused on the parts of reality that are necessary for optimal functioning. We need both reality and the lust principle.

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Notes

  1. Dit citaat is mij aan de hand gedaan door een anonieme reviewer, die ik graag dank voor deze en andere nuttige suggesties.

  2. Ik negeer hieronder het aspect van individuele verschillen, en het gegeven dat angstige mensen soms meer gebaat zijn bij pessimisme dan optimisme, omdat ik dat al een keer eerder aan de orde heb gesteld (Bergsma, 2009). Geïnteresseerden verwijs ik graag door naar het werk van Norem (2001, 2008).

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    Ad Bergsma

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Correspondence to Ad Bergsma.

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Drs. Ad Bergsma is verbonden aan de Faculteit Sociale Wetenschappen, Erasmus Universiteit, Rotterdam.

Correspondentieadres: Drs. Ad Bergsma, Faculty of Social Sciences, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Postbus 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam

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Bergsma, A. Positieve psychologie kan niet zonder negativiteit. PSEG 38, 171–176 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03089377

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