Introduction -- Chapter 1. Calling in Child Rearing – Promoting Meaningful, Purposeful Living in Family Life -- Part I Positive Subjective Experiences -- Chapter 2. Mental Health and Illness in Relation to Physical Health Across the Lifespan -- Chapter 3. Flow Theory and the Paradox of Happiness -- Chapter 4. Finding Flow: The History and Future of a Positive Psychology Concept -- Chapter 5. Identity, Wisdom, and Critical Life Events in Younger Adulthood -- Chapter 6. Amusing Ourselves to Health: A Selected Review of Lab Findings -- Part II Positive Personality Traits -- Chapter 7. Rediscovering Internal Strengths of the Aged: The Beneficial Impact of Wisdom, Mastery, Purpose in Life, and Spirituality on Aging Well -- Chapter 8. The Black Survivors: The Courage, Strength, Creativity and Resilience in the Cultural Traditions of Black Caribbean Immigrants -- Chapter 9. The Role of Motivation in Adults’ Reading Comprehension: A Lifespan View -- Chapter 10.Martial Arts as a Pathway to Flourishing -- Chapter 11. Creating a More Ethical Workplace -- Chapter 12. A Seminar in Positive Psychology -- Chapter 13.The Positive Psychology of Adult Generativity: Caring for the Next Generation and Constructing a Redemptive Life -- Chapter 14.The History and Future Directions of Positive Health Psychology -- Part IV Learning to Thrive During Adulthood -- Chapter 15. The Influence of Erik Erikson on Positive Psychology Theory and Research -- Chapter 16.Resilience and Multiple Stigmatized Identities: Lessons from Transgender Persons’ Reflections on Aging -- Chapter 17.Experiential Wisdom and Lifelong Learning -- Chapter 18.Stress-Related Growth in the Lives of Lesbian and Gay People of Faith -- Chapter 19.Biological Complexity Meets Positive Psychology: What Does Complexity Theory Tell Us about Positive Psychology?.

The study of Positive Psychology brings a much needed fresh emphasis to the study of the cognition, personality traits, and contexts of behavior that are associated with optimal development during the life course.  The field highlights the ways in which growth, hope, and resilience aid a person and motivate him or her in dealing with the inevitable challenges of life. Positive Psychology: Advances in Understanding Adult Motivation examines the traits and contexts of behavior that are associated with optimal development and resilience over the life course. The volume investigates individual psychological development through the stages of emerging adulthood, full adulthood, middle age, and old age.  It explores which personality traits and which aspects of the environment help a person to flourish, thrive, and grow. Moreover, the volume describes the development of resilience as well as other characteristics that will assist individuals in overcoming challenges throughout adult development. Accordingly, the chapters in this book each speak to one of the major portions of adult life that can be addressed in new ways by means of the relatively new discipline of Positive Psychology. The case studies are drawn from the entire field of Positive Psychology, from acceptance to teaching Positive Psychology, divided into four organizational and theoretical subsections about research and scholarship related to the creation or existence of:                 -positive subjective experiences;                 -positive personality traits;                 -positive environments; and                 -learning to thrive during adulthood.   This book will serve as an indispensable reference for both academics and practitioners who are using a positive psychology approach in their daily practice.