Beyond Pleasure and Pain?: Emotion Regulation and Positive Psychology

Maya Tamir; James J. Gross

doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195373585.003.0006

Beyond Pleasure and Pain? Emotion Regulation and Positive Psychology

Maya Tamir^*, James J. Gross

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Psychology

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

This chapter argues that the fields of emotion regulation and positive psychology have been dominated by a hedonic view of optimal functioning. It first discusses the contributions of the hedonic view to both fields, and then considers its critical limitations. It then points to a broader conception of optimal functioning, which is based on a motivated view of human nature. It describes a new approach to emotion regulation that is based on this broader conception of optimal functioning and review related to empirical evidence. The chapter concludes with the hope that the instrumental approach to emotion regulation might stimulate a similar shift in positive psychology, toward a broader view of optimal functioning that acknowledges-but moves beyond-pleasure and pain.

Original language	American English
Title of host publication	Designing Positive Psychology
Subtitle of host publication	Taking Stock and Moving Forward
Editors	Kennon M. Sheldon, Todd B. Kashdan, Michael F. Steger
Place of Publication	New York
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Chapter	6
Pages	89–100
ISBN (Electronic)	9780199893263
ISBN (Print)	9780195373585
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195373585.003.0006
State	Published - 1 May 2011

Publication series

Name	Series in positive psychology

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2011 by Oxford University Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Emotion regulation
Instrumental approach
Optimal functioning
Positive psychology

Access to Document

10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195373585.003.0006

Cite this

@inbook{6cf63f645de4466e84db558bd37b43d6,

title = "Beyond Pleasure and Pain?: Emotion Regulation and Positive Psychology",

abstract = "This chapter argues that the fields of emotion regulation and positive psychology have been dominated by a hedonic view of optimal functioning. It first discusses the contributions of the hedonic view to both fields, and then considers its critical limitations. It then points to a broader conception of optimal functioning, which is based on a motivated view of human nature. It describes a new approach to emotion regulation that is based on this broader conception of optimal functioning and review related to empirical evidence. The chapter concludes with the hope that the instrumental approach to emotion regulation might stimulate a similar shift in positive psychology, toward a broader view of optimal functioning that acknowledges-but moves beyond-pleasure and pain.",

keywords = "Emotion regulation, Instrumental approach, Optimal functioning, Positive psychology",

author = "Maya Tamir and Gross, {James J.}",

year = "2011",

month = may,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195373585.003.0006",

language = "American English",

isbn = "9780195373585",

series = "Series in positive psychology",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

pages = "89–100",

editor = "Sheldon, {Kennon M.} and Kashdan, {Todd B. } and Steger, {Michael F. }",

booktitle = "Designing Positive Psychology",

address = "United Kingdom",

}

Beyond Pleasure and Pain? Emotion Regulation and Positive Psychology. / Tamir, Maya; Gross, James J.
Designing Positive Psychology: Taking Stock and Moving Forward. ed. / Kennon M. Sheldon; Todd B. Kashdan; Michael F. Steger. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. p. 89–100 (Series in positive psychology).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Beyond Pleasure and Pain?

T2 - Emotion Regulation and Positive Psychology

AU - Tamir, Maya

AU - Gross, James J.

PY - 2011/5/1

Y1 - 2011/5/1

N2 - This chapter argues that the fields of emotion regulation and positive psychology have been dominated by a hedonic view of optimal functioning. It first discusses the contributions of the hedonic view to both fields, and then considers its critical limitations. It then points to a broader conception of optimal functioning, which is based on a motivated view of human nature. It describes a new approach to emotion regulation that is based on this broader conception of optimal functioning and review related to empirical evidence. The chapter concludes with the hope that the instrumental approach to emotion regulation might stimulate a similar shift in positive psychology, toward a broader view of optimal functioning that acknowledges-but moves beyond-pleasure and pain.

AB - This chapter argues that the fields of emotion regulation and positive psychology have been dominated by a hedonic view of optimal functioning. It first discusses the contributions of the hedonic view to both fields, and then considers its critical limitations. It then points to a broader conception of optimal functioning, which is based on a motivated view of human nature. It describes a new approach to emotion regulation that is based on this broader conception of optimal functioning and review related to empirical evidence. The chapter concludes with the hope that the instrumental approach to emotion regulation might stimulate a similar shift in positive psychology, toward a broader view of optimal functioning that acknowledges-but moves beyond-pleasure and pain.

KW - Emotion regulation

KW - Instrumental approach

KW - Optimal functioning

KW - Positive psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84921258552&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195373585.003.0006

DO - 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195373585.003.0006

M3 - Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:84921258552

SN - 9780195373585

T3 - Series in positive psychology

SP - 89

EP - 100

BT - Designing Positive Psychology

A2 - Sheldon, Kennon M.

A2 - Kashdan, Todd B.

A2 - Steger, Michael F.

PB - Oxford University Press

CY - New York

ER -