Comments on the original article, "Intelligence: New findings and theoretical developments," by R. E. Nisbett, J. Aronson, C. Blair, W. Dickens, J. Flynn, D. F. Halpern, and E. Turkheimer (see record 2011-30298-001). The present authors note that Nisbett et al's review focuses on intelligences that have been topics of research through the 20th…

This article presents comments on the original article by McNulty and Fincham ("American Psychologist," v67 n2 p101-110 Feb-Mar 2012). McNulty and Fincham provided a service to the field of positive psychology through reminding us that whether psychological traits and processes yield positive or negative outcomes is a function of the interpersonal…

Psychology has neglected the study of variation across cities. An urban psychology is needed that takes seriously such variation and focuses on strengths and assets contributing to the good life as much as on problems of urbanization. To illustrate the value of an urban psychology, we describe studies of character strengths among residents in the…

Although lost opportunities and mistaken expectations are unpleasant to think and talk about, these experiences may have a role to play in personality development. Drawing on research using narratives of lost possible selves, the authors review the relations of regrettable experiences to 2 important and independent aspects of maturity, happiness…

Outlines J. L. Holland's (1985) typology of persons and environments, and summarizes the support for this theory in explaining stability and change in careers and work satisfaction. Recent research that strengthens the explanatory power of Holland's typology and links it to the Big Five personality factors is described. Speculations about using…

The study of resilience in child development has overturned many negative assumptions about children growing up in adverse conditions. An examination of findings from variable- and person-focused investigations suggests that resilience is common and usually arises from the normative functions of human adaptational systems, with the greatest…

The impact of stressful life events on health has been the object of inquiry for decades. Health care professionals have studied how stressful life events may precipitate or contribute to the onset of illness. Traumatic events and experiences can profoundly affect physical and psychological well-being, which in turn may predispose an individual to…

Proposes that multiple cognitive and motivational processes moderate the impact of the objective environment on well-being. Explores hedonically relevant psychological processes (social comparison, dissonance reduction, self-reflection, self-evaluation, and personal perception) in chronically happy and unhappy people, noting that they differ…

Proposes that narratives (stories) are a central factor in moral development. Discusses recent theoretical contributions of Bruner, Sarbin, Spence, and Tulving. Discusses the following aspects of moral development: (1) empathy; (2) caring and commitment; (3) interpersonal interaction; and (4) personal character and personality. Comments on…

Study of the role of personality factors in health and disease suggests that motivational variables are related to and influence physiological systems. Affiliative trust and a greater sense of agency are associated with better health, while affiliative cynicism and a sense of helplessness are associated with more illness. (AF)

Presents a theory which attempts to incorporate phenomenological views on the self-concept within an objective framework: the self-concept is identified as a self-theory. (Author/JM)

Focuses attention on social disability'' as a unitary disorder; provides a rationale for an environmental view of it; suggests a theoretical framework within which etiological hypotheses can be tested; and relates the concept to conventional psychiatric classification. (Author/JM)