ABSTRACT
Over the last 15 years, positive psychologists campaigned to problematize what they have termed human flourishing. That is, they have defined happiness and wellbeing as problems that demand the urgent attention of social scientists and require professional amelioration. Leading positive psychologists have further characterized the field as a revolutionary re-orientation of psychology (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). With four World Congresses already behind it and two more scheduled, the positive psychology movement aims for global outreach. But does it make sense to speak of “human” flourishing, as if “humans” across the globe were sufficiently alike that one definition of flourishing would suffice for all, and as if one set of practices could enable the populace worldwide to flourish? What might “flourishing” entail for cultural groups other than the middle classes in Western high-income countries? And further: What are the cultural and historical roots of positive psychology, the origins of which were primarily mainstream North American social psychology? These are some of the questions that we take up in this chapter.
