“From Adversity to Strength: A Literature Review Based on Positive Psychology Theories”

Year 2025, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 86 - 100

Ayse Yılmazer , Emel Poyraz

https://doi.org/10.70101/ussmad.1746017

Abstract

This study analyzes individuals' difficult life experiences from a current and innovative perspective by addressing the theoretical and conceptual groundwork offered by positive psychology. Focusing on Second-Wave Positive Psychology and Existential Positive Psychology approaches, it examines how individuals can find positive outcomes, meaning and growth from challenging life experiences. In today's world of personal development and psychology, key concepts such as psychological resilience, post-traumatic growth and the search for meaning are linked to the role of the individual in the process of rebuilding themselves. The study offers a perspective and present on how challenging life experiences increase individuals' well-being, their psychological resilience, their ability to cope with challenges and crises, and how they shape personal development, cognitive and spiritual growth.

Keywords

Psychological Resilience , Positive Psychology , Adverse Life Experiences , Post Traumatic Growth , Searching For Meaning

Pozitif Psikoloji bağlamında Psikolojik Sağlamlık Üzerine Bir literatür Araştırması

Abstract

Bu çalışma, bireylerin zorlu yaşam deneyimlerini pozitif psikolojinin sunduğu kuramsal ve kavramsal zeminde ele alarak güncel ve yenilikçi bir perspektiften analiz etmektedir. İkinci Dalga Pozitif Psikoloji ve Varoluşçu Pozitif Psikoloji yaklaşımları merkeze alınarak bireylerin zorlu yaşam deneyimlerinden nasıl olumlu sonuçlar; anlam ve büyüme çıkarabileceği irdelenmiştir. Günümüz kişisel gelişim ve psikoloji dünyasında Psikolojik Sağlamlık, Travma Sonrası Büyüme ve Anlam Arayışı gibi temel kavramlar, bireylerin kendilerini yeniden inşa süreçlerindeki rolle ilişkilendirilmiştir. Çalışmada zorlu yaşam deneyimlerinin bireylerin refahını, psikolojik sağlamlık kapasitelerini, zorluklarla ve krizlerle başa çıkma yeteneklerini nasıl arttırdığına, kişisel gelişimi, bilişsel ve ruhsal büyümesini nasıl şekillendirdiğine dair bir bakış açısı ve açılım sunulmaktadır.

Keywords

Psikolojik Sağlamlık , Pozitif Psikoloji , Zorlu Yaşam Deneyimleri , Kişisel Gelişim , Travma Sonrası Büyüme , Anlam Arayışı

References

• Allen, A. R. (2022). Meaninglessness, depression and suicidality: A review of the evidence. Menzies, R. E. ve Dingle, G.A. (Ed.) Existential concerns and cognitive-behavioral procedures içinde (ss. 261-281). New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06932-1_16
• Amerikan Psikiyatri Derneği. (2013). Ruhsal bozuklukların tanısal ve sayımsal elkitabı (Köroğlu, E. Çev.), Ankara : HYB Yayıncılık.
• Armstrong, A. R., Galligan, R. F., ve Critchler, C. R. (2011). Emotional intelligence and psychological resilience to negative life events. Personality and Individual Differences, 51(3), 331-336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.04.001
• Boniwell, I. (2012). Positive psychology in a nutshell, the science of happiness. Berkshire: Open university press.
• Bremner, J. D. (2006). Traumatic stress: effects on the brain. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 8(4), 445-461 https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2006.8.4/jbremner
• Brooks, J. E. (2006). Strengthening resilience in children and youths: Maximizing opportunities through the schools.
• Children and Schools, 28(2), 69-76. https://doi.org/10.1093/cs/28.2.69
• Bulman, R. J. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: Three explanatory models. Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 30-34. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli1501_04
• Cuğ, F. D. (2016). Sağlık psikolojisi: Stres, baş etme ve iyi oluş. Aklımın aklı: psikoloji içinde (ss.281-286). (Durak, M., E. Ş. Durak, E. Ş. Ve Kocatepe U. Çev.). Ankara : Nobel.
• Dürü, Ç. (2023, Aralık 19). Travma sonrası büyüme. Ufuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 3(6), 117-143.
• Dursun, P. ve Söylemez, İ. (2020). Travma sonrası büyüme: Gözden geçirilmiş son model ile kapsamlı bir değerlendirme. Türk Psikiyatri Dergisi, 31(1), 57-68. https://doi.org/10.5080/u23958
• Dweck, C. (2008). Mindsets and math/science achievement. Carnegie Corporation of New York, Institute for Advanced Study. http://www.growthmindsetmaths.com/uploads/2/3/7/7/23776169/mindset_and_math_science_achievement_-_nov_2013.pdf
• Dweck, C. (2015). Revisits the 'growth mindset' commentary. Education Week, 35(5), 20-24.
• Dweck, C. S. ve Yeager, D. S. (2019). Mindsets: A view from two eras. Association for Psychological Science, 14(3), 481-496.
• Folkman, S. ve Moskoowits, J. T. (2000). Stress, posiitive emotion and coping. Current Directions in Psychological
• Science, 9(4), 115-118. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.00073
• Frankl, V. E. (2020). İnsanın anlam arayışı (Yılmaz, Ö. Çev.). İstanbul: Okuyan us.
• Frankl, V. E. (2021). Anlam istenci, logoterapinin temelleri ve logoterapi uygulamaları (Yalçınkaya M. Çev.). İstanbul: Totem Yayınları.
• Fredrickson, B. L. (1998). What good are positive emotions. Sage Journal, 2(3), 300-319.
• Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218-226. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.218
• Fredrickson, B. L. (2004). The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society , 136 (1449), 1367-1377. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2004.1512
• Fredrickson, B. L. (2016). Leading with positive emotions (insight no.5). Center for Positive Organizations. https://positiveorgs.bus.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/CPOSweb-TryingTimes-Fredrickson-PositiveEmotions.pdf
• Fredrickson, B. L., Tugade, M. M., Waugh, C. E. ve Larkin, G. R. (2003). What good are positive emotions in crisis? A prospective study of resilience and emotions following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(02), 365-376. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.365
• Freedy, J. R., Kilpatrick, D. G. ve Resnick, H. (1993). Natural disasters and mental health: Theory, assessment, and intervention. Journal of Social Behaviour and Personality, 8(5), 49-103.
• Gable, S. L., ve Haidt, J. (2005). What (and Why) is Positive Psychology? Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 103-110.
• Gaffney, H., Ttofi, M. M. ve Farrington, D. P. (2021). Effectiveness of school-based programs to reduce bullying perpetration and victimization: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 17(2), 1143. https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1143
• Gilligan, R. (2006). Adversity, resilience and young people: The protective value of positive school and spare time experiences. Children & Society, 14(1), 37-47.
• Glenn, R. E. (2002). The metatheory of resilience and resiliency. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(3), 229-239. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.10020
• Goleman, D. (2020). Duygusal zeka. (Yüksel, Banu S., Çev.) İstanbul: Varlık Yayınları.
• Hefferon, K., ve Boniwell, I. (2018). Pozitif psikoloji kuram, araştırma ve uygulamalar, Ankara: Nobel yayıncılık.
• Held, B. (2004). The negative side of positive psychology. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 44(1), 9-46. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167803259635
• Held, B. S. (2002). The tyranny of the positive attitude in America: Observation and speculation. Clinical Psychology, 58(9), 965-991. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.10093
• Hjemdal, O., Aune, T., Reinfjell, T. ve Stiles, T. C. (2007 ). Resilience as a predictor of depressive symptoms: A correlational study with young adolescents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry Copyright, 12(1), 91-104. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104507071062
• Ivtzan, I., Lomas, T., Hefferon, K. ve Worth, P. (2020). Pozitif psikoloji yaşamın karanlık yanını kucaklamak. İstanbul: Kaktüs.
• Joseph, S. (2009). Growth following adversity: Positive psychological perspectives on posttraumatic stress. Psihologijske teme, 18(2), 335-344.
• Joseph, S. ve Linley, A. P. (2008). Trauma, recovery and growth, positive psychological perspectives on posttraumatic stress. New Jersey: John Wiley ve Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470724290
• Kierkegaard, S. (2020). Ya/Ya Da (Beler, N. Çev.). İstanbul: Alfa.
• Korner, I. N. (1970). Hope as a method of coping. Journal of Consulting Clinical Psycholy, 34(2), 134-139. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0029001
• Lazarus, R. S. (2003). Does the positive psychology movement have legs?, Psychological Inquiry, 14(02), 93-109. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1402_02
• Lazarus, R. S. ve Susan, F. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping (1913-1915). New York: Springer Publishing. LeRoy, S. C. (1999). Family connectedness, human relatedness, and learned optimism in late adolescents. (Yayımlanmış Doktora tezi). Minnesota, USA: University of Minnesota.
• Linley, P. ve Joseph, S. (2004). Positive change following trauma and adversity: A review. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 17(1), 11-21. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOTS.0000014671.27856.7e
• Lomas, T. (2016). Flourishing as a dialectical balance: Emerging insights from second-wave positive psychology. Palgrave Communications, 2(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1057/palcomms.2016.5
• Lomas, T., Waters, L.,Williams, P., Oades, L. G. ve Kern, M. L. (2021). Third wave positive psychology: Broadening towards complexity. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 16(5), 660-674. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2020.1805501
• Masten, A. S. (2007). Resilience in developing systems: Progress and promises as the fourth wave rises. Development and Psychopathology, 19(3), 921-930. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579407000442
• Mega, F. (2020). Travma sonrası stres bozukluğu tanısının tarihsel süreci, çocuklarda klinik seyri ve BDT uygulamaları. Psikoloji araştırmaları, 1(1), 24-29.
• Norem, J. K. (2008). The positive power of negative thinking. New York : Basic Books.
• Plotnik, R. (2009). Psikolojiye giriş (Geniş, T. Çev.). İstanbul: Kaknüs.
• Poseck, B. V., Baquero, B. C. ve Jimenez, M. L. (2006). The traumatic experience from positive psychology: Resiliency and post-traumatic growth. Special Section, 27(1), 40-49. https://doi.org/10.6018/analesps.27.1.101171
• Rand, K. L. (2012). Hope Theory. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287307567_Hope_Theory
• Salovey, P. ve Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition, and Personality, 9 (3), s. 185-211. https://doi.org/10.2190/DUGG-P24E-52WK-6CDG
• Schneider, K. J., Pierson, F. J. ve Bugental, J. F. (2015). The handbook of humanistic psychology: Theory, research, and practice. Sage.
• Schueller, S. M. ve Seligman, M. E. (2008). Optimism and pessimism. In K.S. Dobson ve D. J. A. Dozois (Ed.), Risk Factors in Depression. New York: Elsevier.
• Schulman, P. (2013). Applying learned optimism to increase sales productivity. Journal of Personal Selling and Sales Management, 19(01), 31-37. https://doi.org/10.2753/PSS0885-3134190104
• Seligman, M. (2021,17 Mart). Positive psychology in a pandemic, with Martin Seligman, PhD. (K. Mills, röportajı yapan), [Sesli podcast bölümü]. https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/positive-psychology.
• Seligman, M. E. ve Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist. 55(1), 5-14. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.5
• Shalev, A., Liberzon, I., ve Marmar, C. (2017). Post-traumatic stress disorder. New England Journal of Medicine, 376(25), 2459-2469. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1612499
• Snyder, C. R. (1989). Reality negotiation: From excuses to hope and beyond. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 8(2), 130-157.
• Snyder, C. R. (1994). Snyder, Charles R., The psychology of hope. Los Angeles: Free Press.
• Southwick, S. M., Bonanno, G. A., Masten, A. S., Brick, C. P. ve Yehuda, R. (2014). Resilience definitions, theory, and challenges: interdisciplinary perspectives . European Journal of psychotraumatology, 5(1), 2-4. https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v5.25338
• Steger, M. F. ve Martela, F. (2023). Measuring meaning and purpose in life. W. Ruch, A. B. Bakker, L. Tay ve G. Fabian, hand book of positive psychology assessment içinde (ss. 162-174). Newburyport: Hogrefe.
• Stoycheva, M. ve Ruskov, P. (2015). Growth mindset development pattern. Proceedings of the 20th European conference on pattern languages of programs (ss. 1-6). New York: Association for computing machiery. https://doi.org/10.1145/2816707.2816709
• Tedeschi, R. G. ve Calhoun, L. G. (1995). Trauma and transformation: Growing in the aftermath of suffering. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
• Tedeschi, R. G. ve Calhoun, L. G. (1996). The posttraumatic growth inventory. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 9(3), 455-471. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.2490090305
• Tedeschi, R. G. ve Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli1501_01
• Tedeschi, R. G., Park, C. L. ve Calhoun, L. G. (1998). Posttraumatic growth: Positive changes in the aftermath of crisis. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Wong, P. T. (1998). Implicit theories of meaningful life and the development of the personal meaning profile. P. T.
• Wong ve P. S. Fry, The human quest for meaning: A handbook of psychological research and clinical applications içinde (ss. 111-140). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Wong, P. T. (2009). Positive existential of positive psychology. S. J. Lopez, içinde, The encyclopedia of positive psychology (ss. 345-352). West Sussex: Wiley Blackwell.
• Wong, P. T. (2011). Positive psychology 2.0: Towards a balanced interactive model of the good life. Canadian Psychology. 52(02), 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022511
• Wong, P. T. (2020). Existential positive psychology and integrative meaning therapy. International Review of Psychiatry, 32(7), 565-578. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540261.2020.1795680
• World Health Organization. (2017). Strengthening resilience: A priority shared by health 2020 and the sustainable development goals. Copenhagen: WHO Regional office for europe.