Positive Self‐capital

Abstract

With the emergence of positive psychology and its rapid expansion in the organizational domain, research attention has shifted to individual’s strengths, growth and self-achievement. In this framework, positive self-capital is defined as the set of the positive features of individual functioning, able to support individuals’ health and wellbeing as well as to uncover their potentialities and abilities, in order to enhance successful performances and personal development. To describe positive self-capital, three high-order, comprehensive constructs are presented, namely psychological capital, core self-evaluations, and positivity. They define latent dimensions that accounts for individuals’ adjustment and achievement in different life domain, including organizational settings. Differences and similarities among the three concepts and with neighbor variables (i.e., personal resources) are discussed, and directions for future research are offered.