Positive Psychology Research in the Philippines: An Introduction

Abstract

Over the past two decades, advances in positive psychology has resulted in an exponential increase in the number of studies concentrating on the dispositional, interpersonal, and socio-contextual factors which can optimize adaptive psychological and well-being outcomes. However, most of these investigations have focused on expanding the science of positive traits, states, and institutions in Western cultural contexts. The generalizability and applicability of these Western models have to be scrutinized and reconsidered when they are transported to different cultural settings. There is also a need to come up with emic studies that closely reflect the lived experience of peoples across cultures. In recent years, there has been a burgeoning interest in crosscultural studies that include samples from non-Western cultures including the Philippines (see Church et al., 2014; Kuppens, Realo, & Diener, 2008; McGrath, 2015). There has been some noticeable increase in positive psychology research in Asian cultural contexts (see Caleon, King, et al., 2017; Caleon, Wui, et al., 2017; Duan, Ho, Tang, Li, & Zhang, 2014; Kumano, 2018; Low, King, & Caleon, 2016) including the Philippines (see King & Datu, 2017; Mesurado, Richaud, & Mateo, 2016; Rosopa, Datu, Robertson, & Atkinson, 2016). Given the critical role that sociocultural factors play in shaping well-being and optimal functioning (Steel, Taras, Uggerslev, & Bosco, 2018; Tov & Diener, 2009), it is important to investigate how positive psychological factors can serve as either antecedents or consequences of optimal psychological functioning in specific cultural contexts. Positive Psychology Research in the Philippines: An Introduction