Positive Psychology
Dr. Paul Wong
Positive Psychology Goes to Hell and Back
My friends in Taiwan call me a laughing Buddha. Most of my friends comment on my happy smile. An English as a second language (ESL) school even used my photo as an example of happy smile. Does anyone know that I live with pain day and night? Literally, I experience...
Two Different Models of Human Flourishing: Seligman’s PERMA Model Versus Wong’s Self-transcendence Model
Seligman's (2011) PERMA model is limited by its failure to address existential suffering, which can undermine our best efforts to achieve flourishing. Wong's model is developed from the framework of existential positive psychology (PP 2.0): Existential anxieties and...
Vulnerability Awareness and The New Science of Transforming Suffering Into Resilience
The courage to face our suffering is the first step towards turning away from toxic positivity and addiction towards healthy positivity. Awareness of our vulnerability is the first step towards positive transformation. These two counterintuitive ideas are the main...
Transcend the Pandemic: How to Redesign the Future of Work
Abstract The coronavirus has drastically changed the world of work and demands a redesign for organizations and individuals in order to meet the numerous new challenges, such as working remotely and a reduction of resources. In this paper, I propose a...
What is Existential Positive Psychology (PP 2.0)? Why is it Necessary for Mental Health During the Pandemic?
Abstract This paper explains the need for existential positive psychology (PP 2.0) from three different angles. First, psychology needs to move towards integration in order to meet the mental health challenges during COVID-19. Second, PP 2.0 provides a promising...
Recommended Readings for the Existential Positive Psychology (2.0) of Flourishing Through Suffering*
*This list is far from being exhaustive. Here, I only included those publications that have played an important role in my development of existential positive psychology and my own publications on this subject matter. I welcome suggestions of additional publications...
Preface for Frankl’s Psychobiography: Frankl’s Cure for a Soulless Psychology and a Sick Society
“Viktor Frankl, one of the most influential and enduring writers and psychotherapists of the 20th century, continues to speak to new generations. His voice is prophetic, because it heralds the current positive psychology movement, the resurgence of spirituality, and...
Existential Positive Psychology (PP 2.0) and the New Science of Flourishing Through Suffering
This editorial was submitted by Paul T. P. Wong (Trent University), Claude-Hélène Mayer (University of Johannesburg), and Gökmen Arslan (Mehmet Akif Ersoy University) for the Frontiers special issue on COVID-19 and Existential Positive Psychology (PP 2.0): The New...
COVID-19 Boosts International Collaboration
One good thing coming out from COVID-19 is the increase in research collaboration on how to cope with COVID-19. In the last 6 months, I’ve got more international collaboration than in the last 6 years because of increased interest in my existential positive psychology...
The Unheard Cry of a Successful Asian Psychologist
Abstract This paper addresses the important issues of making it as an Asian psychologist in an overwhelmingly white academic field. Based on my professional and personal struggle to achieve success as a psychologist in both academia and clinical practice, I want to...
How to Find Inner Peace & Life Balance in Times of Crisis
This is the conclusion chapter for Dr. Paul Wong's e-book Made for Resilience and Happiness: Effective coping with COVID-19 according to Viktor E. Frankl and Paul T. P. Wong (2020). The whole world has turned upside down. The life we used to know has largely...
The Second Wave Positive Psychology of Shame in East and West in the Age of the 4IR.
Abstract This chapter highlights the importance of shame in the context of the 4IR, especially with respect to the threat of COVID-19. We pointed out the danger of shame-related coverup, which may lead to more pandemics. We also emphasized the need for the framework...