Integrative perspectives on human flourishing: The Imago dei and positive psychology

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Abstract

The field of psychology in general, and clinical psychology in particular, has historically focused on the things that go wrong in human behavior and functioning. Similarly, evangelical theology has traditionally highlighted the problem of sin and its wide-ranging consequences for human beings. Not surprisingly, this state of affairs has led to integrative efforts that concentrate on the darker side of human nature and tend to neglect what is admirable and noble in human nature. A case is made in this article that a more complete view is needed that celebrates humans' positive features as creatures who bear the image of God, while simultaneously recognizing the pervasiveness of sin and its effects. After reviewing the one-sidedness of past integrative efforts, we suggest several possibilities for relating the image of God to findings within positive psychology, before concluding with some cautions for this new endeavor. Copyright 2011 by Rosemead School of Psychology.

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Entwistle, D. N., & Moroney, S. K. (2011). Integrative perspectives on human flourishing: The Imago dei and positive psychology. Journal of Psychology and Theology. https://doi.org/10.1177/009164711103900401

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