Positive psychology: Some plusses and some open issues

This commentary considers aspects of the recent American Psychologist Special Issue (SI) on "Positive Psychology. " Strong points of this new thrust include: (a) a focal concern with insufficiencies in the current medical model in mental health; (b) a core focus on positive outcomes,and (c) the belief that such outcomes may, in the long run, be the most efficacious way of reducing psychological dysfunction. The approach's major current limitations include: (a) its relative insulation from closely related prior work. in primary prevention and wellness enhancement; (b) its lack of a cohesive undergirding theoretical framework; and (c) its prime adult, cross-sectional approach, which does not sufficiently reflect key life history and developmental pathways and determinants of specific Positive outcomes. The movement's wholesome future development stands to Profit from careful attention to these lacunae. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.