Positive Relationships (PDF)

Relationships are threaded through every aspect of our lives, at home, at school, at work and at play. They are the foundation of our greatest happiness but can also be the cause of our deepest despair.  Despite how crucial they are, we may not give much thought to relationships except when they go wrong - whether this is lost intimacy, violence in our communities or toxic working environments.   

This highly accessible book takes a positive psychology approach to explore why healthy relationships are important for resilience, mental health and peaceful communities, how people learn relationships and what helps in developing the positive. 

There is something here for everyone in both their personal and professional lives - and for students who anticipate working with people in any capacity.  Chapters provide a wealth of evidence on promoting optimal interactions between couples, friends, parents and children and community groups. Authors address positive environments at work and at school, mentoring relationships, a new paradigm for relational leadership and how to foster tolerance between people of different faiths. Others explore what is best for children after family breakdown, how to ensure that conflict is more about learning than losing and what might help repair relationships that are damaged. Authors are academics and practitioners from across the world providing both evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence. Examples and case-studies throughout each chapter illustrate what works.

Overarching themes include seeking what we have in common rather than what divides us, fostering positive communication practices, building social capital and what it means to treat each other with respect. The science of positive psychology shows that relationships can offer real meaning and sustainable fulfilment in our lives. Knowing what promotes the positive is the first step to authentic wellbeing.