24684 - Clinical Applications of Positive Psychology

Learning outcomes

The student will: - learn the development of the concept of positive Psychology; - learn about the concepts of subjective wellbeing and life satisfaction; - learn the assessment of positive emotions and their role in human development; - learn about positive mental health and its implication in psychological therapies.

Course contents

1. Historical, cultural and philosophical background of Positive Psychology

2. Subjective well-being and life satisfaction
3. Positive emotions and their role in human development
4. Psychological well-being &Eudaimonia
5. Positive mental health and its implications for psychological interventions

6. biological and genetic substrates of optimal human functioning

7. Positive personality traits, character's strenghts

8. Positive mental health

9. psychopathology and well-being

10. Positive interpersonal relationships: altruism, love and empathy

11. Gratitude & Spirituality

12. Forgiveness & and wisdom 

13. Hope and Optimism

14. Post traumatic growth

15 Flow & Optimal experience

Readings/Bibliography

Chiara Ruini. Positive Psychology in the Clinical Domains. Research and Practice. Springer International Publishing, 2017.

ISBN978-3-319-52110-7 DOI10.1007/978-3-319-52112-1

ebook at : https://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319521107

https://www.springer.com/it/book/9783319521107#

Alternative readings

Alex M. Wood, Judith Johnson: The Wiley Handbook of Positive Clinical Psychology. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2016. ISBN: 9781118468241 DOI: 10.1002/9781118468197

Available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9781118468197

Ruini C. Psicologia Positiva e Psicologia Clinica: Una prospettiva integrata. il Mulino, 2021; ISBN: 978-88-15-29338-1 (in Italian)

Teaching methods

Lectures will be delivered in presence at Cesena Campus during the first semester of teaching (Sept-Dec )

Lectures with Power Point Presentation.
Case exemplifications and role-playing
team work
journal club
confrence presentations: video and scientific discussions on updated topics and reserch in positive psychology

This is an interactive course, where students will be directly involved in group discussion on the main topics of positive psychology. students will learn how to use tests and assessment tools for measuring personal well-being and resourses.


Role playng and case siscussion will be organized throughout the classes, in order to learn strategies of interventions within the positive psychology perspectives.



Active participation to the classes will allow students to learn theories and concepts of positive psychology and to directly practice their applications in various types of interventions.

Assessment methods

The final evaluation will consist in a written exam (test) with 28 multiple choice questions + 1 open question regarding the topics included in the textbook and discussed in class. Each correct answer will count 1 point (max 28/30) and the open question will count fo a max of 3 points. Students who will provide corrected answers to all multiple choice questions and who will provide a detailed answer to the open question could have a maximum grade of 30/30 cum Laude

The test will be delivered through EOL.unibo.it 

To take the exam, students must enroll through AlmaEsami online service within the deadline. For any concerns and questions please contact the International Relations Office.

Teaching tools

Teaching tools

Handouts and power point presentations available on internet (Virtuale.unibo.it )

Office hours

See the website of Chiara Ruini