ABSTRACT
The chapter explores how combining the contributions of community psychology – together, in some instances, with its critical variant – with the ethos of positive psychology can generate a novel and more comprehensive understanding of human flourishing. Positive psychologists can learn that happiness and well-being are to be understood from an "ecological perspective," in that they operate on a multi-systemic continuum. The chapter argues that what hinders positive psychology is a subordination to objectivism, and examines whereby overtly declared descriptive goals and a neutral stance are put forth whenever happiness and well-being. Positive psychology must be aware that different contexts contribute differently to well-being in terms of objective/subjective and quality/quantity of resources they supply. Positive psychology can benefit greatly from I. Prilleltensky's work, which is dedicated to linking variations in well-being levels to different instances of Social Justice. Core interdependent values in community psychology are self-determination, health, personal growth, social justice, and collaboration and democratic participation.
