Kashdan & Rottenberg (2010) Psychological Flexibility as a Fundamental Aspect of Health

LiteratureBase

Psychological Flexibility as a Fundamental Aspect of Health

Abstract

Traditionally, positive emotions and thoughts, strengths, and the satisfaction of basic psychological needs for belonging, competence, and autonomy have been seen as the cornerstones of psychological health. Without disputing their importance, these foci fail to capture many of the fluctuating, conflicting forces that are readily apparent when people navigate the environment and social world. In this paper, we review literature to offer evidence for the prominence of psychological flexibility in understanding psychological health. Thus far, the importance of psychological flexibility has been obscured by the isolation and disconnection of research conducted on this topic. Psychological flexibility spans a wide range of human abilities to: recognize and adapt to various situational demands; shift mindsets or behavioral repertoires when these strategies compromise personal or social functioning; maintain balance among important life domains; and be aware, open, and committed to behaviors that are congruent with deeply held values. In many forms of psychopathology, these flexibility processes are absent. In hopes of creating a more coherent understanding, we synthesize work in emotion regulation, mindfulness and acceptance, social and personality psychology, and neuropsychology. Basic research findings provide insight into the nature, correlates, and consequences of psychological flexibility and applied research provides details on promising interventions. Throughout, we emphasize dynamic approaches that might capture this fluid construct in the real-world.

Concepts Agency, Decentralized Self, Psychological flexibility, Selfhood, Values, Well-being
Relevant learning goals Conceptual Thinking, Critical Thinking, Growth Mindset, Self-Regulation Competency
Relevant subject areas Psychology, Selfhood in Psychology
Relevant research methods Behavioral research/Psychology, Conceptual clarification, Content analysis, Scientific clarification
Relevant projects Annotated Reading List, Decentralized Self, Understanding Agency
Relevant school improvement goals Conceptual pluralism, Conceptual understanding, Student well-being, Teacher well-being

Related Lesson Materials

DNA-V

Psychologists Louise Hayes and Joseph Ciarocchi have developed the DNA-V model. It contains the metaphors of the “Discoverer“, “Noticer“, “Advisor” and the “Valuer”, to help humans be aware of, make use of, and practice different skills towards valued living.

The Decentralized Self

The human brain is the seat of human agency, and yet this agency is caused by cellular agents unaware of our larger human goals.

Human evolution – Human needs, values, and wellbeing

Classroom resources for exploring (the evolution of) human needs, values, and well-being

Human evolution – Behaviors of our mind

Exploring various “behaviors of our mind” from an evolutionary perspective, including “Fast and Slow Thinking”, “Moral Taste Buds”, “Mental Time Travel”,
the “Noticer”, the “Discoverer”, and the “Advisor”