Robert Biswas-Diener
Encyclopedia
Robert Biswas-Diener, known as "the Indiana Jones of Positive Psychology", (born July 27, 1972) is a positive psychologist
, Certified Mentor Coach, researcher, author and an instructor at Portland State University. Dr. Biswas-Diener's father is Ed Diener
, a fellow psychologist and positive psychology researcher.
Dr. Biswas-Diener's research focuses on income and happiness, culture and happiness, positive psychology, strengths and positive psychology coaching. Biswas-Diener's research has led him to areas such as India
, Greenland
, Israel
, Kenya
, and Spain
. Due to his research all over the globe, he has been called the "Indiana Jones
of positive psychology
". He obtained his PhD in 2009 on "Material wealth and subjective well-being" from the University of Tromsø
. Additionally, Dr. Biswas-Diener is interested in looking in to the difference between a procrastinator and what he calls an "incubator".
Dr. Biswas-Diener is an author of many books and articles and sits on the editorial boards of the Journal of Happiness Studies and Journal of Positive Psychology. Dr. Biswas-Diener also co-founded The Strengths Project, a charity whose mission is to "help underprivileged individuals and groups realise their strengths to enhance quality of life and build on their life circumstances."
Positive psychology
Positive psychology is a recent branch of psychology whose purpose was summed up in 1998 by Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: "We believe that a psychology of positive human functioning will arise, which achieves a scientific understanding and effective interventions to build thriving in...
, Certified Mentor Coach, researcher, author and an instructor at Portland State University. Dr. Biswas-Diener's father is Ed Diener
Ed Diener
Edward Diener is an American psychologist, professor, and author. He is noted for his research over the past twenty-five years on happiness — the measurement of well-being; temperament and personality influences on well-being; theories of well-being; income and well-being; and cultural...
, a fellow psychologist and positive psychology researcher.
Dr. Biswas-Diener's research focuses on income and happiness, culture and happiness, positive psychology, strengths and positive psychology coaching. Biswas-Diener's research has led him to areas such as India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Due to his research all over the globe, he has been called the "Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones
Colonel Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., Ph.D. is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s film serials...
of positive psychology
Positive psychology
Positive psychology is a recent branch of psychology whose purpose was summed up in 1998 by Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: "We believe that a psychology of positive human functioning will arise, which achieves a scientific understanding and effective interventions to build thriving in...
". He obtained his PhD in 2009 on "Material wealth and subjective well-being" from the University of Tromsø
University of Tromsø
The University of Tromsø is the world's northernmost university. Located in the city of Tromsø, Norway, it was established in 1968, and opened in 1972. It is one of eight universities in Norway. The University of Tromsø is the largest research and educational institution in northern Norway...
. Additionally, Dr. Biswas-Diener is interested in looking in to the difference between a procrastinator and what he calls an "incubator".
Dr. Biswas-Diener is an author of many books and articles and sits on the editorial boards of the Journal of Happiness Studies and Journal of Positive Psychology. Dr. Biswas-Diener also co-founded The Strengths Project, a charity whose mission is to "help underprivileged individuals and groups realise their strengths to enhance quality of life and build on their life circumstances."
Positive Diagnosis
In Practicing Positive Psychology Coaching, Biswas-Diener defines his own model for positive diagnosis. The model is aimed at identifying the a cause of a phenomenon. The model includes an in-depth diagnosis of a person’s capacities, well-being, future orientation, situational benefactors, and values.Books
- Biswas-Diener, R. (Ed)(in press). Positive psychology as a mechanism for social change.
- Biswas-Diener, Robert. (2010) Practicing Positive Psychology Coaching: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Intervention.
- Linley, A., Willars, J., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2010). The strengths book: Be confident, be successful, and enjoy better relationships by realising the best of you.
- Diener, Ed., and Biswas-Diener, Robert. (2008) Happiness: Unlocking the mysteries of psychologycal wealth.
- Biswas-Diener, R., and Ben Dean (2007) Positive Psychology Coaching (2007)