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Cited by 113Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionPsychology and Mental HealthAcademic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology

Positive Psychology and the Illness Ideology: Toward a Positive Clinical Psychology

Maddux, James E.·2008·Applied Psychology
DOI 10.1111/j.1464-0597.2008.00354.x
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Abstract

This article challenges traditional views of the proper subject matter of clinical psychology, the nature of psychological adjustment and maladjustment, and the roles and functions of clinical psychologists. Toward this end, the article discusses clinical psychologists’ conceptions of psychological adjustment and maladjustment and of the difference between psychological adjustment and maladjustment. It describes and challenges the illness ideology that has prevailed in clinical psychology for the past century—an ideology that has been socially constructed rather than scientifically constructed. This ideology consists of not only a set of assumptions about the nature of psychological adjustment and the “territory” of clinical psychology but also a language that influences the way clinical psychologists and others think about the field. It then offers a statement of a new mission for and vision of clinical psychology based on the values of positive psychology. Cet article interroge l’approche traditionnelle des questions spécifiques à la psychologie clinique, la nature de l’adaptation et de l’inadaptation psychologiques, et les rôles et fonctions des psychologues cliniciens. A cette fin, on examine les conceptions des cliniciens concernant l’adaptation et l’inadaptation psychologiques, ainsi que la différence entre ces deux notions. On décrit et conteste l’ idéologie de la maladie qui a prévalu en psychologie clinique au cours du dernier siècle, une idéologie qui a étéélaborée socialement plutôt que scientifiquement. Cette idéologie renvoie non seulement à une série d’affirmations sur la nature de l’adaptation psychologique et le « territoire » de la psychologie clinique, mais aussi à un langage qui influence la façon dont les psychologues cliniciens (et d’autres aussi) abordent ce domaine. On propose ensuite, à partir des valeurs de la psychologie positive, une vision de la psychologie clinique débouchant pour elle sur une nouvelle mission.

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Authors
Maddux, J. E.
Affiliations
George Mason University (US)
Corresponding author
Maddux, James E.
Venue
Applied Psychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2008-06-28
Volume
57
Issue
s1
Pages
54-70
ISSN
  • 0269-994X (ISSN-L)
  • 1464-0597
DOI
10.1111/j.1464-0597.2008.00354.x
OpenAlex
W2086014063
Cited by
113
References
51
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
FWCI
6.67
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
Applied Psychology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › General Psychology › Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology
Keywords
positive psychology, clinical psychology, psychological adjustment, psychological maladjustment, social construction of illness, clinical psychologist role

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