Positive psychology in the prevention of eating disorders

Abstract Traditionally the identification of, and treatment for, eating disorders has been based on developmental psychopathology theory and research, thereby emphasizing risk factors and the elimination of maladaptive behaviors. This article seeks to reconceptualize the prevention of, and protective factors for, eating disordered behavior from the positive psychology framework proposed by Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi. This philosophy posits that psychology should strive to identify characteristics relating to positive subjective experiences, constructive individual traits, and affirmative institutions for the purpose of emphasizing and enhancing these strengths. To this end, we present recent literature on promoting protective factors with respect to these variables in the prevention of eating disorders. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 111–117, 2004.