Positive Art: Artistic Expression and Appreciation as an Exemplary Vehicle for Flourishing

Tim Lomas

Journal

Review of General Psychology

Year

2016

Volume

20

Issue

2

First Page

171

Last Page

182

Abstract

The relevance of the arts to well-being has been recognized within clinical fields, as reflected in therapeutic forms based on various art modalities, from music to drama therapy. However, there has hitherto been little appreciation of the broader potential of the arts as a vehicle for flourishing and fulfillment in fields such as positive psychology. As such, this article proposes the creation of 'positive art' as a field encompassing theory and research concerning the well-being value of art. To show the scope and possibilities of this proposed field, the article provides an indicative summary of literature pertaining to 4 major art forms: visual art, music, literature, and drama. Moreover, the article identifies 5 main positive outcomes that are consistently found in the literature across all these forms: sense-making, enriching experience, aesthetic appreciation, entertainment, and bonding. The article aims to encourage a greater focus on the arts in fields such as positive psychology, enabling science to more fully understand and appreciate the positive power of the arts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Music and Health Institute Terms

Mental Health; Recreative Music Methods; Wellness and Well-Being

Indexed Terms

art; drama; literature; well-being; Well Being; Positive Psychology

Study Type

Editorial, Opinions, Position Papers

Disciplines

Psychiatric and Mental Health

Document Type

Article

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