Seeing the Harm to Happiness: Integrating Satisfaction With Life Into Restorative Practices

Abstract

This article proposes an approach to intervening in harms that is based on the integration of positive psychology and restorative justice. We begin by reviewing the importance of interpersonal relationships to restorative justice. Next, we discuss harms as viewed in restorative justice. We then explore the concept and language of happiness through models of satisfaction with life (SWL) from positive psychology. We end the article by proposing the integration of models of SWL into the practices of restorative dialogue and the development of restoration plans.

Positive Criminology and Positive Psychology

“…Rounding out the special issue, Olson et al (This issue) offer an idea for incorporating positive psychology and positive criminology into the practices of restorative justice by framing the harms people perpetrate onto each other as affronts to happiness. The authors propose that doing so could open people’s awareness and understanding of harms, create a different pathway to building the social capital needed to repair and transform old harms into new strengths, and overcome individual and agency obstacles to the success of interventions.…”