title: Positive change: connecting the virtual and the real.
abstract: How do we lastingly change our lives for the better? There is not an easy answer to this question. However, due to the advances in psychology and neuroscience, now we have a better view of personal change, that is not limited to a specific viewpoint. In particular, the emergence of integrative and transdiagnostic accounts suggests that change is contextual, depending on the person, the issues, and the situation. More, personal change is a process, happening in discontinuous and nonlinear ways, following life transitions and traumatic events. In this process a key role can be played by technology: using the "Positive Technology" approach it is possible to use technology to manipulate the quality of experience, with the goal of increasing wellness, and generating strengths and resilience in individuals, organizations and society.
authors.affiliation: Virtual Reality Medical Institute, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Brenda K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Wiederhold
authors.affiliation: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riva
mesh_terms: D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000639:trends*; D019719:Diagnostic Equipment / Q000639:trends*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000639:trends*; D000076142:Virtual Reality