Paradigm shift: Why a focus on health is important

Traditionally, medicine and the social and behavioral sciences have studied health by focusing on pathology The purpose of this issue of the Journal i s to go beyond such a vulnerability model and focus on thriving. We suggest that thriving represents something more than a return to equilibrium follo wing a challenge. This issue describes a "value-added" model, whereby an in dividual or community may go beyond survival and recovery from a stressor o r illness to thrive. We suggest that this change of focus from illness to h ealth represents a paradigm shift. This article gives an overview of the va rious ideas featured in this issue, which elaborate empirical and theoretic al work on the concept of thriving. Ultimately we believe that the scientif ic study of thriving can enhance our understanding of health and provide im portant opportunities for prevention and intervention.