📚 Research Resources

UBAuthentic2

Complete Bibliography & Further Reading

The science behind authentic living and wholehearted expression

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About These Resources

UBAuthentic2 is built upon decades of rigorous research in humanistic psychology, vulnerability studies, and authenticity research. This page provides a comprehensive bibliography of the academic works, books, and research papers that inform the product's 10 authenticity dimensions and 25 modules. Each source is available through Amazon with direct purchase links.

Primary Framework Sources

The foundational research upon which UBAuthentic2's 10 dimensions are built:

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Core Authenticity & Vulnerability Research

Essential texts from leading researchers on authenticity, vulnerability, and genuine living:

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Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW

2012 • Gotham Books

Brown expands on her vulnerability research, demonstrating how vulnerability is not weakness but the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change. The book provides practical strategies for developing shame resilience and courage.

Relevance to UBAuthentic2: Directly informs Dimension 5 (Courageous Vulnerability) and provides the research basis for understanding how authentic expression requires emotional exposure.
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Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone

Brené Brown, Ph.D., LMSW

2017 • Random House

Brown explores the paradox of belonging—that true belonging requires the courage to stand alone in your truth. The book distinguishes between "fitting in" (changing yourself to be accepted) and "belonging" (being accepted for who you truly are).

Relevance to UBAuthentic2: Directly informs Dimension 8 (Living Your Truth) and Dimension 10 (Authentic Relationships), providing research on how authenticity affects our sense of belonging.
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A Way of Being

Carl R. Rogers, Ph.D.

1980 • Houghton Mifflin

Rogers' later reflections on his life's work, expanding person-centered principles beyond therapy to education, relationships, and personal growth. The book deepens understanding of unconditional positive regard and genuine presence.

Relevance to UBAuthentic2: Provides additional depth to Dimensions 2 (Genuine Expression) and 6 (Self-Acceptance), particularly Rogers' emphasis on self-acceptance as prerequisite for change.
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Insight: The Surprising Truth About How Others See Us, How We See Ourselves, and Why the Answers Matter More Than We Think

Tasha Eurich, Ph.D.

2017 • Currency

Organizational psychologist Eurich presents research on self-awareness, distinguishing between internal self-awareness (understanding ourselves) and external self-awareness (understanding how others see us). The book provides practical strategies for developing both.

Relevance to UBAuthentic2: Directly informs Dimension 1 (Self-Knowledge & Awareness), providing contemporary research on the components and development of self-awareness.
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Supporting Research & Related Works

Additional texts that inform and expand on authenticity concepts:

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Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

Kristin Neff, Ph.D.

2011 • William Morrow

Neff's pioneering research on self-compassion—treating yourself with the same kindness you'd offer a good friend. The book demonstrates how self-compassion differs from self-esteem and provides practices for developing a kinder relationship with yourself.

Relevance to UBAuthentic2: Supports Dimension 6 (Self-Acceptance) by providing research on how self-compassion enables authentic self-expression without the armor of perfectionism.
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The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

John M. Gottman, Ph.D. & Nan Silver

1999 • Harmony Books

Gottman's landmark research on what makes relationships succeed or fail, based on decades of scientific study. The book reveals how emotional attunement, vulnerability, and authentic communication predict relationship success.

Relevance to UBAuthentic2: Informs Dimension 10 (Authentic Relationships) and Dimension 7 (Transparent Communication), providing research-based insights on how authenticity affects relationship quality.
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Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification

Christopher Peterson, Ph.D. & Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.

2004 • Oxford University Press

The foundational text of positive psychology's approach to character, identifying 24 universal character strengths including authenticity, integrity, and honesty. This handbook provides the scientific classification system for human virtues.

Relevance to UBAuthentic2: Supports Dimension 4 (Integrity & Values) by placing authenticity within the broader framework of character strengths research.
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Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha

Tara Brach, Ph.D.

2003 • Bantam

Psychologist and meditation teacher Brach integrates Western psychology with Eastern wisdom, offering practices for accepting ourselves fully—including the parts we've rejected. The book addresses the "trance of unworthiness" that blocks authentic living.

Relevance to UBAuthentic2: Supports Dimension 6 (Self-Acceptance) by providing contemplative practices for embracing all aspects of ourselves.
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The Courage to Be

Paul Tillich

1952 • Yale University Press

Tillich's philosophical exploration of existential courage—the courage to affirm oneself despite the anxieties of existence. This classic work examines how authentic being requires confronting and transcending anxiety.

Relevance to UBAuthentic2: Provides philosophical foundation for Dimension 5 (Courageous Vulnerability), exploring the existential dimensions of authenticity.
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True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership

Bill George & Peter Sims

2007 • Jossey-Bass

Based on interviews with 125 of today's top leaders, this book explores how the most effective leaders are those who lead authentically from their own values and life stories, rather than adopting external models.

Relevance to UBAuthentic2: Supports Dimension 4 (Integrity & Values) and Dimension 8 (Living Your Truth), demonstrating how authenticity applies to leadership and professional contexts.
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Key Academic Papers

Peer-reviewed research underlying UBAuthentic2's evidence-based approach:

The Necessary and Sufficient Conditions of Therapeutic Personality Change

Rogers, C. R. (1957). Journal of Consulting Psychology, 21(2), 95-103.

Rogers' foundational paper establishing that congruence (therapist authenticity), unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding are necessary conditions for therapeutic change—concepts that extend to all authentic relationships.

Shame Resilience Theory: A Grounded Theory Study on Women and Shame

Brown, B. (2006). Families in Society, 87(1), 43-52.

Brown's original grounded theory research identifying the connections between shame, vulnerability, and authentic living. This paper established the empirical foundation for her later popular works.

Authenticity: A Review of the Literature

Harter, S. (2002). In C. R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of Positive Psychology. Oxford University Press.

Comprehensive review of authenticity research from developmental, social, and clinical psychology perspectives. Establishes authenticity as a key construct in positive psychology and human development.

Self-Compassion: An Alternative Conceptualization of a Healthy Attitude Toward Oneself

Neff, K. D. (2003). Self and Identity, 2(2), 85-101.

Neff's foundational paper introducing self-compassion as a construct distinct from self-esteem, demonstrating its three components: self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness—all relevant to authentic self-acceptance.

The Authenticity Inventory: Development and Psychometric Properties

Kernis, M. H., & Goldman, B. M. (2006). Journal of Research in Personality, 40(6), 1252-1279.

Development of a validated measure of authenticity encompassing four components: awareness, unbiased processing, behavior, and relational orientation. Provides empirical support for multidimensional authenticity.

Authentic Leadership: Development and Validation of a Theory-Based Measure

Walumbwa, F. O., et al. (2008). Journal of Management, 34(1), 89-126.

Establishes authentic leadership as a measurable construct with four dimensions: self-awareness, relational transparency, balanced processing, and internalized moral perspective.

🎓 Want to Go Deeper? Use Google Scholar

Google Scholar is a free academic search engine that indexes peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, and conference proceedings from universities and research institutions worldwide.

Unlike regular Google, Scholar focuses exclusively on academic and scholarly sources—the original research that books like those above are based on.

Use Google Scholar when you want to:

  • Read the original research studies (not just summaries in popular books)
  • Find the latest academic papers on authenticity and vulnerability
  • Explore citations to discover related research
  • Access free PDF versions of many papers
  • Verify claims made in popular books

Note: Some papers require institutional access or purchase, but many are freely available as PDFs.

🔍 Search Google Scholar for Authenticity Research
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