Hedonia - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Hedonia, Eudaimonia, and Well-Being: An Introduction

Deci

& Ryan

2008Slide2

HEDONIA & EUDAIMONIAWell-being, optimal psychological experience and functioning, can be thought of as falling into two traditions, founded on different views of human nature:

Hedonistic

tradition – focuses on

happiness

, defined as the presence of positive affect and the absence of negative affect. Happiness is derived

externally

.

Considers the human organism initially to be empty and thus

malleable,

such that it gains meaning in accord with social and cultural teachings.

2

.

Eudaimonic

tradition – focuses on living life in a full and

satisfying

way. Happiness comes from

within

.

Ascribes

content

to human nature and works to uncover content and to understand conditions that facilitate it versus diminish it. Slide3

CURRENT RESEARCHMost current research on well-being has been closely aligned with

hedonistic

tradition.

Diener

(1984) focused on exploring

subjective well-being

, defined as experiencing a high level of positive affect, a low level of negative affect and a high degree of satisfaction with one’s life.

SWB has frequently been used interchangeable with

happiness

and therefore has been associated with the

HEDONISTIC

approach to well-being.

HOWEVER there is another way to think about well-being –

EUDAIMONIA

This approach sees well-being to consist of more than just happiness and is concerned with living well and

actualizing

one’s human

potentials

.

Can be traced to

Aristotle

- doesn’t see well-being as an outcome or end state rather it is a process of fulfilling one’s virtuous potentials

This paper presents discussions and research reviews from the

eudaimonic

tradition illustrating how it adds an important perspective to our understanding of well-being

.Slide4

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING & EUDAIMONIA

Psychological well-being:

Part of the

eudaimonic

tradition

Formulated to challenge the hedonistic view

Derives from Aristotle’s view of the highest human good involving virtue and the realisation of one’s potential

2 approaches:

Ryff

& Singer

Waterman, Schwartz & ContiSlide5

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING & EUDAIMONIAASSESSMENT

Ryff

& Singer

A global or individual difference variable

Assesed

using 6 (7?) characteristic subscales:

Self-acceptance

Personal growth

Autonomy

Relationships

Environmental mastery

Purpose in life

a

nd Relatedness?

Waterman,

Schwartz &

Conti

More narrow assessment

Single scale assessing extent a certain activity leaves one feeling fulfilled & is expressive of who one truly isSlide6

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING & EUDAIMONIASPECIFICATION

Ryff

& Singer

Specifies content that represents

eudaimonic

living

6 characteristics

Waterman,

Schwartz &

Conti

Leaves concept content free

Whether an activity leaves one feeling fulfilledSlide7

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING & EUDAIMONIAWaterman, Schwartz & Conti

Make distinction between hedonic &

eudaimonic

happiness

Issue of semantics

Definition of hedonic well-being:

Emphasis on getting material objects and the happiness that accompanies it

Related to Aristotle’s view of

hedoniaSlide8

PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING & EUDAIMONIARyff & Singer

Shown higher PWB associated with:

Better neuroendocrine regulation

Lower cardiovascular risk

Better immune functioningSlide9

AUTONOMY & EUDAIMONIA A concept close to eudaimonia

is

autonomy

. Ryan and

Deci

(2000) describe autonomy as

volition

. In other words – free will, having the experience of choice.

At a glance this seems desirable.

Ryff

goes as far as to describe autonomy as one of the

6 aspects of psychological wellness

, alongside;

environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations, purpose in life & self acceptance.

Although the term ‘autonomy’ is not used in all theories of well being, words to that effect appear in most.

Eg

. Waterman et al talk frequently of the importance of ‘

self-determination

’ which they define as ‘

freely choosing

’.Slide10

So autonomy seems important…

But there is debate over

semantics

!

Ryff

describes autonomy as; self-determination,

independence

and the regulation of behaviour from within. However,

Deci

& Ryan argue that autonomy is quite different from independence.

Cross-cultural perspective…Devine et al – autonomy as the basic human need which they argues] is observable in both western individualist and eastern collectivist societies.

So I’ve spoken about how important autonomy seems to be in our lives and some issues that arise, now Dalia…Slide11

Aristotle said: eudaimonia is not only about making the right choices but

choosing to act virtuously

What does it mean to act

virtuously

?

To some extent, what is considered virtuous/good will inevitably vary across time & culture, according to

society’s

need (

Fowers

in Lopez 2009 Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology)Slide12

Seligman & Peterson (2004) examined dozens of inventories of strengths and virtues from a wide variety of sources e.g.) In Plato’s republic Socrates identified 4 virtues (courage,

justice,

temperance and wisdom)

Identified 6 virtues

that held across time/culture/standpoint of author: courage, justice, humanity, temperance, transcendence & wisdom - compiled the Value in Action (VIA) Classification of Strengths based upon vast inventories of moral praise

Virtues will always be reinterpreted according to a society’s need, however some significant commonalities can be found across virtue catalogs

Our paper in

Conclusion: although

Eudaimonia

research overlaps

with the hedonic perspective,

differences are seen where it contributes to an understanding of

well being

concerning

not only the individual, but

society at large.