FUNCTIONING WELLFUNCTIONING WELLPrevious lecture focussed on feeling good (hedonic) component of SWB. This lecture will focus on functioning well (eudaimonic) component of SWB

Hedonic vs Eudaimonic Hedonic vs Eudaimonic WBWB

1. Happiness (hedonic vs 1. Happiness (hedonic vs eudaimonic perspectives)eudaimonic perspectives)Hedonic perspective on happiness has positive

emotions & life satisfaction (SWB) at centre of its definition of “the good life”

However question can be asked if all pleasures are necessarily good for you & a stepping stone toward greater well-being?

Kupperman (2006) provides 6 myths regarding the “good life” to be learned from history…

So a life spent in pursuit of happiness is not necessarily good for you

True happiness may only be achieved as a by-product of focusing on things other than our own happiness?

Eudaimonic happinessEudaimonic happiness

2. Early roots of eudaimonic 2. Early roots of eudaimonic perspectiveperspectiveDebate over what constitutes “living

well” started BC:- Epicureus- Aristotle

More contemporary psychologists Rogers & Maslow seem to feel that “living well” would constitute development into a fully functioning, self-actualizing individual by living in line with your true self & by developing, using & expressing your talents & strengths while contributing to the greater good

2.1 Definition for eudaimonic 2.1 Definition for eudaimonic well-beingwell-beingSo far it is clear that hedonic activities will make

you feel good in the moment, while a life in pursuit of eudaimonic happiness will make you feel right & will make you function well for longer period of time

Thus the eudaimonic perspective has a moral/ethical component distinguishing it from hedonic happiness

McMahan & Estes (2011) – eudaimonic happiness = the sense of authenticity, meaning, self-actualization & well-being that a person derives from living a life in line with his true self. This life is meaningful in its expression of his unique personal set of values & offers opportunity for self realization in optimal development of his skills, talents & strengths

3. Constructs & processes 3. Constructs & processes associated with a “life well lived”associated with a “life well lived”The following collection of

constructs & processes are related to eudaimonic well-being:

3.1 Authenticity: living in line 3.1 Authenticity: living in line with your core values with your core values In order to live an authentic life you have to

know your core values & become what you are

You have intrinsic values (eg interpersonal connections & personal growth) & extrinsic values (eg financial success & physical beauty) – orientation towards intrinsic values leads to higher levels of self-reported well-being, better adjustment & performance in tasks (thus more eudaimonic happiness (EH))

Get to know your identity & find appropriate ways to express this identity from adolescence onwards - EH

3.1 Authenticity: living in line 3.1 Authenticity: living in line with your core valueswith your core valuesYour culture & context can also have an

impact on your values which leads to EHPeople with EH in both individualist &

collectivist cultures pursue goals to make themselves happy rather than others

Difference here – pursuit of interdependent goals (focused on pleasing self, parents & friends) EH for people in collectivist cultures & pursuit of independent goals (focused on own enjoyment) EH for people in individualist cultures

3.2 Personal growth & self 3.2 Personal growth & self realization realization Eudaimonia also entails the growth

towards excellenceMaslow already indicated with his

hierarchy of needs that there is an underlying potential inherent to all human beings & that unleashing this potential (actualization) could have a positive impact on well-being

Rogers also indicated that all humans have a need to expand themselves through development of their potentials which leads to EH

Maslow’s hierarchy of Maslow’s hierarchy of needsneeds

3.2 Personal growth & self 3.2 Personal growth & self realizationrealizationWhat are the routes toward self-

actualization?- Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory- Being confronted with novel & difficult situations

Beware of the Jonah complex in realizing your potential (your fear of success because of other peoples’ reactions…)

Fredrickson’s broaden-and-Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theorybuild theory

3.3 Vitality & zest for life3.3 Vitality & zest for lifeSome activities make you feel

enthusiastic & invigorated (vitality)Vitality = the positive feeling of having

energy available to the selfResearch has associated vitality with

reports of feeling enthusiastic, alive, vigorous & energised, higher levels of performance, persistence in difficult tasks & growth & self-actualization (thus vitality leads to EH)

Note: vitality is a limited resource

3.4 Time perspective3.4 Time perspectiveAs human beings we have the ability to be

conscious of time & its progressionThis impacts on how we think, feel & behaveTime perspective = a person’s cognitive way

of relating to the psychological concepts of past, present & future

Your time perspective can influence whether you experience time poverty or time affluence (time affluence leads to EH)

People with future time perspective (orientation) tend to formulate long term goals – they experience EH

Also signs that people with balanced time perspective experience EH

Animals live only in here-Animals live only in here-and-nowand-now

3.5 Goal-directed 3.5 Goal-directed behaviourbehaviourHaving specific goals seem NB in

experiencing EHGoals = desired future states that

people seek to obtain, maintain or avoidGoals serve as concrete points of

reference for directing one’s behaviour in fulfilment of needs – creating meaning & purpose

2 Goal categories can be identified:- Approach goals- Avoidance goals

3.6 Flow3.6 FlowWhen doing something you enjoy you feel

you’re acting with focused & intense involvement (flow)

Flow = experience of effortless action because what you feel, want & think are synchronised with result that you are completely absorbed in what you do

Flow may be experienced as enjoyment/focus/absorption during various activities such as reading, listening to music, creative activities, sport, work…leading to EH

Experience of time = often distorted during flow

3.7 Self-regulation3.7 Self-regulationSelf regulation = systematic process of

behaviour that involves setting of personal goals & steering behaviour toward achievement of established goals

Executive functioning = required for self-regulation

Self-regulation requires 3 types of action- Self monitoring- Self-control- Adjusting

Self-regulation = NB eudaimonic strength as it helps you to function autonomously & to adapt

3.8 Mindfulness3.8 MindfulnessMindfulness = receptive attention to &

awareness of present events & experienceThe more mindful you are, the more healthy,

adaptive & valuable your behaviour Ingredients of mindfulness:

- Clarity of awareness- Non-conceptual, non discriminatory awareness- Flexibility of awareness & attention- Empirical stance toward reality

More mindful people experience EH

3.9 Living a life of meaning & 3.9 Living a life of meaning & purpose purpose Meaningfulness = Frankl – He who has a why

to live for can bear with almost any howMeaning in life = extent to which people

comprehend, make sense of or see significance in their lives + degree to which they see themselves to have a purpose, mission or aim in life

4 Ingredients for meaningful life:- Sense of purpose- Feelings of efficacy- Actions that have positive value- Sense of positive self-worth

Presence of sense of meaning in your life has many benefits…

3.9 Living a life of meaning & 3.9 Living a life of meaning & purposepurposeMeaning and different life stages –

more meaning experienced in later stages; more search for meaning in earlier stages

It seems to get happiness in life, you should forget about it & pursue meaningful activities & relationships - this will lead to experience of happiness as a by-product

So sense of meaning leads to eudaimonic well-being

Sources of meaning?

Amount of happiness Amount of happiness experienced due to experienced due to meaning?meaning?

3.10 Constructive coping3.10 Constructive copingCoping = constantly changing

cognitive & behavioural efforts to manage specific external &/internal demands taxing/exceeding resources of a person

Examples of coping strategies: planning, distancing, self-controlling, seeking social support etc

Different coping strategies: problem focused; emotion focused & avoidance strategies

Most NB ito effective coping = was coping strategy applied flexibly

3.11 Posttraumatic growth 3.11 Posttraumatic growth Trauma can’t always be avoided –

anyone can become victim of crime, natural disaster, accident etc

Negative reaction to trauma = PTSDMeaningful growth & development =

also possible because of trauma (posttraumatic growth)

Posttraumatic growth = positive changes in persons that occur as a result of attempts to cope in the aftermath of traumatic life events

3.11 Posttraumatic growth3.11 Posttraumatic growthFor posttraumatic growth to occur:

- the loss must be disruptive to your sense of identity/purpose/understanding of the world- you must make sense of the loss & experience yourself as changed & improved- you must attribute the change to working through the experience

Consequences of posttraumatic growth:- the loss has produced something of value- best & worst in others have been discovered- greater compassion for others who experience something similar

4. Positive functioning at 4. Positive functioning at its bestits bestHave a look at the following on

your own:- Nurturing of extraordinary human talent- Building of human strength- How can we prepare for extraordinariness?