Eudaemonia Flashcards
What is hedonic wellbeing?
Focus on the short-term pursuit of pleasure & the avoidance of pain. Encapsulates momentary emotional states
What is eudaemonic wellbeing?
Deeper, more enduring assessment of life quality. Involves evaluating how meaningful, purposeful & mastered ones life feels over the long term
What are the philosophical origins of hedonic wellbeing?
Traced to philosophy of Aridtippus of Cyrene, who proposed aim of life is to maximise pleasure
Pursuit of pleasure takes precedence over societal conventions/ future consequences
Challenge societal norms if it leads to immediate pleasure
Laid foundations for hedonism
What are the characteristics of hedonic wellbeing?
Short-term evaluations of emotional states
Balancing positive emotions and avoiding negative
Focus on how individuals feel in the moment & pursuit of immediate gratification
How is hedonic wellbeing measured?
Positive affect - attentive, interested, strong, active, determined etc
Negative affect - distressed, hostile, guilty, nervous, upset etc
Assessed through balance of these states
What is the philosophical perspective of eudaemonic wellbeing?
Rooted in Aristotle’s philosophy, focusing on living well as the path to happiness
Pleasure, wealth & heath are positive & can contribute to happiness but alone, they are insufficient for true fulfilment
Happiness comes from living virtuously & having sufficient resources to make meaningful, ethical choices leading to harmonious life (align actions with core values)
What is the psychological framework for eudeamonic wellbeing (Ryff et al, 1989)?
Autonomy
Environmental mastery
Personal growth
Purpose in life
Positive relations with others
Self-acceptance
Multi-dimensional construct
What is autonomy in the context of eudaemonia?
Reflects individuals ability to maintain independence & resist external pressures.
Signifies self-directed & mature approach to life, highlighting psychological growth & self-determination
Inspired by Jung’s individualisation
What is environmental mastery in eudaemonia?
Focuses on effectively managing life’s demands & challenges
Also aligns with Jahodas mental health theory, emphasising competence & ability to meet external expectations successfully
What is personal growth in eudaemonia?
Influenced by Maslow’s self-actualisation
Represents continuous striving to fulfil ones potential
Underscores openness to new experiences, adaptability & lifelong commitment to self-improvement
What is purpose in life in eudaemonia?
Highlights importance of identifying & pursuing meaningful goals
Eriksons emphasis on generativity & identity reinforces the idea having a sense of purpose is central to resilience & overall wellbeing
What are positive relationships with others in eudaemonia?
Underscores significance of nurturing interpersonal connections
Empathises empathy, trust, mutual exchanges of care in relationships, aligning with humanistic & developmental frameworks
What is self-acceptance in eudaemonia?
Acknowledging one’s strengths & weaknesses
Jahodas mental health theory highlights role of positive self-evaluation as cornerstone of psychological wellbeing q
How does eudaemonia affect development & ageing?
Evolves across the lifespan, influenced by developmental milestones, transitions & challenges
Links between Eriksons stages of identity, generativity & ego integrity with psychological wellbeing
Ageing brings declines in aspects of purpose & growth , but can enhance self-acceptance & positive relationships
How does eudaemonia affect family experiences?
Family roles & dynamics shape wellbeing
Parenthood, caregiving & marital status offer benefits & challenges. Early family experiences like parenting style & childhood adversity have lasting impacts on adult wellbeing
How does eudaemonia shape work & other life engagements?
Significantly affects wellbeing
Career identity, vocational pursuits & work-family dynamics illustrate complex interdependencies - positive spillovers enhance wellbeing & conflicts undermine
Engagement activities also contribute meaningfully to life purpose
How does eudaemonia affect health & biological research?
Increasingly linked to physical health & biological markers
Higher wellbeing predicts better outcomes in chronic illness, inflammation regulation & mortality risk
How does eudaemonia affect clinical & intervention studies?
Informs mental health interventions, going beyond symptom reduction to promote growth & resilience
Wellbeing therapy integrates eudaemonic wellbeing principles to prevent relapse
