Study Unit 4 + 5 Flashcards
Defining the eudaimonic perspective
Baumgardner and Crothers’
- it is a dynamic process whereby we develop into more fully functioning, self-actualising in line with the true self
- through this development, we contribute to the greater good. We do this by using and expressing our talents and strengths
Other definitions
- hedonic activities make you “feel good” in the moment, whereas eudaimonic happiness makes you “feel right” for a longer period of time
- definite moral or ethical underpinning
- eudaimonic well-being specifically refers to the subjective experiences associated eudaimonia or living a life of virtue in pursuit of human excellence
- exists on an individual (meaning, self-actualisation and personal growth) and societal level (commitment to socially shared goals and values)
McMahan and Estes
- eudaimonic well-being refers to the sense of authenticity, meaning, self-actualisation and ultimately well-being that a person derives from living a life that is in line with one’s true self, is meaningful in its expression of their unique personal set of values, and offers opportunity for self-realisation in the optimal development of their unique set of skills, talents and strengths
Central Element of the eudaimonic perspective: Authenticity: living out our core values
4 Factors:
1. Awareness: our motivation to increase self-relevant knowledge and to be more in touch with our feelings, thoughts and desires
2. Unbiased processing: ability to view both positive and negative aspects more objectively, rather than denying or distorting them. It allows us a true and non-defensive view of our performance
3. Behaviour: reflects the extent to which our acts are based on our awareness, rather than on the pursuit of rewards or the avoidance of punishment
4. Relational orientation: reflects the level of motivation to show our true selves in close relationships through increased openness, sincerity and trust
- by being aware of our own deeply held values and convictions- and choosing our activities accordingly- we are moving in the direction of ‘functioning well’
- pursuit of intrinsic factors (social contribution, interpersonal connection and personal growth) instead of extrinsic factors (financial success, popularity and physical beauty)
- the development of a personal value system has been found to be especially important in predicting well-being
Central Element of the eudaimonic perspective: personal growth and self-realisation
- eudamonia is a subjective state that refers to the feelings present when one is moving towards self-realisation in terms of the developing of one’s unique individual potentials and furthering one’s purpose in life
- Abraham Maslow proposed a hierarchical theory of self-actualisation that only a few truly achieve
- Carl Rogers believed that all humans have an innate need to expand themselves through the development of their potential
- we all have the potential to develop into fully functioning individuals, if we receive unconditional love, empathetic understanding and authenticity
- instead of being associated with pleasant feelings, these growth-promoting experiences stimulate feelings of interest, engagement, involvement and inspiration
- “Jonah complex:” the fear of success because of other people’s reactions often stands in the way of realising our true potential
Central Element of the eudaimonic perspective: Living a life of meaning and purpose
- refers to the extent to which people comprehend, make sense of, or see significance in their lives, accompanied by the degree to which they see themselves to have a purpose, mission, or over-arching aim in life
- increased life satisfaction, work enjoyment, happiness, positive affect, hope and physical health and well-being
- lower incidences of psychopathology, reduced stress and fewer thoughts of suicide
- activities that lead to meaningfulness do not necessarily lead to pleasure
- according to Frankl’s logotherapy meaning can be found in: i) external achievement or accomplishment (creating something ot doing a deed); ii) experiencing something internally (goodness, truth or beauty in nature or culture); iii) experiencing another human being’s innermost core and uniqueness through love; and iv) the attitude we take towards unavoidable suffering
- associated with a life that is self-transcendent and connected or committed to a cause bigger than ourselves
Central Element of the eudaimonic perspective: Excellence or giftedness
- two of the original objectives of psychology was i) to nurture exceptional human talent and ii) facilitate excellence
- the demonstration of extraordinary talent within a particular area
- possessing a certain intelligence only provides a basis for becoming a “genius”
- giftedness comes from the creative application of one’s talents and a commitment to practising consistently
- moments of peak performance are instances where we use our inherent potential in extraordinary ways
- however, one can train oneself to experience moments of peak performance through the following skills:
1. Framing: when something goes wrong, ask yourself “what can I learn from this” or “how do I turn this into an opportunity” instead of being defeated
2. Reflecting: by spending time thinking about what we are doing, we can create some distance between ourselves and our situation
3. Leveraging: if we can figure out what our strengths are, we can push ourselves to use and develop them
Other Element of eudaimonic approach: Vitality and a zest for life
- the feeling of having energy available to the self
- associated with personal growth, self-realisation and higher levels of performance and persistance in difficult or unpleasant tasks
- influenced by both physical and psychological factors
- these energy stores can run dry, resulting in ego depletion
- in certain contexts, challenging tasks can restore vitality levels if these activities involve goals that are intrinsically motivated, and that satisfy our needs for autonomy, relatedness and competence
- African cultures believe that only when our needs (physical, mental and spiritual levels) are balanced do we experience vitality or well-being
- associated with higher levels of economic, societal and social participation
Other Element of the eudaimonic perspective: Time perspective
Other Element of the eudaimonic perspective: Goal-directed living
Other Element of the eudaimonic perspective: Intrinsic motivation and flow
Other Element of the eudaimonic perspective: Self-regulation
Other Element of the eudaimonic perspective: Mindfulness
Other Element of the Eudaimonic perspective: Constructive coping
Other Element of the Eudaimonic perspective: Posttraumatic growth
