Theoretical Basis of Wellbeing

Question 1

What is the Easterlin Pardox?

Answer 1

At a single point in time, happiness varies with a nation’s income, however, this is not observed when we look at the longitudinal perspective.

Question 2

What are the two theories that posit happiness as a state of mind? (2)

Answer 2

1. Hedonic view

2. Emotional state

Question 3

What is the Hedonic view on happiness?

Answer 3

Happiness is the individual’s balance of pleasant over unpleasant experiences.

Question 4

What is the Emotional State view on happiness?

Answer 4

Happiness involves discrete episodes of positive emotions.

Question 5

Happiness is a positive ______________ which is different from _________ (short-lasting), which is somewhere between emotions/moods and stable affective traits.

Answer 5

emotional condition; emotions

Question 6

What is the life satisfaction view of happiness?

Answer 6

Happiness is having a favorable attitude towards one’s life as a whole (no emotions or emotional states)

Question 7

What is the hybrid view of happiness?

Answer 7

Happiness as both affective and cognitive (feeling positive emotions and judging your life as overall good)

Question 8

What’s the difference between happiness and wellbeing?

Answer 8

Happiness is a long-term goal (poorly defined), wellbeing reflects a value which differs between individuals. (more precisely defined)

Question 9

Who was the first to ask questions like “What makes a good life?”

Answer 9

Socrates

Question 10

What are eudemonistic theories of happiness?

Answer 10

The route to happiness was through living a good and virtuous life.

Question 11

What are the four different theories of happiness?

Answer 11

1. Virtue = Happiness
2. True happiness is only possible for philosophers (Plato)
3. Happiness can be achieved by engaging in virtuous activity, but you may also need external goods to do good (Aristotle)
4. Virtue (meaning morality) is the only means to happiness, (Stoics - Zeno)

Question 12

What are the two hedonistic theories of happiness?

Answer 12

1. Epicureans

2. Cyrenaics

Question 13

What did the Epicureans believe?

Answer 13

Happiness as the continuous experience of pleasure that comes from freedom from pain/distress (i.e., static pleasures of tranquility)

Question 14

What did the Cyrenaics believe?

Answer 14

Pleasure is the ultimate goal of life, happiness is just the sum of pleasures over the long term. Your goals should be set to attain pleasures not happiness.

Question 15

Why was the Enlightenment a period of change for theories of happiness?

Answer 15

The Church was overruled as a source of knowledge about how to live a good life. This lead to more individualistic theories of how to live a good life that were founded upon the principles of liberty and having resources.

Question 16

Contrast subjectivist and objectivist theories of wellbeing.

Answer 16

Subjective: you decide what’s best for you
Objectivist: some things are good for everyone

Question 17

Compare and contrast needing, wanting and liking in wellbeing.

Answer 17

Needing: certain psychological needs must be met to be well.
Wanting: wellbeing is attained by getting what we want
Liking: wellbeing is attained based on how we feel.

Question 18

What is “narrow hedonism”? And what kind of theory is it based on the wellbeing theory axis?

Answer 18

Wellbeing is the balance of pleasant or unpleasant experience.

Subjectivist and Liking

Question 19

What is a philosophical conundrum that opposes narrow hedonism?

Answer 19

Hilary Putnam’s “Brain in a Vat”

Question 20

What is the life satisfaction theory of wellbeing? Wellbeing axis?

Answer 20

Wellbeing reflects the cognitive judgements of one’s life.

Hedonic, Subjectivist and Liking.

Question 21

What are the criticisms of the life-satisfaction theory?

Answer 21

Too simplistic and reductionist. There is evidence that personal satisfaction is less dependent on congitive past information and is more influenced by mood and other variables.

Question 22

What is the theory of subjective wellbeing? Axis?

Answer 22

Well being reflects hedonic balance of positive affect over negative affect AND cognitive judgements of one’s life (life satisfaction).

Hedonic, Subjectivist, Liking.

Question 23

What are criticisms of the theory of subjective wellbeing?

Answer 23

Too simplistic and reductionist. For example, take in Nozick’s (1974) Experience machine conundrum.

Question 24

What are the Desire Theories? Axis?

Answer 24

Wellbeing as the actual satisfactions of the individual’s desires. These desires are ones that we have full information for (i.e., not video games). All these theories are subjectivist and wanting.

Question 25

Why does the “Experience Machine” not pose a problem for Desire Theories?

Answer 25

Not all of our wants are satisfied in the Experience machine. How about autonomy?

Question 26

List the advantages and disadvantages of the Desire theories of wellbeing? (3x3)

Answer 26

Advantages:

1. Obvious link between motives and welfare
2. Accounts for individual differences
3. Allows for free-will

Disadvantages:

1. Desires can be hostile to one’s interests
2. Not all desires are equally weighted
3. Desires adapt to the person’s environment.

Question 27

What is the theory of adaptation?

Answer 27

People adapt to their actual life circumstances.

Question 28

What is the difference between instrumental and ultimate desires?

Answer 28

Instrumental desires are those desires one has for something as a means for something else; ultimate desires are those desires one has for something as an end in itself, not as a means to something else.

Question 29

What is miswanting?

Answer 29

When we overestimate how much something we desire will actually make us happy.

Question 30

What is monetary desire-fulfillment theory? And what are its disadvantages?

Answer 30

It posits that people are rational and given the resources, can choose the best available option for them to optimize their wellbeing. However, are people always rational? And the relationship between wealth and wellbeing isn’t clear.

Question 31

What is the affective desire-fulfillment theory? What are its disadvantages? (3)

Answer 31

Pleasant and unpleasant subjective and objective feelings reveal desire fulfillment.

1. There are problems with the reliance of self-reports.
2. Not all desire fulfillment is linked to strong emotions.
3. Emotions and cognitive evaluation are made by different neural systems.

Question 32

What is the cognitive desire-fulfillment theory? Disadvantages?

Answer 32

Wellbeing is based on self-judgements of whether our desires are fulfilled. How valid are people’s reports on their life?

Question 33

What are list-theories of wellbeing? Axis? Disadvantages?

Answer 33

Wellbeing is gained by attaining certain objective needs for a good life.

Objective, Eudemonic, Needing.

How do we decide what goes on the list?

Question 34

What are examples of list-theories? (2)

Answer 34

1. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (5 tiers)

2. Nussbaum’s Capabilities Approach (10 needs)

Question 35

Describe the self-determination theory. (3)

Answer 35

Fulfillment of autonomy, competence and relatedness

Question 36

Describe the Ryff’s Psychological wellbeing theory.

Answer 36

6 underlying facts of positive human functioning:

2. positive relations
3. purpose
4. personal growth
5. self-acceptance
6. autonomy
7. mastery

Question 37

Describe Seligma’s Well-being theory: (PERMA)

Answer 37

Need the following things in life: Positive Emotions, Engagement. Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishments

Question 38

What are authentic happiness theories? Advantages vs disadvantages?

Answer 38

Wellbeing as informed about the conditions of one’s life and being autonomous, subjectivist.

Adv: involves both hedonistic feelings and cognitive evaluations of one’s life.

Dis: Is subjective reasoning of a good life to be trusted?

Question 39

What is positive psychology?

Answer 39

Scientific and applied approach to uncovering people’s strengths and promoting positive functioning. Moving beyond psychologists role as helping the ill, but how to achieve wellbeing for everyone.