Evolutionary Perspectives on Enhancing Quality of Life

Positive psychology is a thriving field with increasing political influence, yet there are few evolutionary studies that have had a tangible impact on rethinking mechanisms of well-being. This Element reviews existing literature and proposes synthesizing insights into human flourishing under an umbrella of multilevel selection (MLS). Conceptualizing quality of life as 'Happiness + Meaning = Well-being' draws attention to how people navigate between individual and group needs, and how they reconcile selfish pursuits with altruism and cooperation. We define happiness as the cluster of affects that reward individuals for solving adaptive challenges. We approach meaning as a reward that individuals experience when contributing to their community. By way of examples, we critically examine the Nordic well-being societies whose ethos and education advance prosocial values and practices and strike a balance between individualist and communitarian ideals. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Table des matières

1. Introduction: the battle of the books in well-being studies; 2. A Century of well-being studies; 3. Ideas of good life: are there cultural universals?; 4. Happiness from an evolutionary perspective; 5. From welfare to well-being society, the Nordic blueprint; 6. Conclusions; References.

Résumé

This Element reviews existing literature and proposes synthesizing insights into human flourishing under multilevel selection (MLS). It approaches meaning as a reward that individuals experience when contributing to their community, using the Nordic well-being societies as examples. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Préface

To create happier lives for more people, we must understand both the biological and cultural mainsprings for human well-being.

Détails du produit

• Auteurs: Mads Larsen, Mads (Universitetet I Oslo) Witoszek Larsen, Larsen Mads, Nina Witoszek, Witoszek Nina
• Edition: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Langues: Anglais
• Format d'édition: Livre de poche
• Sortie: 31.05.2024
• EAN: 9781009378536
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0937853-6
• Pages: 75
• Thème: Elements in Applied Evolutionary Science
• Catégories: Littérature spécialisée > Psychologie, ésotérique, spiritualité, anthroposophie > Psychologie appliquée; Sciences humaines, art, musique > Psychologie > Psychologie théorique; PSYCHOLOGY / Applied Psychology, positive psychology, Welfare economics, Early Man, Psychological theory & schools of thought, Evolutionary anthropology / Human evolution