Eudaimonic We-Being as a
Core Concept of Positve Functioning
Elliott Lee & Tyler Carey
Uversiy of Vitoria
ABSTRACT Since its inception over a decade ago, the field of posi
For over a decade, the discipline of positive psychology has tive psychology has been chiefly concerned with developing
ben interesd in concepts associated with positive human empirical knowlede pertaining to the underlying factors of
functioning. In this article we focus on eudaimonic well· positive human functioning (Seligman & Csikzentmihalyi,
being (EWB), which Waterman and colleagues (2010) de· 2000). In accordance with this mandate, one of the most
fine as the "qualiy of life derived from the development of fundamental conceps to permeate positive psychological
a person's best potentials and their application in the ful· research and practice has been well-being. Broadly defined,
fillment of personally expressive, self·concordant goals" (p. this concept refers to optimal psychological functioning and
41). Stemming from Aristotelian philosophy, EWB has re experience (Ryan & Deci, 2001). There has been a tendency
cently been recognized as a viable topic for scientific in· to bifurcate conceptions of well-being to reflect the follow
quiry. Eudaimonic conceptions of happiness are associated ing two philosophis regarding happiness: (1) a hedonic phi·
with notions of the true self, personal expressiveness, and losophy supporting the idea that happiness is analogous to
meaningful goal pursuis (Ryan & Deci, 2001). This idea is subjective xperiences of pleasure and satisfaction; and (2)
oten held in sharp contrast with hedonic conceptions of a eudaimonist philosophy supporting the idea that happi·
happiness which reflect a life characterized by the maxi· ness occurs when individuals peform personally expressive
mum attainment of pleasure. In this article, we highlight behaviours during meaningful goal pursuits (Ryan & Deci,
the philosophical and historical roots of EWB as well as cur 2001). In the following discussion, we will focus primarily
rent conceptual and measurement issues relate. to its em· on eudaimonic well-being (EWB) by taking stock of its
pirical study. philosophical and conceptual roots, as well as its measure·
ment within contemporary psychological research.
RtSUMt Philosophical and Coneptual Foundations f
Pendant plus d'une d6cennie, la discipline de la psychologie Eudaimonic Well-Being
In his seminal work entitled Nichomachean Ethics, Aris
positie s'est penche sur les conceps associ6s au onction
totle (4 BCE/1985) was the first to introduce eudaimonic
nement humain positif. Dans le present article, nous met·
conceptions of happiness. Rejecting the notion that happi·
tons l'accent sur le bien �tre eud6monique (BEE), que
ness could be equated with the attainment of pleasure, Ar·
Waterman et ses coll�gues (2010) definissent comme la« istotle suggested that true happiness could be achieved by
qualite de la vie qui 6mane de la realisation du plein poten living a life of contemplation and virtue. In traditional Aris
tiel d'une personne et de son application dans l'accom· totelian terms vitue is objectively considered to be the best
plissement significatif du self et concordant au self » (p. within a person or excellence (Ackrill, 1973). Thus, Aristotle
41). lssu de la philosophie d'Aristote, le BEE a recemment might suggest that a gardener could live a life of virtue
6te reconnu comme un sujet viable d'interrogation scien through exercising his or her function (i.e., gardening) to its
tifique. Les conceptions eud6moniques du bonheur sont as· fullest.
sociees aux notions du self veritable, de l'expressivite In recent history, the meaning accorded to the term
personnelle et� la poursuite d'objectifs significatifs (yan virtue has shifted to denote a subjective sense of "doing
that which is worth doing• (Ryan & Deci, 2001; Waterman,
et Deci, 2001). Cette id6e est souvent tenue en contraste
2008). From this standpoint, activities judged as "worth
marqu6 c les conceptions hdoniques du bonheur qui re
doing" are also perceived as concordant with the daimon or
fl�tent une vie caracterisee par la r6alisation optimale du
"true self." According to Waterman (1990; 1993), the dai·
plaisir. Dans cet article, nous mettons en lumi�re les racines mon or "true self" is comprised f unique and (nearly) uni·
philosophiques et historiques du BEE ainsi que les ques· versal potentials that when developed through pursuit of
tions conceptuelles actuelles et de mesures Mes A son personally expressive activities, promote a sense of eudai
6tude empirique. monic well-being (EWB). Potentials that are (nearly) univer
sal include developmental milestones such as grasping,
---Q walking, and talking, as well as abstract virtues such as
Ns d'is • Her 013 17
honesy and courage. Unique potentials of the "true self" terman, 1993). On the other hand, behaviours facilitating
may include activities such as gardening, basketball, and increased levels f EWB are constrained by the researcher
painting. Perceived development of these aspects of the to reflect activities and behaviours of a specific type (e.g.,
"true self" during personally expressive activities (eudaimo only those that are perceived as personally expressive). De·
nia) is considered instrumental to the attainment of EWB velopment of one's fullest potential during personally ex
(Waterman, 1993; Waterman et al., 2010). pressive activities is, however likely to generate oncomitant
Two of the most prevalent eudaimonic concepts to per feelings of pleasure and SWB. Thus, it has been speculated
meate the science of well-being have been Waterman and that EWB is sufficient, but unnecessary for the attainment
colleagues' (2010) concept f EWB and Ryff's (1989) con of SWB (Telfer, 1990). Some behaviours and activities may,
cept f psychological well-being (PWB). The core theme of therefore, contribute toward increased levels of SWB, but
Waterman and colleagues' conept of EWB involves the per not EWB. For example, eating a candy bar may bolster per
ceived identification and development of one's "true self" ceptions f SWB, while xerting litle to no influence on lev
(i.e., one's best potentials and fullest capacities). Other els of EWB. In this way, SWB casts a broader conceptual
components of EWB within this conceptualization include: net over a wider range of activities and behaviours than
a sense of meaning and purpose in life, investment of sig EWB.
nificant efort in the pursuit f excellence, intense involve From a eudaimonist perspective, not all pleasure prduc
ment in activities (flow), and enjoyment of activities as ing activities giving rise to SWB are consideed ood for the
personally xpressive. wellness of the individual (Ryan & Deci, 2001). In addic
Two decades prior to this modern conceptualization, tions research, it is widely recognized that alcohol can be
ff (1989) was noted for deriving the theory-based con used as an emotional anesthetic to numb feelings of nega
cept of PWB. This concept is noted for aligning with eudai tive afect (e.g., Cooper, Frone, Russell, & Mudar, 1995). In
monic (rather than hedonic) conceptions of happiness. this contt, intoxication may momentarily increase percep
Derived as a multi-faceted construct, PWB consiss of the tions of SWB through escape/avoidance principles of op
following six factors: self-aceptance, positive relations with erant conditioning (Skinner, 1953). A number of analogous
others, personal groth, environmental mastery, purpose examples would serve equally well in conveying the mes
in life, and autonomy (Rff, 1989; Rff & Kyes, 1995). sage that increased levels of momentary SWB may occur
to the detriment of organismic health. Not surprisingly, re
The Relatlonshlp between Eudalmonlc and Hedonlc ent research shows that dimensions of EWB (e.g., meaning
Coneptions of Happiness and purpose, self-realization, c.) are more robustly asso
Before contemplating any potential overlap beween di· ciated with self-reported well-being compared to hedonic
vergent conceptions of happiness, it is necessary to briefly dimensions of SWB (McMahan & Estes, 2011).
review the tradition of hedonic happiness within the sciene
of well-being. In light of this requirement, subjective well Measurement of Eudalmonlc Well-Being
being (SWB) is discussed as the concept most commonly The bureoning field of positive psychology has only re
aligned with hdonic notions f happiness. Originating from cently adopted EWB as a concept for scientific inquiry. s
the insights of hdonic philosophers such as Aristippus of a result, the concept is receiving increased psychometric
Cyrene and Jeremy Bentham, SWB stems from the position attention. One potential reason for this is perhaps due to
that pleasure is the sole good, and that any notion of "the the fact that is philosophical roots are not easily translated
good life" must be equated with maximum attainment of into psychometric properties. Considering the subjective
pleasure (Ryan & Deci, 2001; Waterman, Schwartz, & nature of EWB, it may be easiest to ask individuals about
Conti, 2008). The concept of SWB stemming from this their experiences during interviews as a method of investi
philosophical tradition has been conceptualized as includ gating this phenomenon. Existential phenomenological in
ing both afective and cognitive components (Diener, 1984; terviews form a solid basis for EWB assessment by gaining
1994). More specifically, SWB has been conceptualized as insight into participans' unique experiences (Dale, 1996).
consisting f: high frequencies of positive afect, low fre Unfortunately, qualitative interviews are psychometrically
quencies of negative afect, and a global cognitive evalua· unreliable. In response to this hurdle, several EWB-related
tion of life as satisying (Diener, Suh, Lucas, & Smith, instruments have been developed. However, Kimiecik
1999). (2010) notes that in an effort to quantiy and xplain eu
s xtensions of hedonic and eudaimonic philosophical daimonic experiences, researchers may have lost the
ideologies, SWB and EWB represent related, yet distinctly human qualities of this philosophical concept. Despite this
unique concepts of well-being (e.g., Waterman et al., 2010). contention, quantifiable and reliable measures have been
When SWB is adopted as an indicator f well-being, respon established.
dents are given the freedom to define happiness. Accord· One of the most widely used scales to incorporate ele·
ingly, an infinite number of activities and behaviours may mens of EWB is yff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being
facilitate increased perceptions f pleasure and SWB (Wa· (PWB; ff, 1989). Spe:ifically, Ryff drew upon eudaimonic
18) Mind Pad - Winer 2013
concepts from Aristotelian philosophy and Maslow's (1954) velopment of one's best potentials, a sense of purpose and
higher order needs (e.g., self-actualization) to develop a meaning in life, investment of significant efort in pursuit
conceptual understanding of PWB. s noted previously, the of excellence, intense involvement in activities, and enjoy
core components of PWB are: self·acceptance, positive re· ment of activities as personally expressive. While the scale
lations with others, autonomy, environmental mastery, pur includes items tapping each of these six domains, a prin
pose in life, and personal growth. The overlap between cipal components analysis on the QEWB demonstrated a
these PWB components and the theoretical underpinnings single EWB component accounting for the majoriy f the
of EWB has ld to the adoption of f's scales as a popular scale variance (Waterman et al., 2010). This scale has good
method for assessing EWB. It is important to clariy that psychometric properties, and is available to use as a reli·
ff's PWB scales were designed primarily as a means for able measure of EWB in future psychology research.
assessing positive psychological functioning, and not the While the concept f EWB has a rich philosophical and
specific concept of EWB. At best, Rytf's PWB scales yield a theoretical heritage, its emergence in the realm of empiri·
close approximation of EWB. cism makes it an intriguing topic of inquiry for prospective
Several single·item or short form questionnaires have Canadian positive psychology researchers. Even more ex·
been employed as indicators of EWB in existing positive citing are the far-reaching practical implications of contin·
psychology literature. s mentioned previously, personal ued research on EWB as a central aspect f positive human
growth is widely recognized as an integral component of functioning. In particular, bolstering individuals' EWB may
eudaimonia. In accordance with this idea, Vittersm and promote mental health and have important implications for
Ssholt (2011) found that interest in activities predicted per encouraging the development of positive institutions and
sonal growth, thus forming the theoretical and empirical ra happy nations. Despite receiving increased attention
tionale for using interest in activities as a viable indicator through its afiliation with the neophte discipline of Posi·
of EWB. Although the construct validity of this measure is tive Psychology, the concept of EWB has been ripe for in·
questionable, the theoretical underpinnings are justifiable. vestigation for nearly two decades. In the words of Fowers,
Using a similar reasoning, Butkvic, Brkovic, and Bratko Mollica, and Procacci (2010), "It is certainly too early to
(2011) used measures of self-esteem and loneliness to pre· specify with confidence a canonical definition of eudaimo·
diet PWB. Since PWB has been used an indicator of EWB, nia or a preferred approach to measurement" (p. 142). The
these researchers extrapolated scores on self-esteem and future f EWB research is wide open and holds much prom
loneliness measures to represent EWB. ise. Which direction might future Canadian psychology re·
In an effort to differentiate the "good life" from hedonic searchers take EWB?
forms of happiness, Peterson, Park, and Seligman (2005)
drew upon three Western ideas about the composition of
well·being. Specifically, these reseachers posited the "ood ferens
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itself rooted in theories f identity formation and eudaimo
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