Integrating the hedonic and eudaimonic perspectives to more comprehensively understand wellbeing and pathways to wellbeing

By Luke Wayne Henderson, T. Knight. 2012

343 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Recently, the disagreement that separates hedonic from eudaimonic philosophers has spread to the science of wellbeing. This has resulted in two opposing perspectives regarding both wellbeing concepts and proposed pathways to wellbeing. Whilst contention continues, most contemporary psychologists now agree that hedonic and eudaimonic approaches each denote important aspects of wellbeing. This has led to integrated wellbeing conceptualisations, in which the combined presence of hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing components is referred to as ‘flourishing’. In regard to the attainment of wellbeing, research simultaneously investigating hedonic and eudaimonic pathways suggests that a life rich in both types of pursuits is associated with the highest degree of wellbeing. Despite this assertion, previously underemphasised methodological limitations question the validity of such claims. To further progress this important area of investigation, future research directions to ameliorate said limitations are explored. It is recommended that the past tendency to contrast and compare hedonia and eudaimonia be abandoned, and instead that the inherent value of both be recognised. Time-use research methods are needed to cross-validate past findings obtained from cross-sectional research, which will make it possible to transition from purely descriptive conclusions to applied conclusions.

Subfields: Applied Psychology, Health, Social Psychology

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/9daf154bb544470b2773de89cbf018743a19e98c

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Applied Psychology

1. Ben Richardson
2. T. Knight
3. Luke Wayne Henderson
4. S. Houge Mackenzie
5. N. Collins
6. B. Feeney
7. E. Brymer

In Health

1. Ben Richardson
2. T. Knight
3. Luke Wayne Henderson
4. N. Collins
5. B. Feeney

In Social Psychology

1. N. Collins
2. B. Feeney
3. S. Houge Mackenzie
4. Ben Richardson
5. T. Knight
6. Luke Wayne Henderson
7. E. Brymer
8. H. T. Reis

Citations in the corpus

• New Look at Social Support: A Theoretical Perspective on Thriving through Relationships (2014, background): “This definition incorporates Ryff and Singer’s (1998, 2008) specification of “criterial goods” that embody lives well lived, and other specifications of psychological flourishing (e.g., Henderson & Knight, 2012; Keyes, 2003, 2007; Seligman et al., 2005) and positive health (e.g., Seligman, 2008).”
• Conceptualizing adventurous nature sport: A positive psychology perspective (2018, background): “Hendeson and Knight 2012; Lomas and Ivtzan 2016). For example, Huta and Ryan (2010) argued that the pursuit of eudaimonic”
• An exploration of the well-being benefits of hedonic and eudaimonic behaviour (2013, background): “The dissent that characterised hedonic and eudaimonic philosophy also translated to contemporary psychology (see Henderson & Knight, 2012).”