Evolutionary Perspectives on Enhancing Quality of Life
Nina Witoszek author Mads Larsen author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Cambridge University Press
Published:23rd May '24
Should be back in stock very soon
To create happier lives for more people, we must understand both the biological and cultural mainsprings for human well-being.
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.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.
ISBN: 9781009378536
Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 4mm
Weight: 131g
72 pages