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'Wellbeing': A collateral casualty of modernity?

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  • Carlisle, Sandra
  • Henderson, Gregor
  • Hanlon, Phil W.

Abstract

In the now vast empirical and theoretical literature on wellbeing knowledge of the subject is provided mainly by psychology and economics, where understanding of the concept are framed in very different ways. We briefly rehearse these, before turning to some important critical points which can be made about this burgeoning research industry, including the tight connections between the meanings of the concept with the moral value systems of particular 'modern' societies. We then argue that both the 'science' of wellbeing and its critique are, despite their diversity, re-connected by and subsumed within the emerging environmental critique of modern consumer society. This places concerns for individual and social wellbeing within the broader context of global human problems and planetary wellbeing. AÂ growing number of thinkers now suggest that Western society and culture are dominated by materialistic and individualistic values, made manifest at the political and social levels through the unending pursuit of economic growth, and at the individual level by the seemingly endless quest for consumer goods, regardless of global implications such as broader environmental harms. The escalating growth of such values is associated with a growing sense of individual alienation, social fragmentation and civic disengagement and with the decline of more spiritual, moral and ethical aspects of life. Taken together, these multiple discourses suggest that wellbeing can be understood as a collateral casualty of the economic, social and cultural changes associated with late modernity. However, increasing concerns for the environment have the potential to counter some of these trends, and in so doing could also contribute to our wellbeing as individuals and as social beings in a finite world.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlisle, Sandra & Henderson, Gregor & Hanlon, Phil W., 2009. "'Wellbeing': A collateral casualty of modernity?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(10), pages 1556-1560, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:69:y:2009:i:10:p:1556-1560
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert Cummins, 2000. "Personal Income and Subjective Well-being: A Review," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 133-158, June.
    2. Anna Lau & Robert Cummins & Wenda Mcpherson, 2005. "An Investigation into the Cross-Cultural Equivalence of the Personal Wellbeing Index," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 72(3), pages 403-430, July.
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    2. L. Lambert & Z. A. Draper & M. A. Warren & M. Joshanloo & En-Ling Chiao & A. Schwam & T. Arora, 2022. "Conceptions of Happiness Matter: Relationships between Fear and Fragility of Happiness and Mental and Physical Wellbeing," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 535-560, February.
    3. Benjamin Heslop & Antony Drew & Elizabeth Stojanovski & Kylie Bailey & Jonathan Paul, 2018. "Collaboration Vouchers: A Policy to Increase Population Wellbeing," Societies, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-19, June.
    4. Chuka Ifeagwazi & JohnBosco Chukwuorji & Endurance Zacchaeus, 2015. "Alienation and Psychological Wellbeing: Moderation by Resilience," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 120(2), pages 525-544, January.
    5. Wood, Cate, 2019. "Festival visiting, voluntary risk and positive health," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 323-325.
    6. Harry Hummels & Matthew T. Lee & Patrick Nullens & Renato Ruffini & Jennifer Hancock, 2021. "The Future on Love and Business Organizing. An Agenda for Growth and Affirmation of People and the Environment (AGAPE)," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 329-353, December.
    7. Jonathan Kingsley & Mardie Townsend & Claire Henderson-Wilson & Bruce Bolam, 2013. "Developing an Exploratory Framework Linking Australian Aboriginal Peoples’ Connection to Country and Concepts of Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-21, February.
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    9. Adeola, Ogechi & Evans, Olaniyi & Hilson, Ebo, 2018. "Tourism and economic wellbeing in Africa," MPRA Paper 93685, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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