Religious, Cultural and Self-efficacy Beliefs Influencing Subjective Well-being in Korea and Indonesia: Psychological, Relational, Social and Cultural Analysis

This article focuses on the religious, philosophical, cultural and scientific belief systems and how they define human nature, relationships, community and society. First, the historical and cultural development of Western science and psychology and their limitations are reviewed. Second, the belief about the objectivity of science is evaluated. Third, the limitations of traditional psychological theories, which provide simple categorisation and correlation between observable phenomena without documenting the mechanism of behavioural change, are outlined. Fourth, the social cognitive theory of Albert Bandura that views human nature as agentic and proactive and the scientific mechanism to understand the software of the mind, belief systems and subjective well-being are outlined. Sixth, the development of Islam as a spiritual way of life and its influence on family, marriage and relationships are reviewed. Seventh, the factors that influence happiness, life satisfaction and subjective well-being are reviewed, focusing on Indonesia and Korea. These results are consistent with the current epigenetic, neurobiological and mindfulness research that the agentic experience of prayer, meditation and mindfulness promotes physical, psychological, relational and social well-being. These results challenge traditional Western psychological theories, which have failed to examine human agency and the relational, family-based, spiritual and cultural beliefs.