Abstract
This chapter summarizes educationally relevant insights regarding human flourishing from earlier and more recent humanistic and positive psychology, and based on this a systems model of human flourishing, based on motivation for strengths-based, self-regulated balancing and growth processes, generally aimed at pleasurable flourishing, is proposed. Thus the model integrates hedonic an eudemonic components of well-being including physical health, positive emotions, engagement, meaning and social relatedness with the core educational features including curiosity, the urge to create, learning, creativity and achievement – in effect implying self-realization/self-actualization, personal expressiveness and predicting self-awareness, self-acceptance, integrity, self-efficacy, grit, personal excellence, resilience, and other constructs used to describe eudemonic experiences and activity. Thus assuming that the systems model is congruent with the current (positive) psychological evidence on human flourishing, it is further argued that findings from influential meta-studies on educational effectiveness (Hattie J, Yates GCR, Visible learning and the science of how we learn. Routledge, London, 2014), are fully congruent with the model, and ideas for application in educational settings and beyond are offered. Concluding the chapter are ethical considerations regarding structures, human freedom, equality, dignity, fairness, and the very right to thrive – all inherently relevant for educators.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Obviously, this is not the place for a detailed investigation of the philosophy of time, but the implications of this as regards an educational system being run by digital time-frames for over two centuries should be fairly clear even so. Almost none of what makes life worth living is about getting it over with and in the vernacular this boldly means that very little quality of life is to be expected by trying to get from A to B as quickly as possible.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
To be noted, of course, every person is sensing some level and kind of well-being at any time awake and will be learning and acting one way or the other at any particular moment, so it may be argued that it is difficult, maybe at times even impossible, to determine, whether one aspect of a mood (e.g. curiosity), or and action (e.g. reading), comes before the other. But keeping that in mind, for analytical purposes, it may still make sense to outline, how indeed mental states predict one another, how certain acts predict certain states, and how states may predict certain actions. Indeed, without this assumption, we probably would not have psychological science at all.
Also, to be noted, well-being in all forms are intrinsically motivated, which means that a completely functioning system will be highly, psychologically sustainable, unless overdone as when, for instance, purpose becomes so overwhelming as to become obsessive, or some type of pleasure becomes to dominating as to be addictive and thereby undermining self-determination.
- 6.
References
Andersen, F. Ø. (2013). Drengeakademiet. København: Løkkefonden.
Anderson, R., Manoogian, S. T., & Reznick, J. S. (1976). The undermining and enhancing of intrinsic motivation in preschool children. Journal of Personalitv and Social Psychology, 34, 915–922.
Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84, 191–215.
Bandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy. In V. S. Ramachandran (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human behavior (4th ed., pp. 71–81). New York: Academic.
Bandura, A. (1995). Self-efficacy in changing societies. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.
Baumeister, R. F. (2014). Self-regulation, ego depletion, and inhibition. Neuropsychologia, 65, 313–319.
Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., Finkenauer, C., & Vohs, K. D. (2001). Bad is stronger than good. Review of General Psychology, 5, 323–370.
Baumeister, R. F., & Tierney, J. (2012). Willpower: Rediscovering the greatest human strength. New York: Penguin Books.
Camazine, S., Deneubourg, J. L., Franks, N. R., Sneyd, J., Theraulaz, G., & Bonabeau, E. (2001). Self-organization in biological systems. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Clifton, D. O., Anderson, C. E., & Schreiner, L. A. (2006). StrengthsQuest: Discover and develop your strengths in academics, career, and beyond (2nd ed.). New York: Gallup Press.
Cooperrider, D. (2009). The discovery and design of positive institutions. Presentation at the International Positive Psychology Association conference on June 20.
Cooperrider, D., & Whitney, D. (2005). Appreciative inquiry: A positive revolution in change. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow – The psychology of optimal experience. New York: Harper & Row Publishers.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1993). The evolving self. New York: HarperCollinsPublishers.
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). Creativity – Flow and the psychology of discovery and invention. New York City: HarperCollins Publishers.
Csikszentmihalyi, M., Abuhamdeh, S., & Nakamura, J. (2005). Flow. In A. J. Elliot & C. S. Dweck (Eds.), Handbook of competence and motivation. New York: The Guilford Press.
Csikszentmihalyi, M., & Knoop, H. H. (2008). Kompleksitet: universelt ideal og global trussel. I J. Lyhne, & H. H. Knoop (red.), Positiv psykologi: positiv pædagogik (1 udg., s. 243–263). Kbh: Dansk Psykologisk Forlag.
Csikszentmihalyi, M., & Rathunde, K. (1993). The measurement of flow in everyday life: Towards a theory of emergent motivation. In J. E. Jacobs (Ed.), Developmental perspectives on motivation. Nebraska symposium on motivation. Lincoln, UK: University of Nebraska Press.
Damon, W. (2008). The path to purpose. New York: Free Press.
Danish Ministry of Education. (2015). Trivselsmåling. Retrieved February 25, 2016, from https://www.uvm.dk/Uddannelser/Folkeskolen/Elevplaner-nationale-test-og-trivselsmaaling/Trivselsmaaling
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The ‘what’ and ‘why’ of goal pursuits: Human needs and the selfdetermination of behaviour. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.
Deci, E., & Ryan, R. (2008). Self-determination theory: A macrotheory of human motivation, development, and health. Canadian Psychology, 49(3), 182–185.
Dewey, J. (2009). Democracy and education: An introduction to the philosophy of education. New York: WLC Books (Originally published in 1916).
Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542–575.
Disabato, et al. (2015). Different types of well-being? A cross-cultural examination of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Psychological assessment. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Donaldson, S. I., Dollwet, M., & Rao, M. A. (2015). Happiness, excellence, and optimal human functioning revisited: Examining the peer-reviewed literature linked to positive psychology. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 10, 185–195.
Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: Perseverance andpassion for long-term goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(6), 1087–1101.
Dunn, R. (2009). Answer to Mr Jensen. New York: St John’s University.
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Growth mindset: The new psychology of success. New York: Random House Publishing.
Eades, J. (2008). Celebrating strengths: Building strengths-based schools. Warwick: CAPP Press.
Forrester, J. (1994). System dynamics, systems thinking, and soft OR. System Dynamics Review, 10(2–3), 245–256.
Fredrickson, B. L. (2009). Positivity: Groundbreaking research reveals how to embrace the hidden strength of positive emotions, overcome negativity, and thrive. New York: Crown.
Fredrickson, B. L. (2013). Updated Thinking on Positivity Ratios. American Psychologist. Advance online publication. doi:10.1037/a0033584.
Gardner, H. (1999). The disciplined mind: Beyond facts and standardized tests, the K-12 education that every child deserves. New York: Basic Books.
Gray, P. (2013). Retrieved online: http://www.salon.com/2013 /08/26/school_is_a_prison_and_damaging_our_kids/
Harter, S. (1978). Effectance motivation reconsidered: Toward a developmental model. Human Development, 1, 661–669.
Hattie, J. (2008). Visible learning: A synthesis of over 800 meta-analyses relating to achievement (1st ed.). New York: Routledge.
Hattie, J., & Yates, G. C. R. (2014). Visible learning and the science of how we learn. London: Routledge.
Huta, V., & Waterman, A. S. (2014). Eudaimonia and its distinction from Hedonia: Developing a classification and terminology for understanding conceptual and operational definitions. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15, 1425–1456.
Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. New York: Penguin.
Kauffman, S. A. (2000). Investigations. New York: Oxford University Press.
Keyes, Shmotkin, & Ryff. (2002). Optimizing well-being: The empirical encounter of two traditions. Journal Personality and Social Psycholy, 82(6), 1007–1022.
Knoop, H. H. (2011). Education in 2025: How positive psychology can revitalize education. In S. I. Donaldson, S. I. M. Csikszentmihalyi, J. Nakamura (Eds.), Applied positive psychology: Improving everyday life, health, schools, work, and society. London: Routledge Academic.
Knoop, H. H. (2013). Positive education, or just education. In C. Proctor & P. A. Linley (Eds.), Research, application, and interventions for children and adolescents – A positive psychology perspective. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer. Chapter 9.
Linley, A. (2008). Average to A+ – Realising strengths in yourself and others. Warwick, UK: CAPP Press.
Lopez, S. J., & Louis, M. C. (2009, April). The principles of strengths-based education. Journal of College & Character X(4), 1–8.
Maslow, A. (1954). Motivation and personality. New York: Harper.
McGovern, T. V., & Miller, S. L. (2008). Integrating teacher behaviors with character strengths and virtues for faculty development. Teaching of Psychology, 35(4), 278–285.
Mischel, W., Shoda, Y., & Rodriguez, M. L. (1989). Delay of gratification in children. Science, 244, 933–938.
Niemiec, R. (2012). VIA character strengths – Research and practice: The first 10 years. In H. H. Knoop & A. Delle Fave (Eds.), Well-being and cultures: Perspectives from positive psychology (cross-cultural advancements in positive psychology). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.
Niemiec, R. (2013). VIA character strengths - research and practice: The first 10 years. In H. H. Knoop & F. Delle (Eds.), Well-being and cultures: Perspectives from positive psychology. Dordrecht: Springer.
Niemiec, C. P., & Ryan, R. M. (2009). Autonomy, competence, and relatedness in the classroom: Applying self-determination theory to educational practice. Theory and Research in Education, 7, 133–144.
O’Dougherty Wright, M., Masten, A. S., & Narayan, A. J. (2013). Resilience processes in development: Four waves of research on positive adaptation in the context of adversity. In S. Goldstein & R. B. Brooks (Eds.), Handbook of resilience in children (pp. 15–37). New York, NY: Springer.
O’Shaughnessy & Watson. (2015). Online article at: http://www.ipositive-education.net/
O’Shaughnessy, J., Larson, E., & Seligman, M. (2014). Online article at: http://www.ipositive-education.net/
Overmier, J. B., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1967). Effects of inescapable shock upon subsequent escape and avoidance responding. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 63, 28–33.
Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2009). Strengths of character in schools. In R. Gilman, E. S. Huebner, & M. J. Furlong (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology in schools (pp. 65–76). New York: Routledge.
Peterson, C. (2006). A primer in positive psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Peterson, C., & Seligman, M. E. P. (Eds.). (2004). Character strengths and virtues – A handbook and classification. New York: Oxford University Press.
Pinker, S. (2002). The blank slate – The modern denial of human nature. London: BCA.
Proctor, C., & Fox Eades, J. (2011). Strengths gym: Build and exercise your strengths! St Peter Port, Guernsey: PPRC.
Rhem, J. (1999, February). Pygmalion in the classroom. The National Teaching & Learning Forum. 8(2), 1–4.
Rogers, C. (1961). On becoming a person: A therapist's view of psychotherapy. London: Constable.
Rogers, C. (1969). Freedom to learn: A view of what education might become (1st ed.). Columbus, OH: Charles Merill.
Rosenthal, R., & Jacobson, L. (1992). Pygmalion in the classroom (Expandedth ed.). New York: Irvington.
Rozin, P., & Royzman, E. B. (2001). Negativity bias, negativity dominance, and contagion. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 5(4), 296–320.
Ryan, R. M. (1995). Psychological needs and the facilitation of integrative processes. Journal of Personality, 63, 397–427.
Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological wellbeing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 1069–1081.
Ryff, C. D. (2014). Psychological well-being revisited: Advances in the science and practice of eudaimonia. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 83, 10–28.
Ryff, C. D., & Keyes, C. L. M. (1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69, 719–727.
Ryff, C. D., & Singer, B. H. (1998). The contours of positive human health. Psychological Inquiry, 9, 1–28.
Sahlberg, P. (2014). Global educational reform movement and its impact on schooling. In K. Mundy, A. Green, R. Lingard, & A. Verger (Eds.), The handbook of global policy and policy-making in education. West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
Seligman, M. E. P. (2010). Flourish – A visionary new understanding of happiness and well-being. New York: Free Press.
Seligman, M. E. P., & Maier, S. F. (1967). Failure to escape traumatic shock. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 74, 1–9.
Seligman, M. E. P., Rashid, T., & Parks, A. (2006). Positive psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 61, 774–778.
Shernoff, D. J., & Hoogstra, L. (2001). Continuing motivation beyond the high school classroom. New Directions in Child and Adolescent Development, 93, 73–87.
Sjøberg, S. (2015). Skoleforskning som børs og katedral. Kronik i Aftenposten, Oslo, May 4th.
Vallerand, R. J., Salvy, S. J., Mageau, G. A., Elliot, A. J., Denis, P., Grouzet, F. M. E., et al. (2007). On the role of passion in performance. Journal of Personality, 75, 505–533.
Waters, L. (2011). A review of school-based positive psychology intervention. The Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist, 28(2), 75–90.
Wrangham, R., & Peterson, D. (1997). Demonic males: Apes and the origins of human violence. New York: Mariner Books.
Zachariae, R. (2011, December 8). Unpublished lecture on positive psychology, health and stress, Aarhus University.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Knoop, H.H. (2016). The Eudemonics of Education. In: Vittersø, J. (eds) Handbook of Eudaimonic Well-Being. International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42445-3_30
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42445-3_30
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42443-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42445-3
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)