Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Wellbeing as Emergent from the Leveraging of Polarities: Harnessing Component Interdependencies

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Social Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The starting premise of this article is that within existing approaches the nature of the interrelationship between components of wellbeing is both under-conceptualized and under-measured. This paper contrasts three perspectives of wellbeing component interrelationship. The first and most common is a hierarchical approach, which prioritizes economic wellbeing and uses this to fund attainment of other components of wellbeing, such as social and environmental. A second perspective, which we call aggregation approaches, list dashboards of wellbeing components and average them. Both of these approaches emphasize the dependence and independence of the underlying components respectively. In this paper we develop a conceptualization of wellbeing based on the interdependence of eight components: economic, environmental, social, cultural, psychological, physical, spiritual and cultural. Our theory of interdependence is a multarity-based view of wellbeing which sees the latter as emerging from the integrated leveraging of at least four fundamental polarities: economic and environmental, physical and psychological, material and spiritual and social and cultural. Wellbeing costs increase and value creation opportunities lost when interdependence between components is ignored.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. See, for example, the 2018 announcement by the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101066981/nz-government-to-lead-world-in-measuring-success-with-wellbeing-measures. Also, the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (Smale and O’Rourke 2018).

  2. This list is theoretically robust enough to be used as a basis for testing and building alternative theories of component integration, which is our purpose here. The list though may not be exhaustive and other components may be discerned. However, we are interested in those components which integrate to form a unity and feel this list is comprehensive, widely recognized, as well as internally coherent, which we elaborate throughout the paper.

  3. Throughout our paper when we refer to the ‘eight components’ we are meaning: economic, environmental, social, cultural, psychological, spiritual, physical and material components of wellbeing. We are interested in how these eight form a unity.

  4. Multarity can also mean more than two variables that are interdependent. This is in contrast to ‘polarity’ which is two interdependent variables. We use the term differently to refer to multiple polarities which integrate to form a unity.

  5. In defining spiritual wellbeing we follow the work of Pargament (2007) and mean development of the human spirit. This is spirituality in the human rather than theological sense and so is not based on any particular stance regarding ontological truth or religious claims. Some may choose to forgo this component of wellbeing (eg. atheists) in which case they seek to make up for its wellbeing purpose by inflating other components, eg. materialism, psychological inner work, environmental homage. The view taken here though is that human spirit is a legitimate dimension of human experience requiring distinct practices for development. When the human spirit is developed it offers the individual resources for dealing with life’s toughest challenges and search for meaning different from more secular methods (Pargament and Sweeney 2011). Spiritual wellbeing guards against particular types of inflation which disturb wellbeing when spirituality is absent. Spiritual wellbeing is also not synonymous with religion. Religion is seen as an institutional expression of spirituality (King et al. 2001). One can then be spiritual but not religious by seeking other avenues for spiritual development. Spiritual wellbeing allows many paths to its fulfilment. Some multi-item scales, such as the Personal Wellbeing Index (2013) though make spirituality and religion an optional domain in their scales due to many respondents claiming it as not applicable to them (International Wellbeing Group 2013).

  6. The relationship between psychology and spirituality has become the domain of transpersonal psychology (Cortright 1997; Lajoie and Shapiro 1992).

  7. A criticism of the aggregation approach that we don’t explore further here concerns whether a universal list of wellbeing components is possible or valid.

  8. Reflected in measures of material intensity per unit of economic welfare (GDP per capita) (Bithas and Kalimeris 2017).

  9. For a discussion of the wellbeing effects of materialism and extrinsic motivation see Bartolini and Sarracino (2017).

  10. That periods of ill-being could be constructive to long-term wellbeing is an issue we leave aside for now. Indeed, wellbeing itself can be seen as part of a polarity where its opposite pole involves constructive periods of dissolution of wellbeing or disequilibrium. The examination of wellbeing as a polarity with disequilibrium is an area for future conceptualization and research. Such work more fully embraces the range of human polarity experience than wellbeing alone.

  11. We thank an anonymous reviewer for this suggestion.

References

  • Alkire, S. (2002). Dimensions of human development. World Development, 30(2), 181–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, R. (2008). A survey of composite indices measuring country performance: 2008 update. Working paper. New York, NY: United Nations Development Programme, Office of Development Studies.

  • Bartolini, S., & Sarracino, F. (2017). Twenty-five years of materialism: Do the US and Europe diverge? Social Indicators Research, 133, 787–817.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bithas, K., & Kalimeris, P. (2017). The material intensity of growth: Implications from the human scale of production. Social Indicators Research, 133, 1011–1029.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleys, B. (2012). Beyond GDP: Classifying alternative measures for progress. Social Indicators Research, 109, 355–376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Callicott, J. B. (1996). Environmental wellness. Literature and Medicine, 15(1), 146–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capra, F., & Luisi, P. L. (2014). The systems view of life: A unifying vision. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ciommi, M., Gentili, A., Ermini, B., Gigliarano, C., Chelli, F. M., & Gallegati, M. (2017). Have your cake and eat it too: The well-being of the Italians (1861–2011). Social Indicators Research, 134, 473–509.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke, M. (2005). Assessing well-being using hierarchical needs. United Nations University: World Institute for Development Economics Research, Research Paper No.: 2005/22.

  • Cook-Greuter, S. R. (2004). Making the case for a developmental perspective. Industrial and Commercial Training, 36, 275–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cortright, B. (1997). Psychotherapy and spirit: Theory and practice in transpersonal psychotherapy. Albany: State University of New York Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cummins, R. A., & Weinberg, M. K. (2015). Multi-item measurement of subjective wellbeing: Subjective approaches. In W. Glatzer, et al. (Eds.), Global handbook of quality of life: Exploration of well-being of nations and continents. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Graaf, J., Wann, D., & Naylor, T. H. (2014). Affluenza: How over-consumption is killing us—and how to fight back (3rd ed.). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delle Fave, A., Brdar, I., Freire, T., Vella-Brodrick, D., & Wissing, M. P. (2011). The eudaimonic and hedonic components of happiness: Qualitative and quantitative findings. Social Indicators Research, 100, 185–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delle Fave, A., Brdar, I., Wissing, M. P., & Vella-Brodrick, D. (2013). Sources and motives for personal meaning in adulthood. Journal of Positive Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2013.830761.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deneulin, S., & McGregor, J. A. (2010). The capability approach and the politics of a social conception of wellbeing. European Journal of Social Theory, 13(4), 501–519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Beyond money: Toward an economy of well-being. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 5, 1–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doyal, L., & Gough, I. (1991). A theory of need. London: Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Easterlin, R. A. (1974). Does economic growth improve the human lot? Some empirical evidence. Nations and Households in Economic Growth, 89, 89–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esping-Andersen, G. (1990). The three political economies of the welfare state. International Journal of Sociology, 20(3), 92–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gasper, D. (2004). Human well-being: Concepts and conceptualizations. Discussion paper 2004/06. Helsinki, Finland: United Nations University, World Institute for Development Economics Research.

  • Gasper, D. (2005). Subjective and objective well-being in relation to economic inputs: Puzzles and responses. Review of Social Economy, 63(2), 177–206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gidley, J. (2007). The evolution of consciousness as a planetary imperative: An integration of integral views. Integral Review: A Transdisciplinary and Transcultural Journal for New Thought, Research and Praxis, 5, 4–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gough, I. (2017). Heat, greed and human need: Climate change, capitalism and sustainable wellbeing. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gudynas, E. (2011). Buen vivir: Today’s tomorrow. Development, 54(4), 441–447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hák, T., Janoušková, S., Abdallah, S., Seaford, C., & Mahony, S. (2012). Review report on beyond GDP indicators: Categorisation, intensions and impacts. BRAINPOOL deliverable 1.1, Final version, 18 October 2012.

  • Huppert, F. A. (2009). Psychological well-being: Evidence regarding its causes and consequences. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-being, 1(2), 137–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huppert, F. A., & So, T. T. C. (2013). Flourishing across Europe: Application of a new conceptual framework for defining well-being. Social Indicators Research, 110, 837–861.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Wellbeing Group. (2013). Personal Wellbeing Index (5th ed.). Melbourne: Australian Centre on Quality of Life.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, B. (2014). Polarity management: Identifying and managing unsolvable problems. Amherst, MA: HRD Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, B. (forthcoming). AND: How to leverage polarity/paradox/dilemma. Advance draft copy direct from Author.

  • Jones, T. M., & Felps, W. (2013). Shareholder wealth maximization and social welfare: A utilitarian critique. Business Ethics Quarterly, 23(2), 207–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kegan, R. (1982). The evolving self. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M. (1998). Social well-being. Social Psychology Quarterly, 61(2), 121–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, M., Speck, P., & Thomas, A. (2001). The royal free interview for religious and spiritual beliefs: Development and validation of a self-report version. Psychological Medicine, 31, 1015–1023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lajoie, D. H., & Shapiro, S. I. (1992). Definitions of transpersonal psychology: The first twenty-three years. The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 24(1), 79–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maslow, A. (1954). Motivation and personality. New York: Harper and Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Massoli, P., Mazziotta, M., Pareto, A., & Rinaldelli, C. (2014). Indici compositi per il BES. Giornate della Ricerca 10–11 Novembre 2014. Roma: Istat.

  • Max-Neef, M. (1995). Economic growth and quality of life: A threshold hypothesis. Ecological Economics, 15, 115–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazziotta, M., & Pareto, A. (2013). A non-compensatory composite index for measuring well-being over time. Cogito: Multidisciplinary Research Journal, 4, 93–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazziotta, M., & Pareto, A. (2016). On a generalized non-compensatory composite index for measuring socio-economic phenomena. Social Indicators Research, 127, 983–1003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCauley, C. D., Drath, W. H., Palus, C. J., O’Connor, P. M. G., & Baker, B. A. (2006). The use of constructive-developmental theory to advance the understanding of leadership. The Leadership Quarterly, 17, 634–653.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKeown, T. (1988). The origins of human disease. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacNeill, J. (1988). Strategies for sustainable economic development, Scientific American, September, 155–165.

  • OECD. (2008). Handbook on constructing composite indicators: Methodology and user guide. Paris: OECD Publishing.

  • OECD. (2013). OECD guidelines on measuring subjective well-being. ‎Paris: OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264191655-en.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I. (2007). Spiritually integrated psychotherapy: Understanding and addressing the sacred. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pargament, K. I. & Sweeney, P. J. (2011). Building spiritual fitness in the army: An innovative approach to a vital aspect of human development (pp. 58–64), American Psychologist.

  • Patrizii, V., Pettini, A., & Resce, G. (2017). The cost of well-being. Social Indicators Research, 133, 985–1010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pepper, D. (1996). Modern environmentalism: An introduction. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, B. (2009). Non-income measures of material wellbeing and hardship: First results from the 2008 New Zealand living standards survey with international comparisons. Wellington: Ministry of Social Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterman, A. H., Fitchett, G., Brady, M. J., Hernandez, L., & Cella, D. (2002). Measuring spiritual well-being in people with cancer: The functional assessment of chronic illness therapy—Spiritual well-being scale (FACIT-Sp). Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 24(1), 49–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryff, C. D. (2014). Psychological well-being revisited: Advances in the science and practice of Eudaimonia. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 83, 10–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sawatzky, R., Ratner, P. A., & Chiu, L. (2005). A meta-analysis of the relationship between spirituality and quality of life. Social Indicators Research, 72, 153–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Segre, E., Rondinella, T., & Mascherini, M. (2011). Well-being in Italian regions. Measures, civil society and evidence. Social Indicators Research, 102, 47–69.

  • Sen, A. (1999). Development as freedom. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smale, B., & O'Rourke, D. (2018). Capturing quality of life with the Canadian Index of Wellbeing. Public Sector Digest.

  • Steffen, W., Persson, A., Deutsch, L., Zalasiewicz, J., Williams, M., Richardson, K., et al. (2011). The anthropocene: From global change to planetary stewardship. Ambio, 40, 739–761.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stiglitz, J.E., Sen, A. and Fitoussi, J-P. (2010). Mismeasuring our lives: Why GDP doesn’t add up. In The report by the commission on the measurement of economic performance and social progress. New York: The New Press.

  • Torjman, S. (2004). Culture and recreation: Links to well-being. Ottawa: Caledon Institute of Social Policy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van den Bergh, J. (2009). The GDP paradox. Journal of Economic Psychology, 30(2), 117–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Zanden, J. L., Baten, J., d’Ercole, M. M., Rijpma, A., Smith, C., & Timmer, M. (2014). How was life? Global well-being since 1820. Paris: OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264214262-en.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Villalba, U. (2013). Buen Vivir vs Development: A paradigm shift in the Andes? Third World Quarterly, 34(8), 1427–1442. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2013.831594.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent, N., Ward, L., & Denson, L. (2015). Promoting post-conventional consciousness in leaders: Australian community leadership programs. The Leadership Quarterly, 26, 238–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welzel, C., Inglehart, R., & Klingemann, H.-D. (2003). The theory of human development: A cross-cultural analysis. European Journal of Political Research, 42, 341–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHOQOL Group. (1998). Development of the world health organization WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment. Psychological Medicine, 28(3), 551–558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilber, K. (2006). Integral spirituality: A startling new role for religion in the modern and postmodern world. Boston, MA: Shambala.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express sincere gratitude to Leslie DePol and Susan Dupre from Polarity Partnerships for their invaluable insights and expertise in all things polarity. The paper benefitted greatly from their feedback.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Queensland Business School, University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia

    Lance Newey

  2. Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

    Rui Torres de Oliveira

Authors
  1. Lance Newey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rui Torres de Oliveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lance Newey.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Newey, L., de Oliveira, R.T. Wellbeing as Emergent from the Leveraging of Polarities: Harnessing Component Interdependencies. Soc Indic Res 144, 575–600 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-019-02061-8

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-019-02061-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation