University of San Agustin

College of Pharmacy and Medical Technology

STS – Prof. Pareja | Midyear
by: H.B. Guanga

Module 6: The Good Life

Eudaimonia
● Reliant on Maslow’s ideas of self-actualization.
Nichomachean Ethics ● Adopts self-determination theory (Keyes et.al., 2002;
Deci& Ryan, 2000)
What is Nichomachean Ethics? ● For Aristotle, ultimate happiness would be
contemplation.
● Aristotle’s best-known work on ethics.
o Sense of control or autonomy
● Considers the nature of human action and ethics,
rooted in the concept of Eudaimonia, often o Feeling of meaning and purpose
translated as happiness. o Personal expressiveness
● However, it means the highest good, that which o Feelings of belongingness
humans seek for its own sake and not for the sake of o Social contribution
something else. o Competence
o Personal growth
Flourishing o Self-acceptance
● According to the Nichomachean Ethics:
o it is the ultimate goal of human life, Positive Psychology
achieved through a life of virtuous activity
and excellence.
Introduction
● It's not merely a fleeting feeling of happiness, but a
● It complements traditional psychology’s focus on
state of living well and doing well, characterized by
pathology.
fulfilling one's potential and living in accordance with
● It studies strengths, virtues, and the factors that
virtue.
contribute to a full and meaningful life.
● “Happiness is not just a place, but also a process. It is
The Good Life an ongoing process of fresh challenges, it takes the
● The good life is a term for the life that one would like right attitudes and activities to continue to be happy.”
to live, or for happiness. (Ed Diener)
● Associated with Aristotle’s Eudaimonia (in his ● Mainstream psychology focused heavily on the
Nicomachean Ethics). negative aspects of life such as depression and
● Eudaimonia is a term that means happiness and is a anxiety.
central aim of stoic philosophy ● Until the early 2000s, there was no manual with the
systematic classification of positive human traits
and values.
● Most research focused on negative emotions.
According to Aristotle… ● Few (1 in 17) did focus on topics like creativity,
● Happiness is the ultimate end of human action optimism, and wisdom with no theory.
(McNamara, D., et. al., 2018) ● Before World War II, psychology had 3 main missions:
● Happiness consists of achieving, through the course o To understand and cure mental illness.
of a lifetime, all the goods – health, wealth, o To improve the lives and productivity of
knowledge, friends, etc. leading to perfection of individuals.
human nature and enrichment of human life. o To identify and nurture high talent.
● Happiness defines a good life. (McNamara, D., et. ● Post World War II psychology resources focused on
al., 2018). psychological disorders.
● As a result, 14 psychological diseases considered
Perspective of Happiness incurable in the past can now be treated.
● The failure to study talents, strengths, and other
Hedonia positive aspects of life left a gap in the field of
● Refers to the pursuit of pleasure and happiness, psychology, focusing on negative.
often associated with subjective well-being and
positive affect. Martin Seligman
● It's about experiencing positive emotions, enjoying ● Founder of positive psychology.
life, and minimizing pain or discomfort. ● “Positive psychology is a scientific study of optimal
o Focus on self-present moment human functioning that aims to discover and promote
o Focus on consuming what one needs and the factors that allow individuals and communities to
wants thrive.”
o Presence of positive mood
o Absence of negative mood Positive Psychology Theory
o Satisfaction with various domains of life ● Positive psychology was born out of the need to
o Global life satisfaction scientifically study the positive aspects of life with
growing research and uncovering the building blocks of
happiness and well-being.
● Seligman found that the extent to which people were
aware of and using their signature strengths (ex:
courage, persistence, & wisdom) greatly impacted
the quality of their lives.
1 I GUANGA
 University of San Agustin
College of Pharmacy and Medical Technology
STS – Prof. Pareja | Midyear
by: H.B. Guanga

● He developed a theory of well-being called the o Concentration becomes laser-focused,

PERMA Model, comprising of five (5) elements that causing everything else to disappear and the
create the foundation of flourishing life: perception of time to be altered.
o Positive emotions o The incessant voice in our head quiets down.
o Engagement o The prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain
o Relationships responsible for cognitive processes such as
o Meaning self-reflection and self-consciousness, shows
o Accomplishments less activation.
● Each of these elements has three (3) properties: ● The result is a heightened level of performance and
o It contributes to well-being. creativity.
o People pursue it for their own sake, not ● Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: "The best moments in our
just to attain other elements. lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times...
o It’s measured and defined independently The best moments usually occur if a person's body or
from other elements. mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to
accomplish something difficult and worthwhile."
● Happiness isn't something that simply happens.

3) Relationships
● Humans are hardwired to connect with others.
● We have a need for connection, love, and physical
and emotional proximity to others; this need begins
at birth.
● Humans develop and learn about life through
interactions with other people.
● Studies have shown that the one thing that sets
happier people apart is the quality of their
relationships.
● Robert Waldinger's 75-year study on adult life
(since 1938) revealed that good relationships are
key to happiness and health.
o The study involved surveying men every two
years about the quality of their marriages, job
satisfaction, and social activities, and
examining their physical health every five
years.
● Christopher Peterson: "Other people matter."

4) Meanings
● Martin Seligman defines meaning as "using your
signature strengths and virtues in the service of
The PERMA Model In-Depth something much larger than you are" (Seligman, 2002,
p. 249).
● By chasing only pleasure without using our strengths
1) Positive Emotions
toward something meaningful, we might squander our
● Barbara Fredrickson, through her Broaden-and- potential.
Build Theory (1998); explains that positive emotions ● Applying and developing our unique strengths and
can build our physical, intellectual, and social virtues toward something bigger than ourselves leads
abilities. to a deeper sense of meaning.
● Broadening our awareness and thought-action
repertoire, we look for creative and flexible ways of
5) Accomplishments
thinking and acting.
● Over time, this this broadening effect builds skills ● People who feel personally involved in achieving
and resources. their goals indicate higher levels of well-being and
are in better health than people who lack a sense of
● Research shows that people who experience positive
direction in their lives.
emotions:
● Goals that lead to well-being are personally
o Make more connections
meaningful.
o Create more inclusive categories
● In the early 1960s, drive-reduction theory stated that
o Have heightened levels of creativity
all animals act based on the need to satisfy their
o Help us perform better at work and
biological needs.
strengthen our relationships
● Robert White argued against this, stating that people
and animals often acted for the sake of mastery over
2) Engagement their environments.
● Flow - an experience of optimal psychological ● Seligman found this to be true; we often pursue
functioning. accomplishment for its own sake, even if it doesn't
o We are completely absorbed in a task that translate into an increase in positive emotions,
slightly exceeds our skill level, requiring us meaning, or the quality of relationships.
to stretch to a new level of performance.
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