By Dennis Sale
IN the first column of this series, I offered a frame on what constitutes wellbeing, as well as some broad theories concerning its components and determinants. The significant defining statement was that suffering, in its myriad of forms, is an objective fact relating to the human condition, and the alleviation and mitigation of areas of suffering is central to addressing wellbeing concerns.
Here I do a deeper dive into understanding wellbeing from a social perspective, which includes such features as cultural contexts and parenting, and how human psychological development is shaped by such experiences – for better or for worse. My focus in this and the following column addresses two interrelated questions that are central to a better understanding of wellbeing, and how it can be enhanced:
1) What are the existential challenges that humans face in their life experiences which can either promote or impede psychological wellbeing?
2) What societal interventions are most effective, efficient, and acceptable to promote wellbeing and mitigate specific types of suffering?
What are the existential challenges that humans face in their life experiences which can either promote or impede psychological wellbeing?
Certainly, drawing from the theories outlined in the previous column, the importance of such areas as the satisfaction of physical and psychological needs and finding meaning and purpose in life are key issues in this context. However, these are impacted by societal influences, which also frame what constitutes desirable identities and successful lives. There is evidence that much of modern life can have negative consequences for wellbeing and psychological health. For example, the research of Lembke, documented in her book Dopamine Nation (2021), suggests that addiction to instant gratification has become the norm. Lembke argues that the modern world is filled with more dopamine-inducing stimuli than ever – including everything from drugs and sex to smartphones and shopping. In basic terms, dopamine is a chemical released in the brain when you do something enjoyable or rewarding that makes you feel good. However, the negative consequences of having so many dopamine-inducing stimuli is habituation to the rewarding activities, decreasing amounts of dopamine released from our brains, and a constant search for more and better pleasure – which is often not there. This process is so aptly demonstrated in an experiment where monkeys who were typically fed with leaves, were then given fruit to see if their dopamine levels increased. Dopamine levels did rise, but soon fell back to previous levels when they were fed leaves. However, what was interesting is that when the monkeys were returned to their prior leaf diet, they became aggressive, snarling at their keepers and throwing the leaves at them in disgust. There may be important lessons to be learned here!
An interesting approach to understanding the more specific features of developing wellbeing, and how societal factors may impact it – positively or otherwise – stems from the work of Erik Erikson, a pioneer in developmental psychology. He proposed a theory of psychosocial development that outlines eight stages of life, in which each stage presents specific challenges. The successful navigation of these challenges contributes to healthy personality development; whereas failure to resolve the conflict at a particular stage can negatively impact positive development and lead to psychological issues. For the necessity of brevity, only a summary is presented below:
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Trust vs Mistrust (Infancy):
*Challenge: Developing a sense of trust in caregivers.
*Outcome: Hope or mistrust.
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Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt (Toddlerhood):
*Challenge: Developing a sense of independence.
*Outcome: Willpower or shame.
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Initiative vs Guilt (Preschool):
*Challenge: Balancing spontaneity with self-control.
*Outcome: Purpose or guilt.
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Industry vs Inferiority (School-age):
*Challenge: Developing a sense of competence.
*Outcome: Mastery or inferiority.
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Identity vs Role Confusion (Adolescence):
*Challenge: Developing a strong sense of self.
*Outcome: Fidelity or role confusion.
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Intimacy vs Isolation (Young Adulthood):
*Challenge: Forming deep connections with others.
*Outcome: Love or isolation.
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Generativity vs Stagnation (Middle Adulthood):
*Challenge: Contributing to the next generation.
*Outcome: Care or stagnation.
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Integrity vs Despair (Late Adulthood):
*Challenge: Reflecting on life with satisfaction.
*Outcome: Wisdom or despair.
Having worked extensively in this field, as well as being a parent, Erikson’s framework has much of value in terms of identifying the kinds of experiences that are important to negotiate in life and their salience at different stages. Here are just a few examples for illustration:
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A child who doesn’t develop a sense of trust in infancy may struggle with forming relationships later in life.
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An adolescent who fails to establish a strong sense of identity may experience difficulties in making life choices.
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A middle-aged adult who doesn’t find a way to contribute to the next generation may feel a sense of emptiness and stagnation.
Erikson’s theory emphasises the importance of social interactions and cultural factors in shaping personality development. By understanding these stages, we can gain insights into the challenges individuals face at different points in their lives. Of note, the framework should not be seen in mechanistic lock step stages, but as guiding heuristics and a valuable tool in understanding wellbeing and identifying areas that can be viably and practically addressed.
The framework also identifies the potential fragility of human beings and the importance of the quality of the experiences we have, especially in our family structures, schooling, peer-groups, and the wider local community. Furthermore, the internet and social media has created access to unlimited knowledge bases and communication sources that have transformed the socialisation process. This is part of the so-called rapidly changing VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world. While there are positives to such wide knowledge and communication access, there are also noted negative features, which include:
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Increased anxiety and depression: Constant comparison to others, cyberbullying, and fear of missing out (FOMO) can contribute to mental health issues.
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Addiction: Excessive use can lead to addiction, affecting relationships, work, and overall life balance.
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Body image issues: Social media often promotes unrealistic beauty standards, leading to body dissatisfaction and low self-esteem.
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Isolation: While connecting people, it can also lead to increased isolation and loneliness if not balanced with real-world interactions.
Of course, these experiences are not new – they are part of “being human”. I have experienced some of these – have you? (a rhetorical question). People have always faced anxiety, body and self-identity concerns, isolation, and addiction is not a new phenomenon – the opium dens of London in Victorian England probably had folk who got addicted to such stuff.
However, without making historical comparisons on human suffering and mental illness as this would be ridiculously unreliable anyway, we can assume that internal anxieties, confusions, and conflicts that create stress are negative factors for wellbeing, as the research evidence is quite substantive from many sources, including:
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Psychoanalytic Theory: Sigmund Freud and his followers proposed that unresolved unconscious conflicts can lead to psychological distress and mental illness.
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: This approach focuses on how thought patterns impact behaviour, which includes how limiting beliefs and cognitive distortions can negatively impact wellbeing and underpin mental health problems.
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Neurobiology: Research indicates that chronic stress, often stemming from internal conflicts, can alter brain structure and function, increasing the risk of mental health disorders.
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Epidemiological Studies: Studies have shown correlations between life stressors (which often involve internal conflicts) and the onset of mental health conditions.
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Clinical Observations: Mental health professionals routinely observe the connection between internal turmoil and the development of various mental-health issues.
The next column explores societal interventions that may best contribute to promoting wellbeing. It’s a challenging task, and one that involves valuations – but we are problem solving creatures, albeit not always from the best evidence-bases.
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Dennis Sale worked in the Singapore education system for 25 years as advisor, researcher and examiner. He coached over 15,000 teaching professionals and provided 100+ consultancies in the Asian region. Dennis is author of the books Creative Teachers: Self-directed Learners (Springer 2020) and Creative Teaching: An Evidence-Based Approach (Springer, 2015). Visit dennissale.com.
