Subjective Well-Being: Is It Still Relevant? (2013)

Within each discipline, researchers have always been interested in exploring the fundamental questions significant to the knowledge representation of existence, and often those questions lead to the formal reasoning which helps maintain a unified framework about a particular phenomenon. In this direction, it is believed that divergent inquiries promote the development of a concept, but, if carried for long then this may result in confusion over the conceptual clarity as well. Such ambiguity is evident in the study of well being, under the domain of positive psychology.In pursuit of understanding optimal human functioning, increasing attention is now being given to positive aspects of Ufe. This is made possible through the influential positive psychology movements which propose that a non negative approach can be taken to study people (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). Among various positive constructs studied under the ambit of positive psychology, happiness (or subjective well-being) is aigued to be the whole aim and end of human existence (Aristotle, 1976) and one of the most cherished goals in the life of people (Diener & Oishi, 2000). Consequently, while observing the study of well-being as its central concern, the mission of psychology to improve normal life is extended by positive psychology (Lyubomirsky, 2001). Well-being is a common concept to various academic disciplines and is studied with both objective and subjective perspectives based on the requirement and the objectives of the domain. In economics, for examples, it is measured through objective variables such as income and education level etc. However, in psychology it is studied more with the subjective perspective into consideration. Also, the extant Uterature in psychology shows the failure of objective variables in predicting happiness (Brickman, Coates, & Janoff-Bulman, 1978; Myers, 2000). And hence, more importance is given to the subjective experience of well-being, popularly conceptualized as subjective well-being (SWB).Well-being researchers have taken the concept from SWB to psychological well-being (PWB). However, there always remains a debate on a meaningful conceptual distinction between SWB and PWB due to the overlap of general constructs of well being such as happiness, pleasure, Ufe satisfaction, emotions and moods etc. The purpose of this study is not to distinguish between the two concepts but to throw light on the ontology of SWB and to propose it as a cornerstone to PWB.After first providing the theoretical foundations for SWB and its development, attention turns to how it differs from or relates to other similar constructs like psychological well-being (PWB) and euidamonic well-being (EWB). Next, the importance of two-component configuration of SWB, constituting cognitive and affective dimensions, is demonstrated followed by a discussion placing SWB as the basic requirement to achieve PWB and other similar concepts.Theoreticalfoundation for SWBPositive psychology is the study of human strengths and optimal functioning, and one of its key aims is to foster research on the positive personal traits and dispositions that are thought to contribute to subjective well-being and psychological health. Although Martin Seligman propounded positive psychology in 1998, but the term originated with Maslow in his 1954 book Motivation and Personality. Also, positive psychology has its roots in the humanistic psychology which focused greatly on happiness and fulfilment. Thus, we can say that positive psychology with the overall aim of happiness draws heavily from happiness itself. Given that happiness and the term SWB are used interchangeably in the literature and refer to the same experience, it may be deduced that SWB too has its existence long back. Aristotle in 350 BC wrote that happiness is the only thing that humans desire for its own sake. Rousseau (1782) gave altogether a different angle to happiness in terms of good bank account, a good cook and a good digestion. …