The Science of Well-Being and Societal Quality of Life

A description of human well-being as viewed by behavioral scientists working in this area includes subjective well-being (life satisfaction, a preponderance of positive feelings, engagement and meaning, etc.), social support, material sufficiency, and psychological well-being (learning, mastery, etc.). In the last decades, behavioral scientists have made significant progress in understanding the causes and effects of these characteristics. One insight garnered from the research is that individuals and societies that are high in well-being function more effectively in terms of productivity, social relationships, and health and longevity. Thus, national measures of well-being are needed to guide public policy, organizational decision-making, and individual choices. When well-being across the nations of the world is examined, it becomes clear that measures of well-being yield valuable information about societies beyond that contained in economic indicators. Research is presented showing that the well-being of individuals is not solely an individual affair, but depends heavily on the societies in which they live, as well as showing how the well-being measures contribute valuable information beyond that of economic indicators.