Foundational frameworks of positive psychology: Mapping well-being orientations.

The scientific study of well-being has been strongly influenced by ideas from a number of related fields, including different areas of psychology. Two major philosophical traditions- hedonia and eudaimonia- underscore much of our current understanding of well-being, and are reflected across early and contemporary psychological theories of well-being. These traditions help delineate the various conceptualisations of well-being and its components; moreover, these traditions influence which research questions are asked, and where and how answers are sought. This has resulted in a plethora of categories and terms referring to similar, yet distinct, concepts such as: well-being, happiness, optimal or positive experiences, life satisfaction, and flourishing. Given the difficulties of distinguishing these concepts, this article aims to provide clarity by delineating the major orientations in positive psychology. We provide a road-map to theories and models of well-being found within positive psychology, thereby providing a starting a point from which an integrative framework of theories and models of well-being can be developed. To that end, also included in this review is a selection of well-being models that lie beyond the traditional frameworks. We conclude with a consideration of several criticisms that have been directed at positive psychology, and provide recommendations for future directions.Keywords: positive psychology, eudaimonia, hedonia, well-being, character strengthsResumeL'etude scientifique du bien-etre a ete fortement influencee par des idees empruntees a divers champs connexes, notamment a des domaines de la psychologie. Deux importantes traditions philosophiques, hedonia et eudaimonia, sous-tendent nombre des connaissances actuelles sur le bien-etre et trouvent echo dans les theories en psychologie sur cette notion, tant les toutes premieres que les contemporaines. Ces traditions aident a delimiter les diverses conceptualisations du bien-etre et de ses composants; en outre, elles influencent les questions de recherche qui sont posees ainsi que les methodes utilisees pour y repondre et les endroits ou chercher les reponses. Cette situation a donne lieu a une multitude de categories et de termes qui definissent des concepts semblables, mais neanmoins distincts : bien-etre, bonheur, experience optimale ou positive, satisfaction de vivre, epanouissement. Etant donne la difficulte de delimiter ces concepts, cet article vise a eclaircir les distinctions en determinant les principales orientations au sein de la psychologie positive. Il fournit un « plan » des theories et des modeles sur le bien-etre en psychologie positive, en vue d'etablir un point de depart pour l'etablissement d'un cadre integrateur. A cette fin, sont inclus dans la presente recherche des modeles sur le bien-etre qui ne correspondent pas aux cadres traditionnels. L'article se termine par une reflexion sur des critiques a l'egard de la psychologie positive ainsi que par des recommandations pour les recherches futures.Mots-cles : psychologie positive, eudaimonia, hedonia, bien-etre, force de caractere.Although positive psychology is considered a new field of inquiry, its origins can be traced to several philosophical traditions. These philosophical traditions provide a foundational framework within which positive psychology theories can be understood. Utilizing a philosophical framework, this review maps out numerous theories and models of well-being (see Figure 1). To provide as complete a guide as possible, a selection of well-being perspectives and models that stand tangential to the traditional philosophical frameworks are also considered.Utilitarian Philosophical TraditionUtilitarianism, promoted by the likes of Jeremy Bentham (1748- 1832) and John Stuart Mill (1806-1873), focuses on the greatest happiness for the greatest number (Brulde & Bykvist, 2010). Within positive psychology, utilitarianism is most often manifested as maximizing happiness within specific groups of people. …