Eudaimonic vs Hedonic Well-Being 

The lifestyle of well-being is considered a multifaceted concept that has been thoroughly studied for centuries and decades by philosophers, psychologists as well as numerous neurologists. Two of the most interesting and fascinating concepts altogether were hedonic well-being and eudaimonic well-being. They individually represent the different approaches to achieving a fulfilled and meaningful life. While both are always linked together to happiness, they primarily focus on distinct aspects of mankind. They together somehow describe the basic ingredients required for the formulation of a well-lived life, which every one of us questions many times throughout our lifetime. The concepts of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being originated from the ancient Greeks.

Coinage and Basis of Eudaimonic and Hedonic Well Being 

The precise meanings of the word hedonic and eudonic are still a mystery despise of extensive research. Hedonism is derived from a greek word hedone meant pleasure. Hedonic well-being, consists of overall pleasure, thus centres around the pursuit of happiness and satisfaction without getting indulged in any sort of pain. It is well-rooted towards the idea of minimizing pain and maximizing the happiness. The whole concept of hedonic lifestyle is deep rooted in the philosophy of Epicurus, the person who debated that happiness could be achieved by numerous sorts of experiences of physical pleasure and diminishing pain both mentally and physically.

At the psychological level, hedonic well-being is often calculated as a subjective well being constituting self-reports on life satisfaction, presence of positive emotions and the absence of any form negativity in life. 

In a similar manner, eudaimonic well being, on the other hand derived by combining the two greek words eu meaning good and daemon, for lesser go. It is translated cumulatively as true self. We can think of eudemonia as a condition where one lives in good spirits. Eudaimonia has been translated as utmost happiness, wellbeing, thriving prosperously and flourishing.

Aristotle considered eudaimonia as humanity’s highest good. 

It focuses on the idea of living a meaningful and purposeful life. It comes from the teaching of Aristotle as he argued and ultimately the goal of life to live happily is in accordance with owns true nature and fulfilling the overall potential. The scholar Edith Hall also defines eudemonia as a state of mind we can achieve by practicing virtue ethics. Huta and Waterman proposed that eudemonia reflects the “pursuit of virtue, excellence, and the best within us.”

Diving Deep into the Dimensions 

Hedonic Well-Being

The main basic components of Hedonic well-being are hereby described as:

1. Life Satisfaction: A cognitive evaluation of one’s life as a whole.
2. Positive Effect: Overall experiences of positive emotions such as joy and excitement.
3. Negative Effect: Zero indulgence of negative emotions such as anxiety, sadness and stress. 

Researchers have conducted extreme work on subjective well-being (SWB) and have concluded that happiness can be measured by the balance of positive and negative emotions in an individual. Some came to the conclusion that individuals with positive emotions feel more satisfied and fulfilled as compared to the ones with negative emotions. 

The biology behind hedonic well-being is that it is closely united with the brain’s functioning, particularly the areas like the ventral striatum and prefrontal cortex. These areas are primarily responsible for processing positivity and joyous stimuli. The neurotransmitter dopamine is released from these areas and is responsible for reinforcing pleasurable experiences. 

Even though hedonic well-being is overall considered a pleasurable and positive entity in itself, it provides immediate gratification, but it itself has its own limitations. And one of the significant drawbacks is hedonic adaptations –  the quickness of the mind to return to the base level of happiness after experiencing any sort of event. Everything eventually fades. It shows us that hedonic well-being can be fleeting and insignificant as it is wholly dependent on the external events occurring around us, and the utmost level of satisfaction keeps on bouncing depending on the experience as well as the perspective. 

Eudaimonic Well-Being

It is considered the pursuit of meaning and purpose. Finding self-worth and self-realisation in oneself and thriving through life with a purpose that provides utmost and actual defining satisfaction. The basic dimensions of eudaimonic well-being are: Eudaimonic well-being is about fulfilling these psychological needs and striving for self-actualisation, as outlined in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.

1. Self-acceptance 
2. A sense of direction and finding the main purpose in life 
3. The ability to master the challenges and obstacles 
4. Autonomy 
5. Managing and building meaningful connections
6. Personal Growth                                                                                                    

It is proven and shown well that individuals with higher levels of Eudaimonic well-being tend to have better psychological health and greater resilience with a promising and stable lifestyle. 

As for hedonic well-being, eudaimonic well-being is also biologically related to the brain regions that are involved in long-term goal setting, planning, and emotional regulators. This is the work of the prefrontal cortex, which plays a crucial role in decision-making and long-term planning, both of which are primarily essential for pursuing goals. However, the default mode network is a group of brain regions active during rest. It is engaged in self-reflection and is believed to support deep thinking. Deep thinking is essential for discovering purpose and meaning.

People with stronger eudaimonic well-being tend to build more meaningful relationships, experience greater personal growth, and contribute actively to society. They lower the risks of chronic illness and stress and increase longevity. 

Psychological Theories Behind the Well-Beings 

1. The great Theoretical Debate: Huta and Watermann suggested that eudaimonic well-being could be oriented with personal growth and engagement of deep feelings together, thriving in a good lifestyle. We can also access it as a cognitive-affective experience guiding towards fulfilment.  
2. Human flourishing was put forward by Seligman and Peterson. They argued that we should use eudaimonia not only to discover our unique life virtues, but also to gain the strength and mental well-being needed to pursue and fulfill them.
3. Flow is another important concept that describes how flow can be highly energising, pleasurable, and ecstatic. Numerous moments and experiences could result in this. 

In conclusion, hedonic and eudaimonic well-being are two distinct but complementary pathways to a fulfilling life. Hedonic well-being focuses on pleasure, positive emotions, and life satisfaction. Eudaimonic well-being emphasizes purpose, personal growth, and realizing one’s potential. Both approaches are supported by scientific research in psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy, and it’s clear that a balanced integration of the two can lead to a more robust and sustainable sense of happiness. Whether through enjoying the pleasures of life or pursuing meaningful and self-actualizing goals, both aspects are essential to human flourishing

FAQs

1. The difference between hedonic and eudaimonic well-being?

Hedonia relates to immediate sensory pleasure, happiness, and enjoyment, while eudaimonia relates to the consequences of self-growth and self-actualisation.

2. The difference between hedonic and hedonistic?

While both “hedonic” and “hedonistic” relate to pleasure, “hedonic” is a general term meaning “of or relating to pleasure,” while “hedonistic” describes someone who is devoted to the pursuit of pleasure, or a lifestyle focused on pleasure-seeking.

3. Who is the father of Positive Psychology?

Martin Seligman is  widely recognized as the “father of positive psychology.