Does wellbeing travel? : debating universalism and cultural difference in understandings of wellbeing.

Abstract

Advocates of wellbeing argue that it offers a new way to measure what matters not only for the individual, but also for societal progress. This implies that concepts of wellbeing are the same everywhere, or at least that measures can be used in ways that side-step cultural difference.This one day symposium offered an opportunity to discuss how understandings of wellbeing differ by national, economic, or cultural context, and the implications this has for wellbeing measurement. Keynote speakers: Leverhulme lecture: Professor Richard Ryan, Dept. of Psychology,University of Rochester. Dr Laura Camfield, School of International Development, University of East Anglia. Dr Sarah C White, Centre for Development Studies,University of Bath The event attracted around 40 delegates from across the UK and Europe, including both academics, postgraduate researchers and representatives of NGOs and policy research organisations. Ten presentations are attached.

Citation

White, S.; Ryan, R.; Camfield, L. Does wellbeing travel? : debating universalism and cultural difference in understandings of wellbeing. (2012)

Published 1 January 2012