Josey Murray, MAPP’23,is a health, wellness, and lifestyle writer and editor based in New York City. Her writing focuses on how to live the good life and what sustainable wellness means for mind, body, and planet. She has written for Women’s Health, mindbodygreen, Well+Good, and more. She is the associate editor of MAPP Magazine. She holds a degree in English and Creative Writing from Wellesley College. Josey’s articles are here.
That positive psychology research has often been based on Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) populations is a common criticism of the field, as explained by van Zyl and Rothmann. As time has progressed, so has the field, and even though there is much more cross-cultural research and consideration needed, we are beginning to see the unique insight offered by such research and how diverse perspectives must be central to the field. To truly understand what helps people lead happy, meaningful, and fulfilling lives, we must acknowledge that the associations and meaning behind those very words change with language and cultural context.
“Our science should not simply be an export business,” said Chris Peterson, one of the founders of positive psychology, in an article for Psychology Today. He went on to say, “There are lessons to be learned in all cultures about what makes life worth living, and no language has a monopoly on the vocabulary for describing the good life.” His sentiments perfectly describe the focus of the latest issue of MAPP Magazine, the alumni publication of the Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program at the University of Pennsylvania. In this issue, authors and experts from around the world have contributed articles about global well-being concepts, from the Japanese notion of ikigai to what we can learn from the well-being paradox in Latin America.
We’re pleased to share our new issue with you and hope you enjoy taking a trip around the world with MAPP Magazine. We invite you to join us in considering diverse cultures and perspectives when thinking about the good life.
To have the latest MAPP Magazine articles sent to you by email, subscribe here.
AI generated image from freepik.com
The life well lived is a life worth experiencing
Ikigai (i-key-ga-ee), often defined as “one’s reason for living,” is commonly depicted as four overlapping circles: what you love, what you can be paid for, what the world needs, and what you’re good at. But this model not only misses critical cultural nuances, it lacks a basis in empirical evidence.
In this article, Eugene (Yu Jin) Tee (MAPP ’23) corrects assumptions about ikigai and offers practices to promote it.
Generations Together
The well-being paradox in Latin America
Despite well-documented societal, economic, and political challenges, measures of subjective well-being in Latin Americans are consistently higher than expected.
In this article, Mariangela Rodriguez (MAPP ’23) explores this well-being paradox, plus three findings that also emerge: the importance of interpersonal relationships, high positive affect, and a tendency toward optimism.
Read on for more about cultural elements she believes should be protected and what other cultures can learn.
Blue flame
Sisu: Unlocking the ancient Finnish key
According to the Gallup Happiness Index, Finland has been the happiest country in the world for the past seven years.
In this article, Elisabet Lahti, PhD (MAPP ’13), explores a unique Finnish concept that might contribute to that result: sisu.
Sisu encapsulates that last bit of strength when you feel like you have nothing left to give. Lahti offers practical tips based on her research and life experience on how to harness sisu to improve your work, relationships, and well-being.
Dr. Angelina Wilson Jadiji
African perspectives on well-being from Angelina Wilson Fadiji
Read excerpts from our recent conversation with Angelina Wilson Fadiji, PhD, senior lecturer at De Montfort University. Leicester, UK.
In this article, Wilson Fadiji reflects on her research that explores predictors of well-being and positive mental health in an African context. Read on to learn how she thinks cross-cultural research can add to the positive psychology literature.
For more on finding well-being,
visit and bookmark MAPP Magazine.
To get new editions in your email, subscribe here
References
Peterson, Christopher (2008). Ikigai and mortality. Psychology Today.
van Zyl, L. E. & Rothmann, S. (2022). Grand challenges for positive psychology: Future perspectives and opportunities. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 833057. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.833057
Photo credits
AI image from FreePik
Generations Photo by Janosch Lino on Unsplash
Blue Flame Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash
Angelina Wilson Fadiji photo used with permission from Angelina Wilson Fadiji, PhD.
