ISQOLS Webinar, "Tracing the Cultural Roots of Contemporary Well-Being: The Emergence of Authenticity as a Central Ideal"

ISQOLS WEBINAR:

Tracing the Cultural Roots of Contemporary Well-Being: The Emergence of Authenticity as a Central Ideal

Thursday, 22 August

9:00 am CEST/4:00 pm KST

Presenter: Mohsen Joshanloo

This presentation explores the emergence of authenticity as a key principle for understanding optimal human functioning and well-being in the modern era. It discusses how modern formulations of well-being (prioritizing autonomy, self-discovery, and self-actualization) have adopted authenticity as a guiding paradigm in scientific and public discourse. While acknowledging the widespread adoption of these authenticity-based models, the presentation highlights their Western cultural roots and challenges assumptions of universality. It cautions against imposing authenticity-based ideals as a one-size-fits-all solution, particularly in contexts where collectivist and traditional notions of well-being are prevalent. This presentation argues for a more inclusive approach to understanding and promoting well-being worldwide.

About the presenter:

Mohsen Joshanloo is a personality and cross-cultural psychologist. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Keimyung University in South Korea and an Honorary Principal Fellow at the Centre for Wellbeing Science at the University of Melbourne in Australia. His research focuses on mental well-being, culture, personality traits, and emotions. With a global research perspective, he incorporates data from countries on six continents. He advocates for the internationalization of psychological science.