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A multilevel selection model for prosocial well-being.
Mads Larsen1, Nina Witoszek1, June Chun Yeung2
1Centre for Development and the Environment, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
This study proposes a model where well-being equals happiness plus meaning, driven by individual and group selection. Prosocial behavior and community contribution enhance meaning, offering a sustainable alternative to competition-driven happiness.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary psychology
- Social sciences
- Behavioral economics
Background:
- Quality of life is a complex construct influenced by individual and societal factors.
- Existing models often focus on happiness, neglecting the role of meaning in overall well-being.
- Multilevel selection theory offers a framework to understand the interplay between individual and group needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose an evolutionary model of well-being based on multilevel selection.
- To differentiate and define happiness (individual selection) and meaning (group selection).
- To explore the psychological mechanisms linking prosocial behavior, meaning, and well-being.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual model development integrating multilevel selection theory.
- Preliminary quantitative analysis of national-level prosociality and well-being markers.
- Qualitative in-depth interviews with helpers of Ukrainian refugees in Norway (n=32).
Main Results:
- Well-being is conceptualized as a combination of happiness and meaning (Well-being = Happiness + Meaning).
- Meaning, derived from prosocial behavior and community contribution, is enduring and reinforces social belonging.
- Happiness is transient, serving as an evolutionary signal for adaptive problem-solving.
Conclusions:
- A meaning-driven approach to well-being is more sustainable than a focus on maximizing happiness.
- Public policy should encourage cooperative means for societal well-being.
- Understanding the evolutionary basis of well-being can inform holistic development policies.
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