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Describing Broad Categories with Narrow Terms: the Problems with Emotional Well-Being
Richard E Lucas1, Shigehiro Oishi2
1Department of Psychology, Michigan State University, 316 Physics Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823 USA.
Affective Science
|April 18, 2023
Summary
The proposed term "emotional well-being" and its definition are too narrow, potentially hindering scientific communication in psychology. Clarity is essential, but this new definition may cause more confusion than benefit.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Well-being research
Background:
- Scientific communication relies on precise terminology.
- Existing terms for well-being constructs lack universal definition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a proposed new term and definition for "emotional well-being".
- To assess the utility of the proposed term for clarifying psychological constructs related to well-being.
Main Methods:
- Critical analysis of a proposed term and definition.
- Evaluation of the proposed term's scope and applicability in psychological research.
Main Results:
- The proposed definition of "emotional well-being" is too narrow.
- The terminology and definition may impede, rather than aid, scientific communication.
Conclusions:
- The potential for confusion outweighs the limited benefits of the proposed term.
- Defining broad categories in well-being research requires careful consideration to avoid imprecision.
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