What causes wellness | Sir Harry Burns | TEDxGlasgow

TEDx Talks13 minutes read

Adam Smith emphasizes the importance of considering the happiness of others for societal well-being, highlighting a spectrum of behavior from self-interest to altruism. Various theories, such as salutogenesis and flourishing, underscore the significance of positive attributes, relationships, and a sense of purpose in fostering well-being and reducing chronic stress for improved societal wellness.

Insights

  • Adam Smith stresses the significance of considering the happiness of others for societal well-being, outlining a spectrum of behavior from self-interest to altruism where even the most unruly individuals exhibit a sense of sympathy.
  • The concept of salutogenesis, originating from positive attributes and relationships contributing to resilience and well-being, challenges the conventional focus on avoiding illness, with a call for addressing the cycle of alienation across the life course to enhance societal well-being.

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Recent questions

  • What did Adam Smith emphasize in his book?

    Sympathy and societal well-being.

  • What is salutogenesis based on?

    Positive attributes and relationships.

  • Who introduced the concept of flourishing?

    Corey Keyes.

  • How does Aaron Antonovsky link psychology and biology?

    Through comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness.

  • What does the speaker emphasize regarding societal well-being?

    Addressing the cycle of alienation.

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Summary

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"Adam Smith's Spectrum of Wellness"

  • Adam Smith discussed the concept of wellness in his book "Theory of Moral Sentiments," emphasizing the importance of seeing the happiness of others for societal well-being.
  • Smith highlighted a spectrum of behavior from self-interest to altruism, noting that even the most unruly individuals are subject to a sense of sympathy.
  • The speaker questions the causes of wellness in society, challenging the traditional focus on avoiding illness and proposing a spectrum between pathogenesis and salutogenesis.
  • The notion of salutogenesis, derived from the Roman goddess of well-being, suggests that certain positive attributes and relationships contribute to resilience and well-being.
  • Various theories, such as those by Emily Werner and Viktor Frankl, emphasize the significance of positive attributes, relationships, and a sense of meaning and purpose in fostering well-being.
  • Psychologist Corey Keyes introduces the concept of flourishing as a key factor in well-being, encompassing happiness, purpose, optimism, mastery, control, and self-esteem.
  • Sociologist Aaron Antonovsky links psychology and biology, suggesting that a sense of comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness in life reduces chronic stress and improves health outcomes.
  • The speaker highlights the biological consequences of social chaos, illustrating how stressful events in early life can impact brain development and stress responses, leading to increased risk of physical ill health.
  • The importance of addressing the cycle of alienation, starting from chaotic early years to mental health issues and poverty, is emphasized, with a call for comprehensive action across the life course to improve societal well-being.
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