From Individual Well-Being to an Interconnected View of the Human Being
For more than two decades, positive psychology has been closely associated with individual improvement: cultivating positive emotions, strengthening resilience, and increasing personal satisfaction. While this approach has had a significant impact, its limitations are becoming increasingly evident. A growing number of researchers are now redefining the boundaries of the field, shifting the focus from the individual to a broader, more interconnected understanding of the human being.
In academic and clinical contexts, a new perspective is gaining ground: well-being can no longer be understood as an isolated phenomenon, nor reduced to an internal state measured solely through subjective indicators. Recent studies show that quality of life is deeply influenced by relational networks, social environments, connection to nature, and a sense of belonging to something larger than the individual self.
This evolution is also driven by internal critiques of traditional positive psychology, which in some cases is seen as promoting an overly individualistic view of well-being. Focusing exclusively on positive mental attitudes, some scholars argue, risks overlooking structural factors such as inequality, social isolation, and the erosion of shared meaning. The result can be a subtle form of psychological pressure: the belief that if one is not well, the responsibility lies entirely with the individual.
The emerging approach, often referred to as second-wave positive psychology, introduces concepts such as interdependence, shared vulnerability, and relational well-being. Within this framework, difficult emotions are not denied or corrected, but integrated as a natural part of human experience. Personal growth is no longer seen as a linear path toward happiness, but as a dynamic process that includes crisis, conflict, and transformation.
A central element of this paradigm shift is the recognition that meaning often arises from contribution rather than satisfaction alone. Research indicates that people who perceive their actions as beneficial to others or to their community report more stable levels of well-being than those focused solely on self-fulfillment. This does not imply self-sacrifice or self-negation, but a rebalancing between personal identity and shared responsibility.
Clinical practice is also beginning to reflect this transition. An increasing number of interventions emphasize relationships, belonging, and connection to values that extend beyond individual interest. The aim is not to make people constantly positive, but to help them develop the capacity to remain whole within life’s complexity.
This shift marks a significant turning point: well-being is no longer conceived as a private achievement, but as an equilibrium emerging from the continuous interaction between individuals, other people, and the world. A perspective that invites a deeper reflection not only on what it means to “feel well,” but on the kind of society being shaped in the process.
In academic and clinical contexts, a new perspective is gaining ground: well-being can no longer be understood as an isolated phenomenon, nor reduced to an internal state measured solely through subjective indicators. Recent studies show that quality of life is deeply influenced by relational networks, social environments, connection to nature, and a sense of belonging to something larger than the individual self.
This evolution is also driven by internal critiques of traditional positive psychology, which in some cases is seen as promoting an overly individualistic view of well-being. Focusing exclusively on positive mental attitudes, some scholars argue, risks overlooking structural factors such as inequality, social isolation, and the erosion of shared meaning. The result can be a subtle form of psychological pressure: the belief that if one is not well, the responsibility lies entirely with the individual.
The emerging approach, often referred to as second-wave positive psychology, introduces concepts such as interdependence, shared vulnerability, and relational well-being. Within this framework, difficult emotions are not denied or corrected, but integrated as a natural part of human experience. Personal growth is no longer seen as a linear path toward happiness, but as a dynamic process that includes crisis, conflict, and transformation.
A central element of this paradigm shift is the recognition that meaning often arises from contribution rather than satisfaction alone. Research indicates that people who perceive their actions as beneficial to others or to their community report more stable levels of well-being than those focused solely on self-fulfillment. This does not imply self-sacrifice or self-negation, but a rebalancing between personal identity and shared responsibility.
Clinical practice is also beginning to reflect this transition. An increasing number of interventions emphasize relationships, belonging, and connection to values that extend beyond individual interest. The aim is not to make people constantly positive, but to help them develop the capacity to remain whole within life’s complexity.
This shift marks a significant turning point: well-being is no longer conceived as a private achievement, but as an equilibrium emerging from the continuous interaction between individuals, other people, and the world. A perspective that invites a deeper reflection not only on what it means to “feel well,” but on the kind of society being shaped in the process.