Session "Art and Well-Being"
Lahti Science Day, 10.11.2015
Kevin Melchionne
CAN ART MAKE US HAPPY?
Art is commonly thought to promote well-being. However, researchers in art and aesthetics have not considered how art plays this role. In recent years, there has been considerable research in positive psychology, the empirical study of subjective well-being (SWB). This research has generated robust findings on the factors promoting well-being. I also explore the implications – some highly counter-intuitive - of SWB theory for aesthetic theory, cultural policy, and arts education.
Commentators:
Arto Haapala, Sanna Lehtinen, and Kalle Puolakka