The Good Life or the Goods Life
Interview with Tim Kasser by the Canadian Positive Psychology Association after his presentation this past July in Ottawa at the 2nd Canadian Conference on Positive Psychology. Professor Kasser discusses that contemporary humans live in a culture that continually encourages them to focus on the acquisition of money, possessions, image, and status. Scientific research shows that when people prioritize these extrinsic goals, they report lower levels of personal well-being, act in more competitive and unfriendly ways, and pursue lifestyles damaging to the ecosphere. Professor Kasser presents a set of strategies to help people and cultures shift away from these extrinsic values towards a set of intrinsic life pursuits that promote personal, social, and ecological well-being. View video here
