Directionality: Unifying Psychological and Social Understandings of Well-Being and Distress Through an Existential Ontology

Abstract

A conceptual framework rooted in existentialism is presented to unify psychological and sociopolitical perspectives. Human beings are directional, with well-being the actualization of highest order directions. Distress emerges through external blocking of directions, or through dysergetic or ineffective internal configurations. Hence, social justice work and counseling have essential, and integrated, roles.