The Generation of Human Wellbeing: Social Practices Theory

Abstract

This chapter proposes that social practices theory can provide us with important insights for conceptualising possible wellbeing implications of postgrowth. Highlighting the interaction between “structure” and “agency” in the generation of wellbeing, this chapter reflects on the ways in which different social dimensions—e.g. resources, institutions and discourses—interact in generating wellbeing at individual and social levels, and the roles that stability and change play in this process. An important question emerging from this is whether the various social structures that are currently organised around market capitalism and its inherent power structures can change rapidly enough, and at similar speeds, to avoid deteriorations of wellbeing, including the important role of cultural change.