Conference paper
QUALITY OF LIVING AS THE CRITERION OF SUSTAINABILITY OF DEVELOPMENT - PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH
Nikola Pastuović
; Faculty of Philosophy, Zagreb
Abstract
The concept of sustainable development has as the assumption not
only the usage of resources and protection of environment but also a kind of
re-conceptualisation of the development itself. The development is by
definition the change or actualisation of the potential of the entity in
development. To satisfy the man's needs it need not be positive, in fact, it
can be negative as well. That is why the development should be interpreted as
the increase in satisfying of the man's needs, i.e. improvement of the quality
of life.
As the needs are structured as a hierarchical system (basic or economic, social or self-actualising), the development is not one-dimensional but multi-dimensional phenomenon. Psychological research of the satisfaction with the ways of living, as the measure of its quality, shows that the satisfaction is not a bipolar phenomenon, and that satisfaction and dissatisfaction are two independent variables caused by different factors. Satisfaction, i.e. quality of living, depends on the realisation of the social and self-actualising motifs, and not the existential ones, which are the necessary condition for the experiencing of higher needs. The social development consists of the realisation of the conditions for satisfying all, not only basic, man's needs. If the conditions for satisfying higher motifs of the inhabitants are not ensured, the existential needs being mainly satisfied, the population will be less satisfied and will live less qualitative life than it would live in the conditions of relatively greater material want.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
139073
URI
Publication date:
15.7.1993.
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