Mind, Body and Wellbeing: Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and Self-cultivation Systems as Wellbeing Influencers
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Mind, Body and Wellbeing: Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and Self‑cultivation Systems as Wellbeing Influencers Genevieve Sovereign1 · Benjamin R. Walker1
© Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract This research explored relationships between personality factors and subjective wellbeing, and how those relationships might be influenced through the practice of mind–body selfcultivation systems such as yoga or martial arts. All three factors of the revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of personality were hypothesised to predict subjective wellbeing in this study’s online recruited sample of 170 system practitioners. The Fight-Flight-Freeze System (FFFS) and Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) were expected to predict subjective wellbeing negatively, whilst the Behavioral Approach System was expected to predict it positively. Results supported the latter two hypotheses, but unexpectedly found the FFFS-wellbeing relationship to be positive rather than negative. System practice was found to moderate only the BIS-wellbeing relationship: as practice time per week increased, so did wellbeing, particularly for higher-BIS practitioners. These results suggest that conflict between one’s reward and punishment motivation systems could undermine wellbeing. If so, then streamlining cognitive processes in behavioural choice-making might be more important to wellbeing than outright expressions of approach and avoidance behaviour. Put another way, there may be wisdom in the axiom that it is not the path one chooses which is important but only how one walks it. Keywords Wellbeing · Personality · Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory · Martial arts · Yoga · Self-cultivation
1 Introduction Pursuit of wellbeing is arguably one of the greatest drivers of human activity. It would seem almost counter-intuitive for this not to be the case, given that the concept of wellbeing tends broadly to refer to states of optimal development, flourishing, happiness, life satisfaction or otherwise leading a life worth living (Kono and Walker 2019; Mitchell et al. 2009; Ryan and Deci 2001; Sayler et al. 2015). Through the lens of the revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of personality developed by Gray and McNaughton (2000), the current study sought to examine the influence of individuals’ neurobiological predispositions on * Benjamin R. Walker [email protected] 1
Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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their subjective wellbeing, and how these relationships might be influenced by the practice of self-cultivation systems such as yoga and martial arts.
1.1 Quantifying Wellbeing The wide array of philosophical and psychological contexts in which wellbeing discourse occurs has often introduced challenges to collaborative interdisciplinary efforts to study it (Intelisano et al. 2019). Some authors have likened wellbeing to the biological concept of thriving which implies the vigorous growth, development and flourishing of an organism (Sayler et al. 2015). In this same context,
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