Browsing by Author "Saarinen, Tanja"

The aim of this thesis was to understand the meaning of a concept Ecosocial Approach to Well-Being (EAW). It is a new holistic and multidisciplinary theory of well-being. This theory occurs in the latest Finland’s national curriculum. Besides studying the concept of ecosocial well-being the goal of this thesis is also to examine the relation between Home Economics and Ecosocial Approach Well-Being. There was drawn a comparison between the concept of EAW and theory of Human ecology which is one of the dominant theories within home economics field. The aim was not only to outline phenomenon within this concept and elements belonging to it but also to understand Home Economics as a disciplinary. A formal concept analysis was made to a concept Ecosocial Approach to Well-Being. The concept analysis helps to outline, understand and clarify the connection between concepts with similarities and to understand the lingual characteristics in concepts. In this thesis this similar concept was sustainable development. The model of concept analysis which was followed in this thesis includes examination of the concept and the chosen theoretic framework and finally connecting the results into the conversation of substance in disciplinary field. There were articles of EAW analyzed which were published in educational journals. The theoretic framework was mainly professor Turkki’s view on Human Ecology theory. According to analysis both the EAW and Human Ecology theory are based on system theoretical thinking. Both theories have a broad value basis, they are multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. Theories were connected with the aim to integrate factors to whole and the aim to secure good life. A person with ecosocial approach to well-being aspires for moderate sustainable lifestyle and he understands the interdependence between environment and other people. Everything is interdependent from the environment in this systemic wholeness where economics, human and ecology are united together. As a theory the EAW measures well-being and changes of it (Salonen & Konkka, 2015). Both the EAW and the Human Ecology theory strive for well-being which can be seen as a tension between one’s responsibility and liberty.