ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the ways in which the rapidly growing field of wellbeing research, which is largely based within the disciplines of psychology and economics, focuses mainly on the psychological dimensions of wellbeing and, to a lesser extent, its social-structural dimensions. It presents some key thinking from other disciplines which suggest that certain contemporary cultural traits associated with modernity, such as materialism, consumerism and individualism, may be profoundly damaging to wellbeing at individual and social levels. The chapter considers the implications of Western-type consumer culture, and its apparently endless fixation with continued economic growth, for human wellbeing in the context of emerging global challenges such as climate change, peak oil and economic crisis. Through fieldwork conducted in Scotland, the chapter explores whether people perceived modern' culture as a significant factor in wellbeing, and if so, how they articulated and responded to such trends.
