The spatial contours of wellbeing: A content analysis of metaphor in academic discourse
Article
Lomas, T. 2018. The spatial contours of wellbeing: A content analysis of metaphor in academic discourse. The Journal of Positive Psychology. 14 (3), pp. 362-376. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2018.1450437
Authors | Lomas, T. |
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Abstract | In thinking and talking about wellbeing, people often deploy spatial metaphors, such as identifying positive and negative affect with ‘up’ and ‘down’ respectively. However, there has not yet been a systematic investigation of how wellbeing is represented through metaphor. To shed light on this topic, a content analysis was conducted of spatial metaphors in academic discourse on wellbeing, focusing on recent editions of two leading journals, the Journal of Positive Psychology, and the British Journal of Clinical Psychology. Across 28 papers, 54 spatial metaphors were identified, grouped into four main categories: verticality; horizontality; configuration; and dynamism. Above all, wellbeing is associated with interior expansiveness, with positive valence usually attaching to vertical metaphors of height and depth, horizontal metaphors of width and breadth, and configuration metaphors of size and growth. The analysis thus offers valuable insights into the subjective dynamics of wellbeing. |
Journal | The Journal of Positive Psychology |
Journal citation | 14 (3), pp. 362-376 |
ISSN | 1743-9760 |
Year | 2018 |
Publisher | Taylor & Francis |
Accepted author manuscript | License File Access Level Anyone |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2018.1450437 |
Publication dates | |
Online | 15 Mar 2018 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 16 Feb 2018 |
Deposited | 16 Mar 2018 |
Copyright holder | © 2018 Taylor & Francis. This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in The Journal of Positive Psychology on 15.03.18, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/17439760.2018.1450437 |
https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/848q4
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Accepted author manuscript
Lomas (2018) - Spatial contours of wellbeing (uploadable).pdf | ||
License: All rights reserved | ||
File access level: Anyone |
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