Capability Approach vs. Psychological Wellbeing | Vibepedia

The Capability Approach frames human flourishing not by utility or resources, but by the substantive freedoms individuals have to achieve valued 'functionings' (beings and doings). Psychological wellbeing, conversely, often focuses on subjective experiences like happiness, life satisfaction, and positive affect. While both aim to understand and enhance human lives, they diverge significantly: the Capability Approach emphasizes objective opportunities and freedoms, viewing wellbeing as a consequence of expanded capabilities, whereas psychological wellbeing prioritizes internal states and subjective feelings. The debate lies in whether true flourishing is best captured by the objective expansion of what people *can do* or by their subjective *feeling* of contentment and happiness. This distinction has profound implications for policy, development economics, and individual pursuit of a good life, with the Capability Approach pushing for structural changes that enable opportunities, while psychological wellbeing research often targets interventions to improve internal states.