Approaches to Improving the Quality of Life: How to Enhance the Quality of Life (Social Indicators Research Series Book 42)

After measuring the Quality of Life and identifying the deficiencies in your community, what steps should you take to improve the Quality of Life? This volume reviews methods for improving the Quality of Life that are based upon improving each of the ten domains of the Quality of Life; steps to improve health, means of reducing environmental toxins, orientation to bring about better self-concept and mental health, and so forth. In short, enhance the social and physical environment and improve the Quality of Life. In each of the ten domains, steps are set forth for eliminating undesirable and debilitating features of the domain. Social change comes about by the application of devised steps. The process has been called ‘telesis’ and it can be defined as the application of intelligent, well-tested, interventions to being about improvement. In some cases it may effect change quickly and others may require a continuing process of adjustment and change. As a handbook for community workers, this volume provides a framework for intervention that could lead to a better tomorrow. Acknowledgements 7 Contents 8 Introduction 12 The Social Environment 12 Domains of the QOL 13 Positive and Negative 14 Subjective, Objective 15 QOL 15 Happiness 16 1 Survival of the Species 17 Factors Leading to Extension 18 Fertility 18 Factors Leading to Exhaustion 20 Suicide 20 Disease 21 Disasters 22 War 23 Genocide 23 Religious Conflict 24 Tribal Extinction 25 Family Violence 25 Conclusion: Factors Promoting Survival 26 2 Social Acceptance 27 Mental Health 27 Spiritual Experiences 28 Lower Mortality 29 Trends 29 Social System 29 Family 30 Child Socialization 30 Offspring Defects 30 Homosexuality 31 Teen Pregnancy 31 Friendship 32 Group Participation 32 Group Structure 33 Headaches 34 Leisure Time 35 3 Mastery 37 Free Markets 37 Income 38 Success 39 Poverty 40 Child Poverty 41 Materialism 42 Religion 42 Small Business Loans 42 Employment 43 Summary of Initiatives 44 4 Affective Autonomy 45 Role Behavior 46 Role Conflict 46 Emotion 46 Income and Happiness 47 National Income and Happiness 48 Happiness Concisely Considered 48 GSS Happiness 51 Age and Happiness 52 Opinions/Attitudes 52 Values and QOL 54 Motivation 54 The National Mood 55 Love 56 Summary of Initiatives 57 5 Intellectual Autonomy 58 Literacy 58 Education, Free Expression 59 Educating the Child 59 Flourishing 60 Creativity in Problem Solving 61 Working with Conflict: Written by Dr. Margaret S. Herrman 62 Suggestions for Confronting Positively 63 Conclusion 65 6 Harmony 66 Toxins 67 Land Pollution 67 Water 68 Global Warming 68 Meat 69 Other Energy Sources 70 Electricity 70 A Five-Step Plan 71 Urban Renewal 72 Humans Adapt 73 Summary of Actions Needed 73 Technology 73 7 Conservatism 75 Violence 75 Conflict 76 Poverty 76 Identity Theft 78 Criminal Justice System 79 Battered Women 81 Summary of Steps to Maintain Order 82 8 Hierarchy 83 Stratification 83 Social Class 84 Homelessness 85 The Lower Segment 86 Summary 87 9 Egalitarian Commitment 88 Civil Liberties 88 Southern Poverty Law Center 89 Bnai Brith International 90 Social Capital 91 Social Cohesion 93 Civil Rights 93 Reconciliation 94 Human Rights 95 Social Change and Anomie 96 Morality 97 Distributive Justice 97 Religious Radicalism 98 Summary of Initiatives to Improve QOL 98 10 Health 99 Socioeconomic Influences 100 Life Expectancy 101 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 101 Medical Technologies 102 Alternative Treatments 102 Mental Illness 104 Stress 106 Overweight, Obesity 106 Prevention 108 Alcoholism 109 Cigarettes 112 Exercise 114 Nutrition 115 Health Summary 117 11 Toward the Good Life in a Good Society 118 Values 118 Social Quality 119 Happiness 119 Peace 120 Security 120 Plagues and Pandemics 121 Religion 121 Demographic Growth 123 Social and Individual Factors 123 Self-destruction 123 Domestic Violence 124 Mental Health 124 Physical Health 124 Socializing the Child 125 Community and Neighborhood 125 Leisure Time 125 The Good Society 126 12 Interventions 127 Mukherjee 128 Community Forums on Social Indicators 128 Other Interventions 129 Southern Poverty Law Center 130 Anti-defamation League 131 Anti-materialism 132 Economic Policies 132 Buddhism 132 Hinduism 133 Confucianism 133 Christianity 135 Public Policies 136 The Mayo Clinic 136 The Government in Industrial Democracies 137 Foundations 137 Interventions 139 Organization and Policy 139 Interpersonal 140 References 141 Index 150 After measuring the Quality of Life and identifying the deficiences in your community, what steps should you take to improve the Quality of Life? This volume reviews methods for improving the Quality of Life that are based upon improving each of the ten domains of the Quality of Life. Steps to improve health, means of reducing environmental toxins, orientation to bring about better self-concept and mental health, and so forth. In each such area, steps are set forth for eliminating undesirable and debilitating features of the domain. Social change comes about by the application of devised steps. The process has been called "telesis". It is the application of intelligent, well-tested interventions to bring about improvement. In some cases it may effect change quickly and others may require a continuing process of adjustment and change. As a handbook for community workers, the volume provides a framework for intervention that could lead to a better tomorrow. After measuring the Quality of Life and identifying the deficiencies in your community, what steps should you take to improve the Quality of Life? This volume reviews methods for improving the Quality of Life that are based upon improving each of the ten domains of the Quality of Life. Steps to improve health, means of reducing environmental toxins, orientation to bring about better self-concept and mental health, and so forth. In each such area, steps are set forth for eliminating undesirable and debilitating features of the domain. Social change comes about by the application of devised steps. The process has been called 'telesis'. It is the application of intelligent, well-tested interventions to bring about improvement. In some cases it may effect change quickly and others may require a continuing process of adjustment and change. As a handbook for community workers, the volume provides a framework for intervention that could lead to a better tomorrow Front Matter....Pages i-xvii Survival of the Species....Pages 1-10 Social Acceptance....Pages 11-20 Mastery....Pages 21-28 Affective Autonomy....Pages 29-41 Intellectual Autonomy....Pages 43-50 Harmony....Pages 51-59 Conservatism....Pages 61-68 Hierarchy....Pages 69-73 Egalitarian Commitment....Pages 75-85 Health....Pages 87-105 Toward the Good Life in a Good Society....Pages 107-115 Interventions....Pages 117-130 Back Matter....Pages 131-150