Abstract
One notable concept that is of interest is a person’s state of optimal functioning. Achieving optimal functioning (e.g., subjective well-being at school), aside from personal autonomy, requires some form of “optimization.” Optimization, we argue, is more than just an “enhancement,” a “predictive effect,” and/or a “causal flow” between an independent variable (IV) and a dependent variable (DV). We note from existing literature that optimization has often been referred to without a clear, definitive explanation of what this term actually entails. At the same time, we acknowledge that unlike other areas of development (e.g., engagement), no theoretical article is available to explain the concept of optimization. This article considers a number of theoretical tenets for advancement: (1) the tenet of three major criteria that could assist in the explanation, assessment, and measurement of optimization, (2) the tenet of the development of a methodological conceptualization that could measure and assess optimization, and (3) the tenet of the “quantification” of optimization, and in particular, a proposed index of optimization and a corresponding scientific notation of “γ”, which we coin as an “optimizing effect.” Overall, we contend that this examination is insightful and holistic, seeking clarity into an important topical theme in psychology.
Highlights
One notable line of research in psychology that has recently received considerable interest is the operational nature of optimal functioning
Further to Fraillon’s (2004) brief description and Phan et al.’s (2017) subsequent conceptualization of optimization, we offer an expanded analysis where the sub-process of energization positively influences the operational nature of different types of psychological attributes that we perceive as being positive in nature
In formulating a quantitative derivative of this consideration, we recently proposed a theoretical concept, which we coined as the “index of optimization” (Phan et al, 2019a,b)
Summary
One notable line of research in psychology that has recently received considerable interest is the operational nature of optimal functioning. The enactment of optimization is likely to result in an enriched state of energy, strength, and liveliness, which would enable a person to engage in proactive functioning This complexity, we contend, is more accurately indicative of what occurs within the process of optimization. The selection, activation, and enactment of a specific optimizing agent (e.g., the use of hope as a psychological agent), in this case, depend upon the type of optimal functioning that a person is striving to achieve (e.g., optimal cognitive functioning in the area of mathematics)
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