Vitality: The Science and Effectiveness Behind It

Definition ↓   Ι   Origin of Concept ↓   Ι   Uses ↓

Given that it’s a colloquially used word in the English language, the word “vitality” itself has no mystical connotations. When one is said to have vitality, they are seen as strong, healthy, and full of energy. It is often thought of as a holistic quality encompassing more than just physical health, but also mental and emotional health. It has the connotation of one being younger and more full of life despite their age. This is not always seen as a function of how “energetic” a person one is, but more of an underlying, overall level of health and vigour.

Vitality, or the amount of energy one has available, is a well-known and practically useful indicator of motivation and well-being. Many experts say that self-controlled behavioral regulation causes one to lose vitality and energy; autonomous behavioral self-regulation does not.

When individuals make decisions and take actions based on their own beliefs, interests, and goals, they demonstrate autonomous behavioral control. Because their activities are consistent with their inner needs and goals, people who possess autonomy and intrinsic motivation feel more energized and alive. Autonomous behavioral control can be seen, for example, when someone exercises because he or she enjoys exercise and cares about his or her health (intrinsic motivation).

On the other hand, exercising because of external pressure from others is an example of self-controlling regulation of behavior. In this case, one is internally trying to conform to an external expectation or standard. Because the person must constantly evaluate and consciously regulate his or her behavior to meet the expectations of others or to achieve desired goals, this can often be draining. Another example of this is when someone studies for an exam out of fear of failing and upsetting their parents. Because of the constant external pressure and the need to overcome one’s own internal resistance, this type of motivation often results in stress and fatigue.

A growing body of experimental and field research also supports the notion that activities that satisfy basic psychological needs for relatedness, autonomy, and competence increase vitality and energy. In contrast, extrinsically goal-oriented lifestyles provide less vitality because they are less beneficial to need satisfaction.

Among the most famous was Hans Driesch who postulated something called entelechy drove many of the processes of life. At first, it seemed as if the development of cell theory and microbiology would confirm the vitalists, most notably by Louis Pasteur’s 1858 demonstration that life does not generate spontaneously.

However, by the 1930s, various discoveries such as many processes of organic chemistry had pushed vitalism out of favor in the biological community. This does not mean that the belief in vital energies died completely. This belief forms the base of many alternative medicine practices and new age beliefs.

It is important to separate their definition of “energy” from that of the physics community. Also, even though in new age thought, “vitality” can be used to refer to our life force, it is seen as an actual substance, whereas in the popular use “vitality” just refers to a quality describing a person.

When one views vitality as a synonym for the amount of vital energy one possesses, its possible role in our health becomes much more impactful. A wide range of alternative medicine practices are based upon the idea that our holistic health is directly linked to quality, quantity, and free movement of our vital energies. The root of many of our ailments, not just physical, but emotional, mental, and spiritual is a result of shortages of or blockages in our energy systems.

There are a wide-array of treatments based on this ideal. Reiki and other energy healing uses a no-contact method of manipulating one’s energy to help one’s body heal itself. Acupuncture or acupressure use needles or pressure through the finger upon various spots where our energy channels meet to help loosen up blockages and to relieve pain and stress.

Although many of these methods have been criticized by the scientific community, namely in that there has been little empirical evidence for the existence of a vital energy, many of these methods do show positive results in certain cases. Even practitioners of alternative healing practices recognize the potential power of the placebo effect in these cases (and some argue that the belief in a vital energy system can strengthen the effect of a placebo).

Ultimately, even by its colloquial meaning, vitality is more a function of how a person feels, and if these practices make one feel as if they have more energy, then that shows the role vitality may play in health.

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