Rethinking Meaningfulness Through a Cultural Lens: Lessons from Mohsen Joshanloo

What does it mean to live well—and does that definition change depending on where you’re from?

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew Soren is joined by Dr. Mohsen Joshanloo, a cross-cultural psychologist and social scientist based in South Korea. Mohsen’s research challenges dominant Western models of well-being and explores how culture shapes our experiences of happiness, autonomy, and purpose.

Grounded in both theory and global data, Mohsen shares how our understanding of "meaning" is not only culturally shaped but deeply connected to our motivation, mental health, and resilience.

The conversation also highlights implications for leaders and organizations: if we want people to find purpose in their work, we must first help them feel like they matter.

Key Takeaways:

• Autonomy and meaning look different across cultures—there is no one-size-fits-all model.
• Emotional happiness isn't everyone's highest goal; fear of happiness is real and often culturally influenced.
• Eudaimonic well-being (based on purpose, virtue, and contribution) can predict future emotional well-being more than the other way around.
• People who lack purpose often place more importance on money for evaluating life satisfaction.
• Leaders can foster purpose at work by creating environments where people feel valued and impactful.

Why This Episode Matters:

If you’re a leader, HR professional, or researcher, this episode offers new insights into cultural differences in well-being and how these impact motivation and satisfaction at work.

Resources Mentioned:

• Mohsen Joshanloo’s personal website
  • Featured Open-Access Research:Authenticity and Well-being
  • Aversion to Happiness
  • Culture and Well-being

About Our Guest:

Dr. Mohsen Joshanloo is a personality and cross-cultural psychologist whose research explores mental well-being, culture, personality traits, emotions, and xenophobia. With a global perspective, he integrates data from countries across six continents to challenge the Western-dominated narrative in psychological science. Mohsen advocates for a more inclusive, international approach by incorporating insights from non-Western cultural contexts.

He is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Keimyung University in South Korea and an Honorary Principal Fellow at the Centre for Wellbeing Science at the University of Melbourne. Through his work, he continues to expand our understanding of how different cultures define and pursue happiness, purpose, and well-being.