Mapping Human Flourishing

Human flourishing has become a prominent yet conceptually contested theme across theology, psychology, and the wider humanities. This article brings greater clarity to contemporary integrative discussions by outlining the conceptual and methodological conditions necessary for rigorous interdisciplinary work. By tra-cing major theological and positive psychological accounts of flourishing, the study highlights shared themes - such as virtue, character formation, and growth through adversity - while also examining areas of divergence, particularly around teleology, normativity, and the paradoxical dimensions of flourishing within Christian theology. Because theological engagement with psychological science requires a basic grasp of construct theory, empirical methods, and current methodological reforms, the article argues that integration must proceed with careful attention to how concepts are translated into constructs and operationalized. The study proposes a model of bidirectional refinement in which theology offers normative and teleological depth, while psychology contributes tools for construct development, measurement, and empirical testing. It concludes by commending an integrative partnership marked by conceptual clarity, empirical rigour, and relational humility.