Abstract
Flourishing is often framed as the ultimate marker of personal well-being, associated with higher life satisfaction, productivity, and social engagement. However, this chapter challenges the assumption that flourishing universally leads to moral or prosocial behavior. While flourishing fosters hedonic (feeling good) and eudaimonic (functioning well) well-being, it does not inherently ensure ethical responsibility or altruistic social conduct. The key determinant, we argue, is moral centrality—the extent to which moral values are deeply embedded in an individual’s identity. Through four studies, we examine how moral centrality moderates the relationship between flourishing and social behavior. Findings reveal that individuals with high moral centrality experience flourishing in ways that reinforce empathy, integrity, and ethical decision-making. In contrast, individuals with low moral centrality may pursue flourishing in self-serving ways, engaging in behavior that prioritizes personal gain without regard for ethical consequences. This challenges prior research that assumes flourishing inherently promotes virtue and urges scholars to reconsider the assumed link between personal well-being and moral responsibility. These insights carry profound implications for leadership and organizational culture. Flourishing is often encouraged in workplaces to enhance motivation and productivity, but when pursued without moral grounding, it may foster ego-driven ambition at the expense of ethical accountability. Organizations must ensure that personal success aligns with collective responsibility, cultivating a work environment where flourishing serves not just individual advancement but the ethical integrity of leadership and business practices.