Well-Being in the Arts and Crafts Sector

This chapter focuses on the studies referring to arts and crafts as non-professional activities, practiced within rehabilitation programs or during free time. Arts and crafts indeed represent two work sectors that may provide positive experiences similar to those associated with leisure activities. Compared to modern factory or office work, these professions impose fewer restrictions in goal setting and task performance, and provide opportunities for creativity and selfexpression. At the psychological level, this twofold structure of arts and crafts can be well explained adopting Gollwitzer's mindset theory of action phases in the process of goal pursuit. The theory proposes a distinction between deliberative and implementation mindsets, that operate through different cognitive processes. The spatial and social environments in which artists and craftsmen work also contribute to their experience. Studies conducted by economists showed that professional artists often work under severe objective conditions, such as low income and lack of regular employment.