Description
The right to "pursue happiness" is one of the dominant themes of western culture, and understanding the causes of happiness is one of the primary goals of the positive psychology movement. However, before the causality question can even be considered, a more basic question must be addressed: CAN happiness change? Reasons for skepticism include the notion of a "genetic set point" for happiness, i.e. a stable personal baseline of happiness to which individuals will always return, no matter how much their lives change for the better; the life-span stability of happiness-related traits such as neuroticism and extraversion; and the powerful processes of hedonic adaptation, which erode the positive effects of any fortuitous life change. This book investigates prominent theories on happiness with the research evidence to discuss when and how happiness changes and for how long.- Identifies all major theories of happiness- Reviews empirical results on happiness longevity/stability- Discusses mitigating factors in what influences happiness longevity
Table of Contents
1. Is it Possible to Become a Permanently Happier Person?Kennon M. Sheldon and Richard E. Lucas2. Well-Being: Heritable and ChangeableEspen Roysamb, Ragnhild Bang Nes, and Joar Vitterso3. Symptoms of Wellness: Happiness and Eudaimonia from a Self-Determination PerspectiveCody R. DeHaan and Richard M. Ryan4. Is Lasting Change Possible? Lessons From the Hedonic Adaptation Prevention ModelChristina Armenta, Katherine Jacobs Bao, Sonja Lyubomirsky, and Kennon M. Sheldon5. Can Happiness Change? Theories and EvidenceRobert A. Cummins6. National Panel Studies Show Substantial Minorities Recording Long Term Change In Life Satisfaction: Implications for Set-Point TheoryBruce Headey, Ruud Muffels, and Gert G. Wagner7. Does Happiness Change? Evidence from Longitudinal StudiesStevie C. Y. Yap, Ivana Anusic, and Richard E. Lucas8. Increasing Happiness by Well-being TherapyChiara Ruini and Giovanni A. Fava9. Long-Term Change of Happiness in Nations: Two Times More Rise Than Decline Since the 1970sRuut Veenhoven10. Set Point Theory and Public PolicyRichard A. Easterlin and Malgorzata Switek11. Economic Approaches to Understanding Change in HappinessNattavudh Powdthavee and Alois Stutzer12. Personality Traits as Potential Moderators of Well-BeingPatrick L. Hill, Daniel K. Mroczek, and Robin K. Young13. Statistical Models for Analyzing Stability and Change in HappinessMichael Eid and Tanja Kutscher14. Stable Happiness Dies in Middle-Age: A Guide to Future ResearchEd Diener
