| Description |
xvi, 317 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Summary |
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. |
| Contents |
Is it possible to become a permanently happier person -- Well-being: heritalbe and changeable -- Symptons of wellness: happiness and eudaimonia from a self-determination perspective -- Is lasting change possible: lessons from the Hedonic adaptation prevention model -- Can happiness change: theories and evidence -- National panel studies show substantial minorities recording long-term change in life satisfaction: implications for set point theory -- Does happiness change: evidence from longitudinal studies -- Increasing happiness by well-being therapy -- Long-term change in happiness in nations: two times more rise than decline since the 1970s -- Set point theory and public policy -- Economic approaches to understanding change in happiness -- Personality traits as potential moderators of well-being -- Statistical models for analyzing stability and change in happiness -- Stable happiness dies in middle-age: a guide to future research. |
| Subject |
Happiness.
|
|
Happiness. (DNLM)D006240
|
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Happiness. (OCoLC)fst00951160
|
| Added Author |
Sheldon, Kennon M. (Kennon Marshall)
|
|
Lucas, Richard E. (Richard Eric), 1971-
|
| ISBN |
0124114784 |
|
9780124114784 |
|
9780128102497 (paperback) |
|
0128102497 (paperback) |
|
