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Sonja Lyubomirsky - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Subjective Wellbeing, Psychology of
International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2015Co-Authors: Christina N. Armenta, Peter M. Ruberton, Sonja LyubomirskyAbstract:Although people have been intrigued by happiness for centuries, subjective well-being became a thriving topic of scientific inquiry only relatively recently, with the creation of valid and reliable well-being measures. Growing evidence suggests that happiness is associated with success in multiple domains, such as relationships, work, and health. However, objective life circumstances do not impact well-being as much as people believe, in part because of Hedonic Adaptation – one of the biggest obstacles in the pursuit of happiness. Fortunately, researchers have found that positive activities, like expressing gratitude or doing acts of kindness, can have a significant impact on well-being.
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Is Lasting Change Possible? Lessons from the Hedonic Adaptation Prevention Model
Stability of Happiness, 2014Co-Authors: Christina N. Armenta, Katherine Jacobs Bao, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Kennon M. SheldonAbstract:© 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Happiness seekers tend to focus on changing their life circumstances, such as buying a new house, switching jobs, or getting married. However, people have been found to adapt to both positive and negative life changes, such as marriage, job promotion, disability, and widowhood. This process-known as Hedonic Adaptation-can serve as a formidable barrier to achieving lasting happiness. The Hedonic Adaptation Prevention model outlines why people adapt to life changes and sheds light on how Adaptation to favorable events can be forestalled and how Adaptation to unfavorable events can be hastened. In this chapter, we focus on a positive change as the model's starting point, which is associated with an immediate boost in well-being and a gradual decline back to baseline. Individuals adapt to positive life changes due to increasing aspirations and declines in the number of positive events and emotions associated with the change. Fortunately, lasting happiness change is indeed possible, as Adaptation can be slowed or arrested in a number of ways, such as feeling greater appreciation for the good things in life and introducing greater variety.
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Money for Happiness: The Hedonic Benefits of Thrift
Consumption and Well-Being in the Material World, 2013Co-Authors: Joseph Chancellor, Sonja LyubomirskyAbstract:Thrift, a lifestyle of strategic underconsumption, offers a compelling alternative to consumerism, materialism, and overconsumption. Although thrift is often neglected in consumer research, under the right conditions, it confers a number of Hedonic benefits to its practitioners. First, we summarize decades of research on the surprising relationship between money and happiness. Next, we investigate three chief reasons that more money fails to produce more happiness (and can actually detract from it): affective forecasting errors, Hedonic Adaptation, and chronic overspending. Then, we discuss the meaning and history of practicing thrift, with an emphasis on how it contrasts with modern mindsets and habits. Finally, we draw from decades of research in social and consumer psychology to suggest ten ways that individuals can practice thrift in their daily lives—spending and consuming less, but becoming happier in the process.
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Making it last: Combating Hedonic Adaptation in romantic relationships
The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2013Co-Authors: Katherine Jacobs Bao, Sonja LyubomirskyAbstract:Is the waning of passion and satisfaction in romantic relationships inevitable, or can the honeymoon period be sustained? The Hedonic Adaptation Prevention model, which describes the mechanisms by which people adapt to positive life changes, posits that Hedonic Adaptation is a powerful barrier to sustained relationship well-being and suggests how to thwart it. In this paper, we apply the model to a new area of study – namely, intimate relationships. We explore the practices, habits, and activities that can increase the number of positive events and emotions in relationships, boost their variety, lower a couple’s entitled aspirations, and build their appreciation – all variables that can serve to slow Adaptation and increase well-being. Additionally, we discuss types of romantic relationships (e.g. long-distance relationships and unhealthy relationships) that may be relatively less susceptible to Hedonic Adaptation.
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The Challenge of Staying Happier: Testing the Hedonic Adaptation Prevention Model
Personality & social psychology bulletin, 2012Co-Authors: Kennon M. Sheldon, Sonja LyubomirskyAbstract:The happiness that comes from a particular success or change in fortune abates with time. The Hedonic Adaptation Prevention (HAP) model specifies two routes by which the well-being gains derived from a positive life change are eroded--the first involving bottom-up processes (i.e., declining positive emotions generated by the positive change) and the second involving top-down processes (i.e., increased aspirations for even more positivity). The model also specifies two moderators that can forestall these processes--continued appreciation of the original life change and continued variety in change-related experiences. The authors formally tested the predictions of the HAP model in a 3-month three-wave longitudinal study of 481 students. Temporal path analyses and moderated regression analyses provided good support for the model. Implications for the stability of well-being, the feasibility of "the pursuit of happiness," and the appeal of overconsumption are discussed.
Jeff Galak - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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When It Could Have Been Worse, It Gets Better: How Favorable Uncertainty Resolution Slows Hedonic Adaptation
Journal of Consumer Research, 2016Co-Authors: Yang Yang, Jeff GalakAbstract:Thankfully, most product consumption experiences are positive. Unfortunately, however, those positive experiences are not always guaranteed, and defects creep into the consumer experience. Though its assertion runs counter to most prescriptions, the current research proposes that exposing consumers to the mere possibility of negative experiences occurring in a consumption sequence increases consumers’ happiness with those experiences over time. Six studies demonstrate this effect and further show that it is driven by Hedonic responses as a result of favorable uncertainty resolution. That is, with the mere possibility of a negative experience, a consumer who actually experiences a positive outcome is likely to feel relief or pleasure from not having to experience the negative outcome. This research enriches existing literature on Hedonic Adaptation and uncertainty and has significant implications for consumer behavior.
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When It Could Have Been Worse, It Gets Better: How Favorable Uncertainty Resolution Slows Hedonic Adaptation
2016Co-Authors: Yang Yang, Jeff GalakAbstract:Thankfully, most product consumption experiences are positive. Unfortunately, however, those positive experiences are not always guaranteed to occur, and defects creep into the consumer experience. Though its assertion runs counter to most prescriptions, the current research proposes that exposing consumers to the mere possibility of these negative experiences, occurring in a consumption sequence increases consumers’ happiness with those experiences overtime. Six studies demonstrate this effect and further show that this effect is driven by Hedonic responses as a result of favorable uncertainty resolution. That is, with the mere possibility of a negative experience, a consumer, who actually experiences a positive outcome, is likely to feel relief or pleasantness from not having to experience the negative experience. This research enriches existing literature on Hedonic Adaptation and uncertainty and has significant implications for consumer behavior.
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Sentimental Value and its Influence on Hedonic Adaptation
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2015Co-Authors: Yang Yang, Jeff GalakAbstract:Sentimental value is a highly prevalent, yet largely under-studied phenomenon. We introduce the construct of sentimental value and investigate how and why sentimental value influences Hedonic Adaptation. Across seven studies, we examine the antecedents of sentimental value and demonstrate its effect on Hedonic Adaptation using both naturally occurring and experimentally manipulated items with sentimental value. We further test the underlying process linking sentimental value and Hedonic Adaptation by showing that whereas feature-related utility decreases for all items with time, sentimental value typically does not, and that sentimental value moderates the influence of the decrement in feature-related utility on Hedonic Adaptation. Moreover, this moderating effect of sentimental value is driven by a shift in focus from features of the item to the associations that item possess. We conclude with a discussion of related phenomena and implications for individuals.
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Sentimental value and its influence on Hedonic Adaptation.
Journal of personality and social psychology, 2015Co-Authors: Yang Yang, Jeff GalakAbstract:Sentimental value is a highly prevalent, yet largely understudied phenomenon. We introduce the construct of sentimental value and investigate how and why sentimental value influences Hedonic Adaptation. Across 7 studies, we examine the antecedents of sentimental value and demonstrate its effect on Hedonic Adaptation using both naturally occurring and experimentally manipulated items with sentimental value. We further test the underlying process linking sentimental value and Hedonic Adaptation by showing that whereas feature-related utility decreases for all items with time, sentimental value typically does not, and that sentimental value moderates the influence of the decrement in feature-related utility on Hedonic Adaptation. Moreover, this moderating effect of sentimental value is driven by a shift in focus from features of the item to the associations that item possess. We conclude with a discussion of related phenomena and implications for individuals.
Yang Yang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Sentimental Value and Its Influence on Hedonic Adaptation
2018Co-Authors: Yang YangAbstract:Sentimental value is a highly important and prevalent phenomenon in consumers’ daily life. However, sentimental value as a construct is under-researched. It has not been clearly defined in marketing and psychology. As a result, it is largely unknown what characteristics sentimental value has, and what its antecedents and consequences are. My dissertation aims to make theoretical contributions by 1) introducing the construct of sentimental value, defining sentimental value, and empirically verifying my definition; 2) examining whether sentimental value can be actively created at the stage of product acquisition, and 3) demonstrating that sentimental value is critically important for consumer happiness with well-being, because it influences the rate of Hedonic Adaptation to products. Building upon from prior work on philosophy, anthropology, and sociology, I define sentimental value as the non-feature-related value, derived from the associations with significant others or from the associations with special events or time in one’s life. I empirically verify this definition of sentimental value and show that it largely fits consumers’ lay understanding of sentimental value (Studies 1A and 1B). Next, I study an important consequence of sentimental value in the domain of Hedonic Adaptation, propose that sentimental value slows Hedonic Adaptation, and tests my theory in four studies. Study 2 tests the effect of sentimental value on Hedonic Adaptation using naturally occurring items and finds that people adapt more slowly to Christmas gifts than to Christmas purchases because the former have higher sentimental value. Studies 3A and 3B hold the items constant across conditions and replicate the slowing effect of sentimental value on Hedonic Adaptation. Study 4 experimentally manipulates sentimental value of an item in the laboratory and demonstrates its effect on Hedonic Adaptation over up to 9-month period. I then test the underlying process by showing that whereas feature-related utility decreases for all items with time, sentimental value usually does not (Studies 3-5), and that sentimental value moderates the influence of the decrement in feature-related utility on Hedonic Adaptation (Study 5). Consistent with our theory, I also find that the number of associations with a significant other or with a special event or time that an item carries determines the level of sentimental value and the rate of Hedonic adaption. My dissertation yields theoretical implications for understanding the construct of sentimental value and its relationship with Hedonic Adaptation. It also yields practical implications for imbuing consumer products with sentimental value.
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When It Could Have Been Worse, It Gets Better: How Favorable Uncertainty Resolution Slows Hedonic Adaptation
Journal of Consumer Research, 2016Co-Authors: Yang Yang, Jeff GalakAbstract:Thankfully, most product consumption experiences are positive. Unfortunately, however, those positive experiences are not always guaranteed, and defects creep into the consumer experience. Though its assertion runs counter to most prescriptions, the current research proposes that exposing consumers to the mere possibility of negative experiences occurring in a consumption sequence increases consumers’ happiness with those experiences over time. Six studies demonstrate this effect and further show that it is driven by Hedonic responses as a result of favorable uncertainty resolution. That is, with the mere possibility of a negative experience, a consumer who actually experiences a positive outcome is likely to feel relief or pleasure from not having to experience the negative outcome. This research enriches existing literature on Hedonic Adaptation and uncertainty and has significant implications for consumer behavior.
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When It Could Have Been Worse, It Gets Better: How Favorable Uncertainty Resolution Slows Hedonic Adaptation
2016Co-Authors: Yang Yang, Jeff GalakAbstract:Thankfully, most product consumption experiences are positive. Unfortunately, however, those positive experiences are not always guaranteed to occur, and defects creep into the consumer experience. Though its assertion runs counter to most prescriptions, the current research proposes that exposing consumers to the mere possibility of these negative experiences, occurring in a consumption sequence increases consumers’ happiness with those experiences overtime. Six studies demonstrate this effect and further show that this effect is driven by Hedonic responses as a result of favorable uncertainty resolution. That is, with the mere possibility of a negative experience, a consumer, who actually experiences a positive outcome, is likely to feel relief or pleasantness from not having to experience the negative experience. This research enriches existing literature on Hedonic Adaptation and uncertainty and has significant implications for consumer behavior.
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Sentimental Value and its Influence on Hedonic Adaptation
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2015Co-Authors: Yang Yang, Jeff GalakAbstract:Sentimental value is a highly prevalent, yet largely under-studied phenomenon. We introduce the construct of sentimental value and investigate how and why sentimental value influences Hedonic Adaptation. Across seven studies, we examine the antecedents of sentimental value and demonstrate its effect on Hedonic Adaptation using both naturally occurring and experimentally manipulated items with sentimental value. We further test the underlying process linking sentimental value and Hedonic Adaptation by showing that whereas feature-related utility decreases for all items with time, sentimental value typically does not, and that sentimental value moderates the influence of the decrement in feature-related utility on Hedonic Adaptation. Moreover, this moderating effect of sentimental value is driven by a shift in focus from features of the item to the associations that item possess. We conclude with a discussion of related phenomena and implications for individuals.
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Sentimental value and its influence on Hedonic Adaptation.
Journal of personality and social psychology, 2015Co-Authors: Yang Yang, Jeff GalakAbstract:Sentimental value is a highly prevalent, yet largely understudied phenomenon. We introduce the construct of sentimental value and investigate how and why sentimental value influences Hedonic Adaptation. Across 7 studies, we examine the antecedents of sentimental value and demonstrate its effect on Hedonic Adaptation using both naturally occurring and experimentally manipulated items with sentimental value. We further test the underlying process linking sentimental value and Hedonic Adaptation by showing that whereas feature-related utility decreases for all items with time, sentimental value typically does not, and that sentimental value moderates the influence of the decrement in feature-related utility on Hedonic Adaptation. Moreover, this moderating effect of sentimental value is driven by a shift in focus from features of the item to the associations that item possess. We conclude with a discussion of related phenomena and implications for individuals.
Richard E. Lucas - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Subjective Well-Being: The Science of Happiness and Life Satisfaction
The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, 2009Co-Authors: Ed Diener, Shigehiro Oishi, Richard E. LucasAbstract:This chapter reviews the scientific research on subjective well-being. Subjective well-being consists of a person's cognitive and affective evaluations of his or her life. First, the authors will provide a brief historical review of research on subjective well-being. Second, they will summarize the main measurement issues (e.g., the validity of self-reports, memory bias). Third, they will present the major theoretical approaches to this area of research (e.g., need and goal satisfaction theories, process or activity theories, genetic and personality predisposition theories). Finally, the authors will review current findings (e.g., Hedonic Adaptation, the effect of intervention, cultural variation) and suggest future directions for the study of subjective well-being.
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Long-term disability is associated with lasting changes in subjective well-being: evidence from two nationally representative longitudinal studies.
Journal of personality and social psychology, 2007Co-Authors: Richard E. LucasAbstract:Hedonic Adaptation refers to the process by which individuals return to baseline levels of happiness following a change in life circumstances. Two nationally representative panel studies (Study 1: N = 39,987; Study 2: N = 27,406) were used to investigate the extent of Adaptation that occurs following the onset of a long-term disability. In Study 1, 679 participants who acquired a disability were followed for an average of 7.18 years before and 7.39 years after onset of the disability. In Study 2, 272 participants were followed for an average of 3.48 years before and 5.31 years after onset. Disability was associated with moderate to large drops in happiness (effect sizes ranged from 0.40 to 1.27 standard deviations), followed by little Adaptation over time.
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Adaptation and the Set-Point Model of Subjective Well-Being Does Happiness Change After Major Life Events?
Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2007Co-Authors: Richard E. LucasAbstract:Hedonic Adaptation refers to the process by which individuals return to baseline levels of happiness following a change in life circumstances. Dominant models of subjective well-being (SWB) suggest that people can adapt to almost any life event and that happiness levels fluctuate around a biologically determined set point that rarely changes. Recent evidence from large-scale panel studies challenges aspects of this conclusion. Although inborn factors certainly matter and some Adaptation does occur, events such as divorce, death of a spouse, unemployment, and disability are associated with lasting changes in SWB. These recent studies also show that there are considerable individual differences in the extent to which people adapt. Thus, happiness levels do change, and Adaptation is not inevitable.
Katherine Jacobs Bao - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Is Lasting Change Possible? Lessons from the Hedonic Adaptation Prevention Model
Stability of Happiness, 2014Co-Authors: Christina N. Armenta, Katherine Jacobs Bao, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Kennon M. SheldonAbstract:© 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Happiness seekers tend to focus on changing their life circumstances, such as buying a new house, switching jobs, or getting married. However, people have been found to adapt to both positive and negative life changes, such as marriage, job promotion, disability, and widowhood. This process-known as Hedonic Adaptation-can serve as a formidable barrier to achieving lasting happiness. The Hedonic Adaptation Prevention model outlines why people adapt to life changes and sheds light on how Adaptation to favorable events can be forestalled and how Adaptation to unfavorable events can be hastened. In this chapter, we focus on a positive change as the model's starting point, which is associated with an immediate boost in well-being and a gradual decline back to baseline. Individuals adapt to positive life changes due to increasing aspirations and declines in the number of positive events and emotions associated with the change. Fortunately, lasting happiness change is indeed possible, as Adaptation can be slowed or arrested in a number of ways, such as feeling greater appreciation for the good things in life and introducing greater variety.
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Making it last: Combating Hedonic Adaptation in romantic relationships
The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2013Co-Authors: Katherine Jacobs Bao, Sonja LyubomirskyAbstract:Is the waning of passion and satisfaction in romantic relationships inevitable, or can the honeymoon period be sustained? The Hedonic Adaptation Prevention model, which describes the mechanisms by which people adapt to positive life changes, posits that Hedonic Adaptation is a powerful barrier to sustained relationship well-being and suggests how to thwart it. In this paper, we apply the model to a new area of study – namely, intimate relationships. We explore the practices, habits, and activities that can increase the number of positive events and emotions in relationships, boost their variety, lower a couple’s entitled aspirations, and build their appreciation – all variables that can serve to slow Adaptation and increase well-being. Additionally, we discuss types of romantic relationships (e.g. long-distance relationships and unhealthy relationships) that may be relatively less susceptible to Hedonic Adaptation.
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The Course of Well-Being in Romantic Relationships: Predicting Positive Affect in Dating Participants
Psychology, 2012Co-Authors: Katherine Jacobs BaoAbstract:People use different methods to make themselves happier, but their attempts at lasting happiness are often thwarted by the Hedonic Adaptation process. We examined changes in well-being over 8 weeks in participants who were involved in romantic relationships and those who were not. On average, both groups declined in well-being over time, but the relationship group experienced more positive emotions overall. High positive affect was predicted by higher aspirations, higher passionate love, and being in a same-ethnicity relationship. None of the variables we measured significantly predicted changes in positive affect over time, which may be due to the short duration of the study.