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Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change
S Lyubomirsky, University of California, Riverside
K M. Sheldon, University of Missouri-Columbia
D Schkade, University of California, San Diego
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ABSTRACT: The pursuit of happiness is an important goal for many people. However, surprisingly little scientific research has focused on the question of how happiness can be increased and then sustained, probably because of pessimism engendered by the concepts of genetic determinism and hedonic adaptation. Nevertheless, emerging sources of optimism exist regarding the possibility of permanent increases in happiness. Drawing on the past well-being literature, the authors propose that a person's chronic happiness level is governed by 3 major factors: a genetically determined set point for happiness, happiness-relevant circumstantial factors, and happiness-relevant activities and practices. The authors then consider adaptation and dynamic processes to show why the activity category offers the best opportunities for sustainably increasing happiness. Finally, existing research is discussed in support of the model, including 2 preliminary happiness-increasing interventions.
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REQUIRED PUBLISHER STATEMENT:
S Lyubomirsky, K M. Sheldon, and D Schkade,
"Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change"
(2005).
Review of General Psychology.
9 (2),
pp. 111-131.
Postprint available free at: http://repositories.cdlib.org/postprints/1692
Copyright © American Psychological Association http://www.apa.org/journals/gpr/. This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record.
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