《《eScholarship UC item 4v03h9gv》.pdf

Peer Reviewed Title: Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change Author: Lyubomirsky, S, University of California, Riverside Sheldon, K M, University of Missouri-Columbia Schkade, D, University of California, San Diego Publication Date: 06-01-2005 Series: UC Riverside Postprints Publication Info: UC Riverside Postprints, UC Riverside Permalink: /uc/item/4v03h9gv Additional Info: Copyright © American Psychological Association /journals/gpr/. This article may not exactly replicate the final version published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record. Keywords: happiness, well-being, set point, hedonic adaptation 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 persons 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. eScholarship provides open access, scholarly publishing services to the University of California and delivers a dynamic research platform to scholars worldwide.