Life Satisfaction and Its 7 Contributors

Life satisfaction is a complex term and is sometimes used interchangeably with the emotion of happiness, but they are indeed two separate concepts. Life satisfaction is defined as one’s evaluation of life as a whole, rather than the feelings and emotions that are experienced in the moment.

  

What is life satisfaction?

And how does it differ from happiness?

Happiness is an immediate, in-the-moment experience, whereas life satisfaction is happiness that exists when we think about our lives as a whole, looking at the big picture.

This adds a little more clarity to the difference between the ideas of happiness and life satisfaction. It is not based on criterion that researchers deem to be important, but instead on your own cognitive judgments of the elements that YOU consider to be valuable.

Based on the research ‘The Study of Life Satisfaction’, quality of life is associated with living conditions, such as food, health, shelter, and so on (Veenhoven, 1996). By contrast, life satisfaction is defined as a state of emotion, like happiness or sadness.

We can also understand the theory of life satisfaction by using the PERMA model, introduced by Martin Seligman, the founder of positive psychology (Seligman, 2011).

In general, whatever level of satisfaction you are feeling, you can define and maximize your level of wellbeing if you choose which elements you want to engage in to flourish. Also, life satisfaction tends to be dependent on your emotional state.

According to Daniel Gilbert, professor of Psychology at Harvard University, the meaning of happiness is “anything we pleased” ( Gilbert, 2009). Our mood is always changing.

Contributors to life satisfaction

The sources of life satisfaction are not completely understood yet, but what is known, is that they are a complex combination of,

1. collective action
2. individual behaviour,
3. simple sensory experiences
4. higher cognition
5. stable characteristics of the individual
6. the environment
7. chance factors

as Ruut Veenhoven states in his study of life satisfaction.

Variance in satisfaction between nations has been studied; it has been shown that living conditions are a major determinant of life satisfaction. That is, economically prosperous countries tend to experience it more when compared to poorer nations.

The correlation between income and life satisfaction is higher in poorer countries compared to more affluent countries. Life satisfaction tends to be higher in egalitarian countries; people will experience less inequality and be able to choose lifestyles that best fit their abilities and desires where equality is more prominently displayed.

Education is an interesting point when studying life satisfaction. As pointed-out from the variance in satisfaction between nations resource, more highly educated countries generally experience higher levels of satisfaction, but with this education comes opportunity for aversive consequences: loss of previous opportunities that comes along with achieving such education, job competition, or even lack of jobs. That being said, those more educated tend to experience more favorable events compared to adverse events.

Variables such as mental and physical health, energy, extroversion, and empathy have all been shown to be strongly correlated to satisfied individuals, but it is sometimes hard to determine whether these are products or causes of life satisfaction.

Our past experiences undoubtedly effect the way we think about our lives in terms of satisfaction. Establishing a satisfying life for yourself is not decided only by circumstances; it is also influenced by the way you think about and relate to the environment around you.

Measuring your life satisfaction

Beginning in the 1960’s when it became a big topic of discussion in research, life satisfaction was originally thought to be measured objectively and externally; the same way measuring heart-rate or blood pressure would be. Since then, it has become evident that life satisfaction must be measured subjectively rather than objectively; techniques commonly used include, surveys, questionnaires, and interviews.

Measuring life satisfaction isn’t just a way to see how happy people are with their lives, it’s also a way of determining how unhappy they are. By adding another, positive point of view stemming from the individuals subjective experience, clinicians and researchers can analyze what makes people happy and what makes them unhappy.

The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), created by Ed Diener, has been one of the more applicable measurement tests of life satisfaction. It consists of five statements (e.g. The conditions of my life are excellent) to which the participant indicates their agreement. This assessment doesn’t specify explicit domains such as financial or health satisfaction; it allows subjective evaluation of life as a whole.

Can you feel more satisfied with your life?

Yes. If you are not as satisfied with your life as you would like to be, you can do things to change this. Things such as having friends, goals, and a life story are shown to increase ones life satisfaction. You can look more in depth at these here, along with a couple of other ways to feel more satisfied with your life.

Relationships among the people you love can influence how satisfied you feel with your life. For example, studies in Western societies have shown that the mere presence of children to married couples does not automatically increase your life satisfaction. Rather, the good (or bad) relationships built with these children will alter your evaluation of it.

Satisfaction with life scale

According to the research conducted on the validity of life satisfaction scales, one of the main measurements is based on preferences and values of people (Diener, Inglehart & Tay, 2013). Though we share the same world, we can barely share the same value since we experience things and view life differently.

To measure your own life satisfaction, you can take Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) here. It is a short 5-item instrument designed to measure global cognitive judgments with life. It takes just 1 minute to complete.

Practical advice

Income and education are shown to increase life satisfaction, but this is mainly because they are so highly valued in the world we live in today. Build relationships with loved ones, create achievable goals for yourself, and put yourself in situations where you can exercise your personal strengths and abilities; it will help you experience greater feelings of satisfaction. If you can do these things, you can benefit yourself and those around you.

What is Self-Determination Theory?

Self-Determination Theory (SDT) was developed by researchers Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan. This theory concerns with human motivation, personality and optimal functioning. Rather than just the amount of motivation, self-determination theory focuses on different types of motivation.

Since positive psychology deals with positive emotions and ways to nurture individual’s strengths, SDT is useful in merging a good amount of work in positive psychology.

SDT claims that people have three innate psychological needs which are considered as universal necessities. SDT also asserts that there are different approaches to motivation, and differentiates between different types of motivation.

3 Basic psychological needs

The hypothesis is that people have three basic psychological needs: competence, relatedness, and autonomy.

1. First, the need for competence means the desire to control and master the environment and outcome. We want to know how things will turn out and what the results are of our actions.

2. Second, the need for relatedness deals with the desire to “interact with, be connected to, and experience caring for other people”. Our actions and daily activities involve other people and through this we seek the feeling of belongingness.

3. Thirdly, the need for autonomy concerns with the urge to be causal agents and to act in harmony with our integrated self. Deci and Ryan stated that to be autonomous does not mean to be independent. It means having a sense of free will when doing something or acting out of our own interests and values.
   
   

Different types of motivation

Research has shown that the type or quality of motivation is more important in predicting successful outcomes than the amount of motivation. Deci and Ryan stated that there are two types of motivation: autonomous and controlled.

Autonomous motivation deals with intrinsic motivation and types of extrinsic motivation in which people integrated a value of an activity into their sense of self.

When people are autonomously motivated, they gain self-support and self-advocacy through their own actions. On the other hand, controlled motivation comprises both external and introjected regulation.

External and introjected regulation

In external regulation, an individual’s behaviour is “a function of external contingencies of reward or punishment”.

In introjected relation, the rule of action is somewhat incorporated within one’s self and is encouraged by various factors (e.g., approval motive, ego-involvements, etc.).

When people are controlled, they will have to act, think and feel in certain ways. Both types of motivation excite and instruct behaviours.

Basic needs and motivations

It is believed that the use of the needs for autonomy and competence are linked to our motivations. Deci conducted a study on the effects of extrinsic rewards on people’s intrinsic motivation.

Results showed that when people received extrinsic rewards (e.g., money) for doing something, eventually they were less interested and less likely to do it later, comparing to the people who did the same activity without receiving the reward.

The results were interpreted as the participants’ behaviour, which was initially intrinsically motivated, became controlled by the rewards which lead to undermined sense of autonomy. This concept is beautifully explained in the video by RSA animate that came by already.

What really motivates us?

In another research project, giving people positive feedback about their performance on an activity increased intrinsic motivation. Deci claimed that positive feedback can satisfy people’s need for competence and this can in turn enhance our intrinsic motivation. Positive feedback is seen as a social approval.

Due to our need for competence, we want to belong to and connect with other people. Since affection and verbal approval are not seen as a controlled stimulus, our intrinsic motivation tends to increase. You can read about these studies here.

Some research indicated the relationship between the need for relatedness and intrinsic motivation. However, this relationship seems to be less substantial than the relationship between intrinsic motivation and the need for autonomy or competence.

Self-Determination theory in the workplace

Over the last 40 years, research has continued to show support for SDT.  Research by Edward Deci, Richard Ryan, Daniel Pink, and others have shown how intrinsic motivation helps people perform work-related tasks efficiently and effectively (McDaniel, 2011).

Leaders who put SDT into practice create conditions in the work environment that aim to optimize employee motivation through 2 ways: autonomous motivation, that is doing a job because it’s intrinsically consistent with the employee’s values, and controlled motivation, that is doing a job because the employee feels pressured by other forces to do it.

Studies have also shown that the type of motivation that employees have matters more than how much motivation they have when leaders are trying to predict how an employee will be performing.

Rewards are extrinsic motivators, but it does not mean that it is harmful. It can be used appropriately without undermining intrinsic motivation. Rewards shouldn’t be used to control others or make employees dependent on external rewards.

Autonomous motivation should be the key factor to find in promoting SDT, as it more likely increases flexible thinking, high-quality learning, and problem solving (McDaniel, 2011). Employees also have great work satisfaction when fostering their intrinsic motivation (McDaniel, 2011).

Research on self-determination theory

Researchers have examined the relations among autonomous motivation, controlled motivation and goal progress. Three studies have been done and they showed that autonomous motivation is considerably related to goal progress, while controlled motivation is not.

In addition, the results also demonstrated that the effects of autonomous goals could be mediated by greater implementation planning. You can read more about those studies here.

The handbook of self-determination research serves as a great starting point if you want to understand the foundation of research that has been done into SDT.

The PERMA Model: A Scientific Theory of Happiness

Everyone seems to be in the pursuit of happiness nowadays. There are many ways to reach happiness though, including training your mind for happiness, spending money on others to promote happiness, and following the code to well-being and happiness.

Most of us think we know what happiness is, but what are the actual elements that promotes happiness within each of us? Seligman’s theoretical model of happiness (PERMA) helps us understand these elements and what we can do to maximise each element to reach a life full of happiness.

Seligman’s PERMA model

The PERMA model was designed by Martin Seligman with five core element of psychological well-being and happiness. Seligman believes that these five elements can help people reach a life of fulfillment, happiness, and meaning. This model can also be applied to institutions to develop programs to help people develop new cognitive and emotional tools.

P – Positive Emotion

This element of the model is one of the most obvious connection to happiness. Being able to focus on positive emotions is more than just smiling, it is the ability to be optimistic and view the past, present, and future in a positive perspective. This positive view in life can help you in relationships, work, and inspire you to be more creative and take more chances. In everyone’s life there are highs and lows, focusing on the lows increase your chances of developing depression therefore you should focus on the high and positive aspects of life. There are also many health benefits to optimism and positivity.

Distinguishing between pleasure and enjoyment is important in this element of the model. Pleasure is connected to satisfying bodily needs for survival; such as thirst, hunger, and sleep. Whereas enjoyment comes from intellectual stimulation and creativity, for example when a child completes a complex lego car that requires his concentration, he will be beaming with joy and satisfaction from his work. This type of positive emotion is needed, as when someone enjoys the tasks in their lives they are more likely to persevere and battle challenges through creative and alternative solutions.

E – Engagement

It is important in our lives to be able to find activities that takes our full engagement.  Engagement in the activities in our lives is important for us to learn, grow and nurture our personal happiness.

Everyone is different and we all find enjoyment in different things whether it’s playing an instrument, playing a sport, dancing, working on an interesting project at work or a even just a hobby. We all need something in our lives that entirely absorbs us into the present moment, creating a ‘flow’ of blissful immersion into the task or activity. This type of ‘flow’ of engagement is important to stretch our intelligence, skills, and emotional capabilities.

R – Relationships

Relationships and social connections is one of the most important aspects of life. Humans are social animals that thrive for connection, love, intimacy, and a strong emotional and physical interaction with other humans. Building positive relationships with your parents, siblings, peers, and friends are important to spread love and joy. Having strong relationships gives you support in difficult times.

In an interview with Dr. Mitch Printein’s about his course on the psychology of popularity, he mentioned that there has been research that show that pain centers in our brain becomes activated when we are at risk of being isolated. This is because in an evolutionary perspective, isolation would be the worse thing we could do for survival.

M – Meaning

Having a purpose and meaning to why each of us are on this earth is important to living a life of happiness and fulfillment. Rather than the pursuit of pleasure and material wealth there is an actual meaning to our life. Such meaning gives people a reason for their life and that there is a greater purpose to life. To understand the greater impact of your work and why you chose to pursuit that work will help you enjoy the tasks more and become more satisfied and happier.

Check out Itai Ivtzan’s Awareness-Meaning Therapy that helps people find profound meaning in themselves and their lives.

A – Accomplishments

Having goals and ambition in life can help us to achieve things that can gives us a sense of accomplishment. You should make realistic goals that can be met and just putting in the effort to achieving those goals can already give you a sense of satisfaction, when you finally achieve those goals a sense of pride and fulfillment will be reached. Having accomplishments in life is important to push ourselves to thrive and flourish.

How to apply the PERMA model in your life

Being aware of the PERMA model is the first step to applying this theory into you life. Keep referring back to the 5 elements of the model to help you apply it to each aspect of your life. Remember to think in a positive perspective at home and at work. Find the things that make you happy and can make you fully engaged, you could even put goals to achieving more and challenging yourself in the activities you enjoy. Focus on your relationships with your family and friends by finding ways to connect and enjoy eachothers company. Find the meaning to your life and what gives you a sense of purpose, it’s different for everyone.

Eudaimonia: Personal Happiness According to the Greeks

Eudaimonia (also known as Eudaemonism) is a Greek word, which refers to a state of having a good indwelling spirit or being in a contented state of being healthy, happy and prosperous. In moral philosophy, eudaimonia is used to refer to the right actions as those that result in the well-being of an individual. In this case, well-being becomes an essential value.

In a more literal sense, eudaimonia means to have a good guardian spirit. As the ultimate goal, eudaimonia is an objective state rather than a subjective state, which characterizes a well-lived life regardless of the emotional state of the one experiencing it. In a more general sense, eudaimonia can be perceived as any theory that places the personal happiness of an individual and his or her complete life at the core of ethical concern.

History of eudaimonism

Like other ancient thinkers, Socrates believed that human beings desire the state of eudaimonia more than anything else. However, Socrates believed that virtues such as justice, courage, self-control and wisdom were essential and, when practiced, sufficient to achieve eudaimonia. Virtue, he held, was a form of knowledge of both good and evil that is necessary to achieve the ultimate good (eudaimonia) desired by all human beings. (Read more on the ultimate good in the benefits of gratitude article)

On the other hand, Plato suggested that when an “evil” person does something that is wrong, the person is likely to feel guilty even when there is no fear for punishment for their actions. By doing what is wrong, the person will be miserable. To guide all desires and actions of an individual to eudaimonia, Plato noted that the rational part of the mind and or soul has to lead the emotional, appetitive and spirited parts.

aristotle's nicomachean ethics Aristotle on the other hand emphasized that eudaimonia is constituted by rational activities that are associated with virtue rather than power, honor or power. According to Aristotle, the rational activity has to be manifested as pride, wittiness, friendships that are mutually beneficial, pride and honesty among others. You’ll find more about this in our article on the APristotelian rinciple.

Hedonists, including Epicurus, agreed that eudaimonia is the highest good. Epicurus based this on pleasure, stating that pleasure is the only thing that human beings value for its own sake. As such, its presence or absence becomes something that is immediately apparent to every individual.

In the event that it would ultimately result in greater pleasure in the long term, Epicurus noted that it may be necessary to forgo a short term pleasure. However, Epicurus also noted that some pleasures were not worth experiencing since they only resulted in greater pains, while some pains resulted in greater pleasures, and are therefore worth having.

Although the stoics believed that eudaimonia was the highest good to some extent, they also believed that virtue is essential and enough for eudaimonia. Stoics also noted that a eudaimonian life is a morally virtuous life. As such, they insisted that a moral virtue is essentially good, while a moral vice is bad and anything else, including honor, health and riches, are simply neutral.

Immanuel Kant opposed the notion that happiness is the highest good. Instead, Kant emphasized happiness to be the ingredient of the highest good on the condition that it is deserved.

The Hedonic Treadmill: Happiness Throughout a Lifetime

The Hedonic Treadmill (also known as hedonic adaptation) is a theory that proposes that people stay at about the same level of happiness, regardless of what happens to them.

A little history

Two psychologists, Brickman and Campbell, first published something about this concept in 1971 with their essay, “Hedonic Relativism and Planning the Good Society,” via the New York: Academic Press. During the 70’s, the concept was known as hedonic adaptation. It was not until twenty years later that Michael Eysenck likened hedonic adaptation to that of a treadmill; a more modern and understandable example. Thus, the hedonic treadmill was born.

How hedonic adaptation works

The Hedonic Treadmill states that regardless of what happens to a person, their level of happiness will return to their baseline after the event. This does not mean that if you get promoted at work that you won’t celebrate or feel good.

Similarly, if the person that you’ve been romancing after agrees to be official, The Hedonic Treadmill does not say you will not be happy with that person.

Instead, applying the concept of the hedonic treadmill would be more like this. There is the initial spike in happiness, or sadness; however, as time goes on, the feeling of happiness or sadness caused by an event starts to dissipate. After some time has passed, you are back at the level of happiness that you were at before. (See graphic to the right for a visual)

A possible misattribution of this theory could be the relation of the amount of good things happening in a period of time and positive emotions that are experienced. If you’re fortunate enough to experience an abundance of positive events in a spaced out, but relatively short period of time, the constant influx of happiness may lead a person to believe that their general happiness has increased. However, that’s not what the research says.

Research

One of the most notable examples of the hedonic treadmill is a study that examined people who won the lottery for a large amount of money and victims in accidents that resulted in paralysis including quadriplegic and paraplegic victims.  In 1987, Brickman, Coates, & Janoff-Bulman published research, “Lottery winners and accident victims: is happiness relative?”

The researched revealed that, in the long term, neither group appeared to be happier than the other.  Of course, at first there were strong emotional reactions of happiness and sadness, respectively, but any long lasting effects from the lottery or the accidents were not typical.

Additionally, there was another study done that studied the lottery winners and a control group’s habits of buying lottery tickets. The follow up study was aimed at ensuring validity of the first study’s results.

To ensure validity, the researchers looked at the happiness levels of  the control and experimental groups and two other major explanations for the happiness levels between the control group and the winners.

Two explanations

The first alternate explanation is that it was not the effect of the lottery at all, but the propensity of lottery ticket buyers to be dissatisfied with everyday events. After all, the mundanity of life was enough to motivate them to partake in a potentially life changing wager.

However, the second reason shifts the focus. The second reason proposed that, it was how salient that the idea was made in the study. The experiment group knew fully that the purpose of the study focused on their winnings; whereas the control group was told that the study was on everyday life.

The conclusion was that the research published reinforced the first study. From comparing the happiness levels of the ticket buyers and non buyers, they found that there was no significant difference that would skew the results.

If you’re interested, you can read the research paper for a more in-depth view of the study, linked here.

One last thing that is important to note. The research was never found to be inconclusive or invalid; however, upon the creation of this article, it does not seem like this study has been replicated. As far as research goes, that does not mean that it is not valid, it just means that to be looked at with less skepticism, replications should be done.

Conclusion

The hedonic treadmill is the concept that people have the same happiness for life. Events in a person’s life do not play as big of a role as many originally thought. The Hedonic Treadmill applies more to long term happiness than short term happiness. Although there was a study done in the past, there seems to be a lack of research on this topic.