Stability of Happiness: Theories and Evidence on Whether Happiness Can Change

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.

1. Is it Possible to Become a Permanently Happier Person? Kennon M. Sheldon and Richard E. Lucas 2. Well-Being: Heritable and Changeable Espen Roysamb, Ragnhild Bang Nes, and Joar Vitterso 3. Symptoms of Wellness: Happiness and Eudaimonia from a Self-Determination Perspective Cody R. DeHaan and Richard M. Ryan 4. Is Lasting Change Possible? Lessons From the Hedonic Adaptation Prevention Model Christina Armenta, Katherine Jacobs Bao, Sonja Lyubomirsky, and Kennon M. Sheldon 5. Can Happiness Change? Theories and Evidence Robert A. Cummins 6. National Panel Studies Show Substantial Minorities Recording Long Term Change In Life Satisfaction: Implications for Set-Point Theory Bruce Headey, Ruud Muffels, and Gert G. Wagner 7. Does Happiness Change? Evidence from Longitudinal Studies Stevie C. Y. Yap, Ivana Anusic, and Richard E. Lucas 8. Increasing Happiness by Well-being Therapy Chiara Ruini and Giovanni A. Fava 9. Long-Term Change of Happiness in Nations: Two Times More Rise Than Decline Since the 1970s Ruut Veenhoven 10. Set Point Theory and Public Policy Richard A. Easterlin and Malgorzata Switek 11. Economic Approaches to Understanding Change in Happiness Nattavudh Powdthavee and Alois Stutzer 12. Personality Traits as Potential Moderators of Well-Being Patrick L. Hill, Daniel K. Mroczek, and Robin K. Young 13. Statistical Models for Analyzing Stability and Change in Happiness Michael Eid and Tanja Kutscher 14. Stable Happiness Dies in Middle-Age: A Guide to Future Research Ed Diener