HAPPINESS
Happiness is the overall sense of contentment and well-being. It is something that we experience in the present moment (Seligman &, 2000). There are three types of theories when it comes to happiness: (a) need/goal satisfaction theories; (b) process/activity theories; and (c) genetic/personality predispositions (Diener, Oishi, & Lucas, 2009).
Need/goal satisfaction theorists say that we are happy because we have accomplished our goals or because our needs have been met. However, should we put off feeling happy until we have finished that degree or lost thirty pounds? No. Even small goal achievement can lead to happiness. This is why we feel a sense of satisfaction and a relief of tension when we cross items off our To-Do lists.
The process/activity theorists say that participation in activities can make us happy. Have you ever been so engaged in an activity that you've lost sense of time? Have you sensed a singular focus when doing certain activities? Mihalyi ("Mike") Csikszentmihalyi (1990) called this experience "flow." He considered it an optimal experience. It doesn't matter if the activity is simple or complex, mental or physical - you can still experience flow.
Finally, the genetic/personality theorists see happiness as a stable trait within a person, as opposed to the need/goal satisfaction and the process/activity theorists who see it as always changing. People may be born with a certain temperament that helps them adapt to situations in a more positive way. However, these happiness set-points can be adjusted under some conditions. More research is needed to understand the link between personality traits and happiness (Snyder, Lopez, & Pedrotti, 2011).
Need/goal satisfaction theorists say that we are happy because we have accomplished our goals or because our needs have been met. However, should we put off feeling happy until we have finished that degree or lost thirty pounds? No. Even small goal achievement can lead to happiness. This is why we feel a sense of satisfaction and a relief of tension when we cross items off our To-Do lists.
The process/activity theorists say that participation in activities can make us happy. Have you ever been so engaged in an activity that you've lost sense of time? Have you sensed a singular focus when doing certain activities? Mihalyi ("Mike") Csikszentmihalyi (1990) called this experience "flow." He considered it an optimal experience. It doesn't matter if the activity is simple or complex, mental or physical - you can still experience flow.
Finally, the genetic/personality theorists see happiness as a stable trait within a person, as opposed to the need/goal satisfaction and the process/activity theorists who see it as always changing. People may be born with a certain temperament that helps them adapt to situations in a more positive way. However, these happiness set-points can be adjusted under some conditions. More research is needed to understand the link between personality traits and happiness (Snyder, Lopez, & Pedrotti, 2011).