🥸intro to psychology review

key term - Life Satisfaction

Definition

Life satisfaction is an overall assessment of an individual's quality of life based on their own chosen criteria. It reflects the degree to which a person positively evaluates the overall quality of their life as a whole. This global judgment of one's life is a key component of subjective well-being and is closely tied to the pursuit of happiness.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Life satisfaction is a cognitive, judgmental process where individuals assess the quality of their lives based on their own unique set of criteria.
  2. Factors that contribute to life satisfaction include physical health, relationships, accomplishments, and the ability to find meaning and purpose.
  3. Research has shown that life satisfaction levels tend to be relatively stable over time, with individuals adapting back to a baseline level of satisfaction.
  4. Positive emotions, engagement in meaningful activities, and the pursuit of intrinsic goals have been linked to higher levels of life satisfaction.
  5. Cultural values, social norms, and individual differences can all influence an individual's standards for evaluating their overall life satisfaction.

Review Questions

  • Explain how the concept of life satisfaction relates to the pursuit of happiness.
    • Life satisfaction is a key component of the pursuit of happiness, as it reflects an individual's global evaluation of the quality of their life as a whole. The pursuit of happiness involves not just experiencing positive emotions, but also finding meaning, purpose, and overall satisfaction with one's life. Life satisfaction represents the cognitive, judgmental aspect of well-being and is a central part of the broader concept of subjective well-being and the pursuit of a fulfilling, meaningful life.
  • Describe how the hedonic treadmill can influence an individual's level of life satisfaction over time.
    • The hedonic treadmill refers to the tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative life events. This phenomenon can also impact an individual's life satisfaction, as people may initially experience a boost or decline in satisfaction following significant life changes, but then gradually adapt back to their baseline level of life satisfaction. This adaptation process can make it challenging for individuals to maintain high levels of life satisfaction, as they may become accustomed to their current circumstances and require increasingly positive events to maintain elevated satisfaction levels.
  • Analyze how cultural values, social norms, and individual differences can shape an individual's standards for evaluating their life satisfaction.
    • An individual's standards for evaluating their life satisfaction are heavily influenced by their cultural values, social norms, and personal characteristics. Cultural factors, such as the importance placed on material wealth, interpersonal relationships, or spiritual fulfillment, can shape an individual's priorities and the criteria they use to judge the quality of their life. Social norms within a person's community or peer group can also influence their expectations and perceptions of what constitutes a satisfying life. Additionally, individual differences, such as personality traits, life experiences, and personal goals, can lead to varying standards for evaluating life satisfaction, as people may weigh different aspects of their lives as more or less important. Understanding these contextual and individual factors is crucial for understanding the complex nature of life satisfaction.

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