Life satisfaction
Encyclopedia
Life Satisfaction is the way a person perceives how his or her life has been and how they feel about where it is going in the future. It is a measure of well being. Life satisfaction has been measured in relation with economic standing, amount of education, experiences, and the location of people as well as many other topics. Many psychologists have researched this topic and found not only a lot of similar statistics but some that also break stereotypes people may have about how life should be. Seligman, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania uses a formula for happiness that encompasses the factors that go into general happiness. The formula is H = S + C + V. In this formula H stands for a person's enduring level of happiness, S is the set range (or biological boundaries), C is the circumstances of a person's life, and V are the factors under a person's voluntary control. Each of these will be discussed in further detail later on and will be reinforced with studies done by psychologists.
Life satisfaction is typically measured by a questionnaire - often a single question (e.g. 'All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?' from the World Values Survey
). Responses are usually on a scale out of 5 or 10, ranging from 'very dissatisfied' to 'very satisfied'.
According, to Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D, there is a Happiness formula, ( H = S + C + V). Happiness consists of, a set range which consists of the barriers to becoming happier, or also known as you biological capability to become happy. The C is noted for circumstances. This encompasses the many things one may go through in their life. It can also be related to the things one may be able to purchase that can make them happier. The last variable that play a role in the happiness equation are voluntary variales. This includes one's attitudes toward different things that occur. For example, those people who chose to be optimistic, rather than pessimistic will often have a better attitude and generally be happier.
Life satisfaction is typically measured by a questionnaire - often a single question (e.g. 'All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?' from the World Values Survey
World Values Survey
The World Values Survey is a global research project that explores people’s values and beliefs, how they change over time and what social and political impact they have. It is carried out by a worldwide network of social scientists who, since 1981, have conducted representative national surveys in...
). Responses are usually on a scale out of 5 or 10, ranging from 'very dissatisfied' to 'very satisfied'.
According, to Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D, there is a Happiness formula, ( H = S + C + V). Happiness consists of, a set range which consists of the barriers to becoming happier, or also known as you biological capability to become happy. The C is noted for circumstances. This encompasses the many things one may go through in their life. It can also be related to the things one may be able to purchase that can make them happier. The last variable that play a role in the happiness equation are voluntary variales. This includes one's attitudes toward different things that occur. For example, those people who chose to be optimistic, rather than pessimistic will often have a better attitude and generally be happier.
External links
- Subjective well-being: measuring subjective well being ISBN: 978-1456507572