Happiness: The Science of Subjective Well-Being

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the science of happiness and subjective well-being as discussed in the lecture.

Subjective well-being (SWB)

The scientific term for happiness and life satisfaction, indicating that one's life is going well.

Adaptation

The process by which individuals return to their baseline level of happiness after experiencing significant life events.

Life satisfaction

A person's evaluation of their life as a whole according to personal standards.

Negative feelings

Undesirable emotions such as depression, anger, and worry that individuals tend to avoid.

Positive feelings

Desirable emotions such as enjoyment and love that enhance subjective well-being.

Determinants of SWB

Factors that influence subjective well-being, including personality, social relationships, and environmental conditions.

Top-down influences

Internal factors such as personality and outlook that affect an individual's happiness.

Bottom-up influences

External factors such as life circumstances and events that impact subjective well-being.

Resilience

The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and maintain a positive outlook on life.

Materialism

A value orientation that emphasizes the importance of material possessions, which can negatively impact happiness.

Flourishing

The state of feeling meaning in life, having supportive relationships, and mastering important life activities.

Self-report scales

Surveys used to measure subjective well-being through personal ratings of happiness and life satisfaction.

Hedonic adaptation

The phenomenon where individuals become accustomed to pleasurable experiences and their impact on happiness diminishes over time.

Sociability

The tendency to seek and enjoy social interactions, often correlated with higher levels of happiness.

Influence of society

The impact that the social environment and culture have on an individual's level of happiness.