5. ➔ Happiness is characterised by the
experience of more frequent
positive affective states than
negative ones as well as a
perception that one is progressing
toward important life goals (Tkach
& Lyubomirsky, 2006).
➔ Happiness is a positive emotional
state that is subjectively defined
by each person.
386,000 km
HAPPINESS
8. HEDONICHAPPINESS
• The hedonic approach focuses on happiness,
defining well-being in terms of pleasure
attainment and pain avoidance (Kahneman
et al., 1999).
• In the psychology literature the term
subjective well- being is used as a synonym
for happiness.
• Diener et al in 1984 defines subjective well-being
as a combination of positive affect ( in the
absence of negative affect) and general life
satisfaction ( that is subjective appreciation of
life's rewards).
9. In this view, then, happiness involves maximizing pleasure and
minimizing pain is the general thrust of hedonic view of happiness)
The idea of hedonic happiness dates back to the fourth
century B.C, by a Greek philosopher, Aristippus.
ORIGINOFHEDONICHAPPINESS
Psychologists who study happiness from a hedonic perspective,
conceptualizing hedonia in terms of "pleasures of both the mind
and body".
In American culture, hedonic happiness is often championed as the
ultimate goal.
10. Presence of
positive mood
Absence of
negative mood
Life
satisfaction
Componentsofhedonichappiness
If the appraisal is
positive for self a positive
emotion arises. Positive
emotions includes joy,
gratitude, serenity,
interest, hope, pride,
amusement, inspiration,
love.
If the appraisal is
negative for self then a
negative emotion arises.
Negative emotions
includes anger, shame,
contempt, disgust, guilt,
embarrassment, hate,
sadness, stress etc..
● An overall
evaluation of life
● Appraisal of life as
good or bad
● Comparison to self
- created standards.
11. Positive affect Negative affect Life satisfaction
Componentsofhedonicapproach
0 1
03
02
★ The degree to which a person experiences more
positive and less negative emotions determines
his or her happiness.
The scale that is widely used to measure positive
and negative affect is the Positive Affectivity and
Negative Affectivity Schedule (PANAS).
One of the more widely
used measures of life
satisfaction is the
Satisfaction with Life
Scale.
12. Researchfindings
● In a study of hedonic and eudaimonic behaviors, Henderson and colleagues
found that hedonic behaviors increased positive emotions and life satisfaction
and helped regulate emotions, while also reducing negative emotions, stress,
and depression and the eudaimonic behavior led to greater meaning in life and
more experiences of elevation, or the feeling one experiences when witnessing
moral virtue.
● Some psychological researchers who study happiness come from either a
purely hedonic or purely eudaimonic point of view, many agree that both kinds
of happiness are necessary to maximize well-being.
● The study indicates that hedonic and eudaimonic behaviors contribute to
well-being in different ways and therefore are both necessary to maximize
happiness.
13. This approach has the advantage of
not imposing on people a definition
of well-being developed by
psychologists.
Subjective well-being allows peopleto
judge for themselves whether they
are happy and satisfied, on the basis
of their own criteria.
MERITSOFHEDONICHAPPINESS
14. The hedonic pursuit of
happiness doesn't
necessarily contribute
to a person's overall
well-being. Becausesome
activities like
skydiving,can provide
momentary pleasure,but
they do not always
contribute towell-being
CRITICISMOFHEDONICHAPPINESS
Hedonic
approach is
considered as a
logical fallacy.
16. Though it is conceptually distinct and separable in research,
measures of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being show
substantial correlations.
Both perspectives seem to be reflected in what
people regard as essential elements of a good life.
ComplementarityandDifferencesbetween
HedonicandEudaimonicHappiness
17. DifferencesbetweenHedonicandeudaimonicHappiness:
● It focuses on personal
happiness and life
satisfaction.
● Based on Maslow’s theory,
Hedonic happiness exists
the lower half of the
pyramid (food,shelter and
sex).
● It focuses on personal
meaning, growth, and
positive functioning.
● Based on Maslow’s theory,
Eudaimonic happiness
reside in the top of the
pyramid ( where sense of
belonging and self-
actualization reside)
Hedonic and eudaimonic views of well-being express two broad themes within
positive psychology.
HEDONIC HAPPINESS EUDAIMONIC HAPPINESS
