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Cited by 3,203Psychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionOptimism, Hope, and Well-beingAging and Gerontology Research

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 145 of the 151 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Pursuing Happiness: The Architecture of Sustainable Change

Lyubomirsky, Sonja, Sheldon, Kennon M., Schkade, David·2005·Review of General Psychology
DOI 10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.111
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Abstract

The pursuit of happiness is an important goal for many people. However, surprisingly little scientific research has focused on the question of how happiness can be increased and then sustained, probably because of pessimism engendered by the concepts of genetic determinism and hedonic adaptation. Nevertheless, emerging sources of optimism exist regarding the possibility of permanent increases in happiness. Drawing on the past well-being literature, the authors propose that a person's chronic happiness level is governed by 3 major factors: a genetically determined set point for happiness, happiness-relevant circumstantial factors, and happiness-relevant activities and practices. The authors then consider adaptation and dynamic processes to show why the activity category offers the best opportunities for sustainably increasing happiness. Finally, existing research is discussed in support of the model, including 2 preliminary happiness-increasing interventions.

Overview

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Crossref · 10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.111

Cites

145 of 145 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Citations

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

6 of the 151 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 22

  1. Aristotle, 1974, The Nichomachean ethics
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  3. 10.1037/0022-3514.36.8.917 · DOI
  4. Carlson R., 1997, You can be happy no matter what: Five principles for keeping life in perspective
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  6. 10.1037/0033-2909.95.3.542 · DOI · Paper page
  7. Diener E., 1999, Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology, 213
  8. Diener E., 1998, Annual review of gerontology and geriatrics: Focus on emotion and adult development, 17, 304
  9. 10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1040 · DOI
  10. 10.1037/0022-3514.84.2.377 · DOI · Paper page
  11. Frederick S., 1999, Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology, 302
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  13. Freedman J., 1978, Happy people: What happiness is, who has it, and why
  14. Frijda N. H., 1999, Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology, 190
  15. Kahneman D., 1999, Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology, 3
  16. Larsen R. J., 1999, Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology, 40
  17. Lichter S., 1980, New Zealand Psychologist, 9, 57
  18. 10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.56 · DOI
  19. Schwarz N., 1999, Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology, 61
  20. Seligman M. E. P., 1991, Learned optimism
  21. 10.1037/0022-3514.68.3.531 · DOI
  22. 10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1031 · DOI

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Metadata

Authors
Lyubomirsky, S., Sheldon, K. M., & Schkade, D.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Riverside (US)
  • University of Missouri (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
Corresponding author
  • Lyubomirsky, Sonja
  • Sheldon, Kennon M.
ORCID
Venue
Review of General Psychology
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2005-06
Volume
9
Issue
2
Pages
111-131
ISSN
  • 1089-2680 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1552
DOI
10.1037/1089-2680.9.2.111
OpenAlex
W2132638854
Semantic Scholar
e96c510d25e7be671c5e6d6b6450ed48efad8d58
Cited by
3,203
References
151
Citations by year
2026: 88 · 2025: 187 · 2024: 176 · 2023: 219 · 2022: 187 · 2021: 222 · 2020: 198 · 2019: 186 · 2018: 169 · 2017: 171 · 2016: 185 · 2015: 210 · 2014: 197 · 2013: 163 · 2012: 161
FWCI
67.02
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Review of General Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords
happiness, subjective well-being, genetic determinism, hedonic adaptation, happiness interventions, optimism

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