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Some key differences between a happy life and a meaningful life
Open accessAbstract
Being happy and finding life meaningful overlap, but there are important differences. A large survey revealed multiple differing predictors of happiness (controlling for meaning) and meaningfulness (controlling for happiness). Satisfying one’s needs and wants increased happiness but was largely irrelevant to meaningfulness. Happiness was largely present-oriented, whereas meaningfulness involves integrating past, present, and future. For example, thinking about future and past was associated with high meaningfulness but low happiness. Happiness was linked to being a taker rather than a giver, whereas meaningfulness went with being a giver rather than a taker. Higher levels of worry, stress, and anxiety were linked to higher meaningfulness but lower happiness. Concerns with personal identity and expressing the self-contributed to meaning but not happiness. We offer brief composite sketches of the unhappy but meaningful life and of the happy but meaningless life.
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“The more people devote time to thinking about the past and future, the more meaning they attribute to their life in general (Baumeister, Vohs, Aaker, & Garbinsky, 2013).”
From The Psychology of Rituals: An Integrative Review and Process-Based Framework (2018) · cites this paper as Baumeister, Vohs, Aaker, & Garbinsky, 2013
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“Many scholars have argued persuasively that a meaningful life is not necessarily a happy one (Baumeister et al. 2013, King 2001, Ryff & Singer 2009).”
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“This sense refers to presence of meaning (a construct distinct from happiness; Baumeister et al., 2013).”
BackgroundProsocial behavior increases perceptions of meaning in life
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“The origins of eudaimonic well-being are thought to be more complex and are largely dictated by cultural context (Baumeister et al., 2013). Using survey and experimental methodology, Baumeister et al. (2013) found that hedonic wellbeing is linked to acquisition of core desires (both needs and wants) and focuses largel…”
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de Bellis, E., & Johar, G. V. (2020) · Journal of Retailing · doi:10.1016/j.jretai.2019.12.004 · Cited by 296
“Whereas certain types of experiences may not make one happy, they can nevertheless add meaning to one’s life (Baumeister et al. 2013).”
BackgroundMeaningful work as realization and justification
Lepisto, D. A., & Pratt, M. G. (2016) · Organizational Psychology Review · doi:10.1177/2041386616630039 · Cited by 298
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Self-citationSocial connectedness as a source and consequence of meaning in life
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“Finally, relative to intimate and relational connectedness, collective connectedness is more likely to have self-expressive and identity-building functions through its voluntary character, both of which are particularly important for achieving a sense of meaning in life (Baumeister et al., 2013).”
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“The two domains are functionally related in that social engagements provide a major source of purpose in life (Baumeister et al., 2013; Lambert et al., 2013; Stillman et al., 2009) and eudaimonic purpose can promote social engagement (Ryff, 2014).”
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“In contrast to hedonic happiness, people associate meaningfulness with giving rather than taking in relationships, enduring unpleasant experiences in pursuit of future goals, and reflect ing one’s ideal self [4].”
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VanderWeele, T. J., Trudel-Fitzgerald, C., Allin, P., Farrelly, C., Fletcher, G., Frederick, D. E., Hall, J., Helliwell, J. F., Kim, E. S., Lauinger, W. A., et al. (2020) · Preventive Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2020.106004 · Cited by 225
“In fact, different dimensions of psychological well-being very likely have different causes and different effects (Baumeister et al., 2013; Trudel-Fitzgerald et al., 2019).”
BackgroundLife Crafting as a Way to Find Purpose and Meaning in Life
Schippers, M. C., & Ziegler, N. (2019) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02778 · Cited by 235
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Waytz, A., Hershfield, H. E., & Tamir, D. I. (2015) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0038322 · Cited by 176
“…might operate differently (Mason et al., 2007), given evidence that constant mind-wandering— experiencing spontaneous lapses in attention— negatively predicts happiness (Killingsworth & Gilbert, 2010; although we also note that happiness is distinct from meaning in life; Baumeister et al., 2013).”
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“An empirical exploration of the differences between meaning and happiness suggested that happiness focuses more on the present whereas meaning links across time (Baumeister et al., 2013).”
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“Several meaning researchers emphasized the self-transcendent character of meaning [30, 99, 118], where serious involvement with things beyond oneself and one’s pleasure (e.g., rearing children, volunteer work) promote meaning [9], even if at the detriment to one’s happiness.”
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“It is driven by achieving one’s long-term goals or growth (Baumeister et al. 2013; Ryan and Deci 2001).”
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“There are reasons to think that the main difference between well-known conceptualizations of subjective well-being(12) or psychological well-being(13) on the one hand and meaning in life on the other is exactly the moral component in meaning in life.(8,14) Nurses have a broad view on health, as patients have.”
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“This inability to make sense and meaning of the life event, conflicts with the fundamental human need for understanding, coherence, and meaning (Baumeister, 1991; Baumeister et al., 2013; Frankl and Lasch, 1962; Heine et al., 2006; Schnell, 2009; Williams, 1984).”
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Milicev, J., McCann, M., Simpson, S. A., Biello, S. M., & Gardani, M. (2023) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-021-02309-y · Cited by 56
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“2008, 2011) and create meaning in lives (Baumeister et al. 2013).”
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“This is compensated, however, by an increase of meaningfulness, as shown by Baumeister et al. (2013).”
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dos Santos, R. M. (2020) · Brain Behavior & Immunity - Health · doi:10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100103 · Cited by 74
What brings meaning to life in a highly secular society? A study on sources of meaning among Danes
Pedersen, H. F., Birkeland, M. H., Jensen, J. S., Schnell, T., Hvidt, N. C., Sørensen, T., & la Cour, P. (2018) · Scandinavian Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1111/sjop.12495 · Cited by 73
Miao, M., & Gan, Y. (2018) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12416 · Cited by 73
Carnevale, M., Yucel‐Aybat, O., & Kachersky, L. (2017) · Journal of Consumer Behaviour · doi:10.1002/cb.1687 · Cited by 69
Hanson, R. (2016) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198754626.001.0001 · Cited by 75
Finding meaning in self-control: The effect of self-control on the perception of meaning in life
Stavrova, O., Pronk, T., & Kokkoris, M. D. (2018) · Self and Identity · doi:10.1080/15298868.2018.1558107 · Cited by 77
Kim, H. Y., & Lee, Y. (2019) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2019.1658375 · Cited by 65
“This is a valuable finding because making a consumer happy can be a profitable marketing strategy (Baumeister et al., 2013) Customization is a process of co-creation between consumers and companies, where the value comes from interaction with customers as a result of adding customer capabilities to the core competenci…”
BackgroundPeople search for meaning when they approach a new decade in chronological age
Alter, A. L., & Ersner-Hershfield, H. (2014) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1415086111 · Cited by 65
Self-employment, personal values, and varieties of happiness–unhappiness.
Warr, P. B. (2017) · Journal of Occupational Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/ocp0000095 · Cited by 66
Happy or liberal? Making sense of behavior in transport policy design
Mattauch, L., Ridgway, M., & Creutzig, F. (2015) · Transportation Research Part D Transport and Environment · doi:10.1016/j.trd.2015.08.006 · Cited by 69
Development of the Meaning in Life Measure
Hill, C. E., Kline, K. V., Miller, M. J., Marks, E., Pinto-Coelho, K. G., & Zetzer, H. A. (2018) · Counselling Psychology Quarterly · doi:10.1080/09515070.2018.1434483 · Cited by 70
Harris, V. W., Anderson, J., & Visconti, B. (2022) · Motivation and Emotion · doi:10.1007/s11031-021-09922-1 · Cited by 97
“Improved social engagement is an important predictor of well-being, life satisfaction, and happiness (Baumeister et al., 2013; Lambert et al., 2010; Rohrer et al., 2018).”
BackgroundSuffering a Healthy Life—On the Existential Dimension of Health
Binder, P. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.803792 · Cited by 63
“People who experience meaning in their life are also often the people who experience a certain amount of stress and worry (Baumeister et al., 2013).”
BackgroundSegar, M., Taber, J. M., Patrick, H., Thai, C. L., & Oh, A. (2017) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-017-4361-1 · Cited by 69
“This finding aligns with research suggesting that relationships constitute a deeply meaningful and influential aspect of living [32 – 34], and that feeling related is a fundamental human need and a requisite for well-being [12, 35].”
Poerio, G. L., Totterdell, P., Emerson, L., & Miles, E. (2015) · Consciousness and Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.concog.2014.12.011 · Cited by 75
“The idea that positive social interactions and interpersonal relationships are vital for well-being is well accepted (Baumeister et al., 2012; Diener & Seligman, 2002; Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010).”
SWB as a Measure of Individual Well-Being
Clark, A. (2016) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199325818.013.17 · Cited by 68
“Being asked whether you are happy with your life is perhaps more evaluative, whereas the experience of happiness yesterday is more of an affective Last, there are non hedonic/life-satisfaction measures, covering meaning, purpose and accomplishment, which are called eudaimonic measures.”
InfluentialPolitical engagement and wellbeing among college students
Ballard, P. J., Ni, X., & Brocato, N. (2020) · Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2020.101209 · Cited by 61
Creating meaning by taking initiative: Proactive work behavior fosters work meaningfulness
Fay, D., Strauss, K., Schwake, C., & Urbach, T. (2022) · Applied Psychology · doi:10.1111/apps.12385 · Cited by 83
Breyer, C., Heinonen, S., & Ruotsalainen, J. (2016) · Technological Forecasting and Social Change · doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2016.06.029 · Cited by 60
Crego, A., Bernabé, J. R. Y., Martínez, M. Á. G., & Karim, A. A. (2019) · Journal of Happiness Studies · doi:10.1007/s10902-019-00201-y · Cited by 63
Person–Environment Fit: Theoretical Perspectives, Conceptualizations, and Outcomes
Cooman, R. D., & Vleugels, W. (2022) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190224851.013.377 · Cited by 98
Metadata
- Authors
- Baumeister, R. F., Vohs, K. D., Aaker, J. L., & Garbinsky, E. N.
- Affiliations
- Florida State University (US)
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Stanford University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Baumeister, Roy F.
- Venue
- The Journal of Positive Psychology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2013-11
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 505-516
- ISSN
- 1743-9760 (ISSN-L)
- 1743-9779
- OpenAlex
- W1519128814
- Cited by
- 1,006
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 42 · 2025: 98 · 2024: 98 · 2023: 101 · 2022: 82 · 2021: 72 · 2020: 124 · 2019: 81 · 2018: 66 · 2017: 66 · 2016: 96 · 2015: 40 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 13
- FWCI
- 86.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- The Journal of Positive Psychology (publishedVersion)
- SSRN Electronic Journal (acceptedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Keywords
- happiness, meaningfulness, subjective well-being, predictors of happiness, need satisfaction, present orientation, stress, personal identity, self-expression
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