ABSTRACT

The quality of people’s relationships with and interactions with other people are major influences on their feelings of well-being and their evaluations of life satisfaction. The goal of this volume is to offer scholarly summaries of theory and research on topics at the frontier of the study of these social psychological influences—both interpersonal and intrapersonal—on subjective well-being and life satisfaction. The chapters cover a variety of types of relationships (e.g., romantic relationships, friendships, online relationships) as well as a variety of types of interactions with others (e.g., forgiveness, gratitude, helping behavior, self-presentation). Also included are chapters on broader social issues such as materialism, sexual identity and orientation, aging, spirituality, and meaning in life. Subjective Well-Being and Life Satisfaction provides a rich and focused resource for graduate students, upper-level undergraduate students, and researchers in positive psychology and social psychology, as well as social neuroscientists, mental health researchers, clinical and counselling psychologists, and anyone interested in the science of well-being.

part I|73 pages

Foundational Issues

chapter 1|29 pages

Subjective Well-Being and Life Satisfaction

An Introduction to Conceptions, Theories, and Measures
ByJames E. Maddux

chapter 2|18 pages

Social Neuroscience of Subjective Well-Being and Life Satisfaction

ByAlex W. daSilva, Todd F. Heatherton

chapter 3|24 pages

Cultural Differences in Subjective Well-Being

How and Why
ByWilliam Tov, Ze Ling Serene Nai

part II|215 pages

Interpersonal Influences

chapter 4|26 pages

Intimate Relations, Subjective Well-Being, and Health Behavior

Insights From a Dyadic Perspective
ByChloe O. Huelsnitz, Alexander J. Rothman, Jeffry A. Simpson

chapter 5|26 pages

The Role of Friendships in Well-Being

ByBeverley Fehr, Cheryl Harasymchuk

chapter 6|19 pages

Leave Well Enough Alone? The Costs and Benefits of Solitude

ByRobert J. Coplan, John M. Zelenski, Julie C. Bowker

chapter 7|20 pages

Forgiveness

ByEverett L. Worthington, Brandon J. Griffin, Caitlin Provencher

chapter 8|16 pages

Humility

ByEverett L. Worthington, Don E. Davis, Joshua N. Hook, Caitlin Provencher

chapter 9|26 pages

Helping and Well-Being

A Motivational Perspective
ByDavid A. Lishner, Eric L. Stocks

chapter 10|20 pages

Gratitude

ByPhilip C. Watkins, Daniel Scheibe

chapter 11|23 pages

Social Comparison Processes

ByPieternel Dijkstra, Abraham P. Buunk

chapter 12|19 pages

Social Media Use and Well-Being

ByJung-Hyun Kim

chapter 13|18 pages

The Social Psychology of Employee Well-Being

A Needs-Based Perspective
ByNathan A. Bowling

part III|157 pages

Intrapersonal and Self-Related Influences

chapter 14|18 pages

Meaning in Life in Context

BySamantha J. Heintzelman

chapter 15|26 pages

The Impact of a Materialistic Value Orientation on Well-Being

ByHelga Dittmar, Megan Hurst

chapter 16|18 pages

Religion, Spirituality, and Well-Being

ByJoshua A. Wilt, Nick Stauner, Julie J. Exline

chapter 17|37 pages

Self-Presentation and Subjective Well-Being

ByJames M. Tyler, Katherine E. Adams, Peter Kearns

chapter 18|17 pages

Self-Awareness, Hypo-Egoicism, and Psychological Well-Being

ByMark R. Leary

chapter 19|23 pages

Sexual Orientation and Well-Being

ByAdam W. Fingerhut

chapter 20|16 pages

Motives, Goals, and Well-Being Throughout the Lifespan

ByJutta Heckhausen, Joseph S. Kay

part IV|23 pages

Strategies for Enhancing Subjective Well-Being and Life Satisfaction

chapter 21|21 pages

Positive Activity Interventions to Enhance Well-Being

Looking Through a Social Psychological Lens
ByJulia Revord, Lisa C. Walsh, Sonja Lyubomirsky