ABSTRACT
People's satisfaction with life and their particular desires and concerns vary over time. This chapter introduces the questions in their most general form, in relation to life satisfaction. It deals with a discussion of the kinds of people who are most satisfied with life and concludes by examining two theories that try to explain why people want what they want and why they are satisfied with what they get. The chapter focuses on showing that people's views about life vary in patterned, predictable ways. It explores the ways in which desires and satisfactions vary and look at theories about that variation. However, other important influences on life satisfaction also emerge when we examine variations from one country to another. Social position also influences people's life concerns. Psychologist Abraham Maslow put forward a central theory in the study of life satisfactions.
