ABSTRACT
This chapter shows how individuals experience their current life situation: how they are satisfied with it and how they feel that their life fulfills the wishes they have for their lives. These experiences have been described in different ways, for example as happiness and well-being. They form part of psychological functioning, which refers to the internal criteria for overall adaptation to life. Other indicators of psychological functioning include emotional and cognitive performance, spiritual experiences, and other existential aspects of life. The chapter discusses psychological functioning in the adult years in relation to individuals' personality characteristics. The concept of well-being refers to a good or satisfactory condition of existence; a state characterized by health, happiness, and prosperity. The psychological view refers to an individual's wishes to realize his/her inner voice for striving toward actualizing his/her potential and growth in an ethically respected way.
