
Ilona Boniwell (ed.)
et al.
Published online:
01 August 2013
Published in print:
01 January 2013
Online ISBN:
9780191751035
Print ISBN:
9780199557257
Contents
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
31 Heaven on Earth: Beneficial Effects of Sanctification for Individual and Interpersonal Well-being
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
The Adaptation Theory/Set-point Theory Paradigm: Rise and Decline The Adaptation Theory/Set-point Theory Paradigm: Rise and Decline
-
Easterlin's U-turn Easterlin's U-turn
-
A Unique Dataset on Life Satisfaction: The German Socio-Economic Panel A Unique Dataset on Life Satisfaction: The German Socio-Economic Panel
-
Life Satisfaction Set-points—How Many Change and by How Much? Life Satisfaction Set-points—How Many Change and by How Much?
-
Life Goals and Religion Matter for Happiness Life Goals and Religion Matter for Happiness
-
Social Networks and Participation Social Networks and Participation
-
Highly Extraverted and Highly Neurotic Individuals are More Prone to Long-term Change Highly Extraverted and Highly Neurotic Individuals are More Prone to Long-term Change
-
Discussion Discussion
-
Acknowledgments Acknowledgments
-
References References
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Chapter
66 Set-Point Theory May Now Need Replacing: Death of a Paradigm?
Get access
Bruce Headey
Bruce Headey
Business and Economics, Melbourne Institute
Find on
Bruce Headey, Faculty of Business and Economics, Melbourne Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Pages
887–900
-
Published:01 August 2013
Cite
Headey, Bruce, ' Set-Point Theory May Now Need Replacing: Death of
a Paradigm?', in Ilona Boniwell, Susan A. David, and Amanda Conley Ayers (eds), Oxford Handbook of Happiness (2013; online edn, Oxford Academic, 1 Aug. 2013), https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199557257.013.0066, accessed 7 May 2025.
Abstract
This chapter contributes a unique review of analyses from an extensive longitudinal research data set that challenge the widely accepted “hedonic treadmill” theories. Life goals, religious beliefs and practices, as well as activity choices and personality types are proposed to change subjective well-being in either a negative or positive direction for the long term. Based on its critique of set-point theory and the associated Easterlin paradox the chapter calls for a new theory that better explains both changes in well-being and its stability over time.
Keywords:
subjective well-being, set-point theory, life goals, behavioral choices, German Socio-Economic Panel Survey
Series
Oxford Library of Psychology
Collection:
Oxford Handbooks Online
You do not currently have access to this chapter.
Sign in
Personal account
- Sign in with email/username & password
- Get email alerts
- Save searches
- Purchase content
- Activate your purchase/trial code
- Add your ORCID iD
Purchase
Our books are available by subscription or purchase to libraries and institutions.
Purchasing informationMetrics
View Metrics
Metrics
Total Views
97
78
Pageviews
19
PDF Downloads
Since 10/1/2022
Month: | Total Views: |
---|---|
October 2022 | 5 |
November 2022 | 1 |
December 2022 | 4 |
January 2023 | 2 |
February 2023 | 4 |
March 2023 | 4 |
April 2023 | 4 |
May 2023 | 4 |
June 2023 | 2 |
July 2023 | 7 |
August 2023 | 4 |
September 2023 | 7 |
October 2023 | 2 |
November 2023 | 2 |
December 2023 | 2 |
January 2024 | 5 |
February 2024 | 5 |
March 2024 | 2 |
April 2024 | 1 |
May 2024 | 4 |
June 2024 | 3 |
July 2024 | 1 |
August 2024 | 1 |
October 2024 | 1 |
November 2024 | 4 |
December 2024 | 7 |
January 2025 | 2 |
February 2025 | 2 |
March 2025 | 2 |
April 2025 | 1 |
May 2025 | 2 |
Citations
Altmetrics
Get help with access
Institutional access
Access to content on Oxford Academic is often provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. If you are a member of an institution with an active account, you may be able to access content in one of the following ways:
IP based access
Typically, access is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account.
Sign in through your institution
Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Shibboleth/Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institution’s website and Oxford Academic.
If your institution is not listed or you cannot sign in to your institution’s website, please contact your librarian or administrator.
Sign in with a library card
Enter your library card number to sign in. If you cannot sign in, please contact your librarian.
Society Members
Society member access to a journal is achieved in one of the following ways:
Sign in through society site
Many societies offer single sign-on between the society website and Oxford Academic. If you see ‘Sign in through society site’ in the sign in pane within a journal:
If you do not have a society account or have forgotten your username or password, please contact your society.
Sign in using a personal account
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.
Personal account
A personal account can be used to get email alerts, save searches, purchase content, and activate subscriptions.
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members.
Viewing your signed in accounts
Click the account icon in the top right to:
Signed in but can't access content
Oxford Academic is home to a wide variety of products. The institutional subscription may not cover the content that you are trying to access. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian.
Institutional account management
For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more.