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The Psychology of Everyday Life: Motivation and the Search For Happiness

The Psychology of Happiness

What is happiness?

How do we define happiness? Happiness can be defined as a mental state characterized by consistently positive emotions. Positive emotions can include curiosity, joy, contentment, excitement, interest, and/or pleasure. Life satisfaction is also considered in many happiness studies. Most researchers are more interested in the effects of chronic happiness, or the ongoing propensity to experience positive mood, than in the immediate effects of a momentary happy feeling.