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Psychological Maturity Predicts Different Forms of Happiness

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  • Andres Fossas

    (Harvard Extension School
    Back to Human)

Abstract

Are more mature people happier? Do they experience a different form of happiness? The current mixed-methods study explored these questions by recruiting 35 adults at different stages of adult psychological maturity as operationalized by Robert Kegan’s subject-object theory. Happiness was measured quantitatively in both hedonic and eudaimonic forms, and qualitatively as the structure of an adult’s conceptualization of happiness. Psychological maturity was measured with the subject-object interview. Quantitative findings revealed a curvilinear relationship between maturity and happiness, such that participants near the 4th stage of adult maturity (self-authoring mind) reported greater levels of happiness than those closer to the 3rd stage (socialized mind) and 5th stage (self-transforming mind). The qualitative findings suggest that participants at or near each of the three adult maturity stages described a structurally different form of happiness. Combined, the results suggest that: (1) happiness may change qualitatively as an adult matures psychologically; (2) extant quantitative measures of happiness may be inadvertently capturing one of several possible qualitative forms of the construct in adulthood. The implications for the current understanding of wellbeing, and its measurement, are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Andres Fossas, 2019. "Psychological Maturity Predicts Different Forms of Happiness," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 20(6), pages 1933-1952, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jhappi:v:20:y:2019:i:6:d:10.1007_s10902-018-0033-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10902-018-0033-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Edward Deci & Richard Ryan, 2008. "Hedonia, eudaimonia, and well-being: an introduction," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, January.
    2. Heidi Wayment & Bill Wiist & Bruce Sullivan & Meghan Warren, 2011. "Doing and Being: Mindfulness, Health, and Quiet Ego Characteristics Among Buddhist Practitioners," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 12(4), pages 575-589, August.
    3. Erik Carlquist & Pål Ulleberg & Antonella Delle Fave & Hilde E. Nafstad & Rolv M. Blakar, 2017. "Everyday Understandings of Happiness, Good Life, and Satisfaction: Three Different Facets of Well-being," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 12(2), pages 481-505, June.
    4. Veronika Huta & Richard Ryan, 2010. "Pursuing Pleasure or Virtue: The Differential and Overlapping Well-Being Benefits of Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 11(6), pages 735-762, December.
    5. Carol Ryff & Burton Singer, 2008. "Know Thyself and Become What You Are: A Eudaimonic Approach to Psychological Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 13-39, January.
    6. Ed Diener & Robert Biswas-Diener, 2002. "Will Money Increase Subjective Well-Being?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 119-169, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sollis, Kate & Yap, Mandy & Campbell, Paul & Biddle, Nicholas, 2022. "Conceptualisations of wellbeing and quality of life: A systematic review of participatory studies," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    2. Genevieve Sovereign & Benjamin R. Walker, 2021. "Mind, Body and Wellbeing: Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and Self-cultivation Systems as Wellbeing Influencers," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 1-20, January.
    3. Lars Bauger & Rob Bongaardt & Jack J. Bauer, 2021. "Maturity and Well-Being: The Development of Self-Authorship, Eudaimonic Motives, Age, and Subjective Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 1313-1340, March.

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