The Unhappy Beliefs of Happiness: Investigating the Mechanisms Underlying the Links Between Negative Hedonic Beliefs and Diminished Well-Being

Yuri Kwon, Jongan Choi and Incheol Choi ()
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Yuri Kwon: Seoul National University
Jongan Choi: Kangwon National University
Incheol Choi: Seoul National University

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2024, vol. 25, issue 7, No 15, 23 pages

Abstract: Abstract In spite of extensive research that links the absence of pain with happiness, it remains puzzling why possessing beliefs equating the absence of pain with happiness (negative hedonic beliefs) undermine experienced happiness and what underlying mechanisms can explain this paradox. We conducted five studies to address these questions. The participants who had more negative hedonic beliefs exhibited decreased well-being, including subjective well-being and psychological well-being, alongside heightened depression and physical symptoms (Study 1a), an effect that persisted after controlling for behavioral inhibition/activation systems (Study 1b). Hypersensitivity to negative experiences, which reflects a reduced inclination to engage in negative experiences, even when positives exist, mediated the links between negative hedonic beliefs and poor well-being both cross-sectionally (Study 2) and longitudinally (Study 3). Moreover, the propensity to avoid negative experiences was observed in behavioral intention, primarily due to heightened anticipated negative affect when an event was manipulated to include negative aspects (Study 4). Together, the effort to eliminate negative experiences, as adhered to by individuals with negative hedonic beliefs, tends to prevent them from recognizing the potential benefits of unpleasant experiences, inadvertently depriving themselves of opportunities for the enhancement of their well-being.

Keywords: Lay belief; Happiness; Well-being; Negative experience; Hypersensitivity to negative experiences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-024-00804-0

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