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Happiness, Meaning, and Psychological Richness
Shigehiro Oishi1, Hyewon Choi2, Minkyung Koo3
1Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, 10027 Charlottesville, VA USA.
Affective Science
|August 31, 2022
Summary
People desire a psychologically rich life, not just a happy or meaningful one. This research explores psychological richness as a key component of a well-lived life.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Well-being Studies
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
Background:
- A good life is traditionally defined by hedonic (happiness) or eudaimonic (meaning) well-being.
- Psychological richness is proposed as a distinct and overlooked aspect of a desirable life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the concept of psychological richness as a component of a good life.
- To assess the prevalence of desiring a psychologically rich life across cultures.
- To examine the role of psychological richness in life regrets.
Main Methods:
- Study 1: A 9-nation cross-cultural survey assessing ideal life preferences (happy, meaningful, or psychologically rich).
- Study 2: Surveys of Americans and Koreans on life regrets and their potential impact on happiness, meaning, or psychological richness.
Main Results:
- In Study 1, 7-17% of participants ideally desired a psychologically rich life.
- In Study 2, 28% of Americans and 35% of Koreans felt reversing regrets would make their lives psychologically richer.
Conclusions:
- Psychological richness is a valued aspect of life for a significant portion of the population.
- This research establishes a foundation for further study into psychological richness as a dimension of a good life.
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