When the Pursuit of Happiness Backfires: The Role of Negative Emotional Evaluation

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2021.1897869

Explanation

Recent research has shown that there are drawbacks to pursuing happiness, and that focusing on happiness can lead to lower levels of well-being.

However, this is not true for all approaches, and individuals who seek positivity in their daily lives are likely to experience higher levels of happiness.

This study investigated whether differences between these two approaches (valuing happiness versus prioritizing positivity) exist in how people deal with negative emotions.

The results showed that in two studies (n = 496), feeling pressured to avoid anxiety and depression was partially related to the relationship between valuing happiness and lower well-being, but this was not the case when positivity was prioritized.