The Influence of Inner State on Self-Reported Long-Term Happiness

Abstract

No set of external variables or life events has been found to account for more than about 20% of an individual's reported long-term happiness. Therefore, this article considers lines of evidence suggesting that a large amount cf the variance is accounted for by inner, background conditions such as perception and response set-probably influenced by age and experience, and by more basic physical conditions, especially lack of fatigue. Happy moods are also associated with an hypothesized at-rest, background condition. Bringing that background state to the foreground might increase self-reported long-term happiness.