The Motivation to Maintain Subjective Well-Being: A Homeostatic Model

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the homeostatic model for the motivation to maintain subjective well-being (SWB). Motivation arises from conditions that challenge the maintenance of SWB and is strongly linked with two aspects of the model: personality and needs. The general idea of the proposed homeostatic system is that SWB is managed, for each individual, within a set-point range. Each person has a built-in set-point for their normal level of SWB and their perceived SWB is normally held within a narrow range around this setting. At the level of individuals, homeostasis predicts that people who suffer some event that depresses their SWB below the threshold should improve their levels of SWB over time. It is found that, if the initial level of SWB fell within the normal range of values, improved extrinsic circumstances will not be reflected in higher levels of SWB. It is found that under extrinsic threat conditions, on the other hand, the control of SWB is predicted to shift, first, to the homeostatic system of buffers and then when homeostasis is defeated to the threatening agent itself, as it causes SWB to fall below its normal range.