The Psychology of Quality of Life

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xx

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2. Introduction

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-2

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   2. Definitions and Distinctions

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 3-16

   3. Examples of Measures of Subjective Well Being

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 17-32

   4. The Motives Underlying Subjective Well Being

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 33-49

3. Inter-Domain Strategies

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 51-52

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   2. Bottom-Up Spillover

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 53-68

   3. Top-Down Spillover

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 69-76

   4. Horizontal Spillover

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 77-88

   5. Compensation

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 89-99

4. Intra-Domain Strategies

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 101-102

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   2. Re-Evaluation Based on Personal History

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 103-116

   3. Re-Evaluation Based on Self-Concept

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 117-134

   4. Re-Evaluation Based on Social Comparison

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 135-147

   5. Goal Selection

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 149-175

   6. Goal Implementation and Attainment

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 177-185

   7. Re-Appraisal

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 187-197

5. Inter/Intra-Domain Strategies

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 199-199

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   2. Balance

      • M. Joseph Sirgy

      Pages 201-213

6. Back Matter

   Pages 215-281

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The purpose of this book is to make an effort to bring together a body of research on the subjective aspects of quality of life ("subjective well being", "happiness", "life satisfaction", "perceived quality of life") by starting out with Wilson's (1968) theory of avowed happiness. I build on Wilson's theory by applying diverse but selected fmdings from the ever-burgeoning quality-of-life literature. Wilson's theory of happiness can be captured by two key postulates. These were summarised by Diener, Suh, Lucas, and Smith (1999). They stated that fulfilment of needs causes happiness, whereas the persistence of unfulfilled needs causes unhappiness. The degree of need fulfillment required to produce satisfaction depends on the adaptation level of the needs, which is influenced by past experience, comparisons with others, personal values, among others. Well, the literature on the subjective aspects of quality of life has grown by leaps and bounds since 1967. Diener (1984) and Diener et al. (1999) did a greatjob reviewing a small part of this voluminous and growing literature. But the literature remains quite fragmented. It needs synthesis and integration. Furthermore, the literature needs to answer the "so what" question. I make an attempt in this book to pull the literature together. I do so by providing a common theoretical language that serves to establish a nomological network.

• Evaluation
• happiness
• life satisfaction
• psychology
• quality of life
• subjective well-being
• well-being

From the reviews:

"The number of research papers about subjective aspects of the quality of life is increasing fast. … Sirgy succeeds in bringing synthesis and integration in the field. … The book is a rare combination of a self-help book and a review of the literature … . useful for anyone who would like to make a theory about subjective well being or who would like to write a serious self-help book. … offers the fundament for a real psychology of quality of life." (Ad Bergsma, Journal of Happiness Studies, Vol. 9, 2008)

• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, USA

  M. Joseph Sirgy

M. Joseph Sirgy is a personality/social/industrial psychologist who has written extensively on the subject of quality-of-life. He is the director of the Office of Quality-of-Life Measurement (OQOLM) and a professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the USA. He is also the executive director of the International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies (ISQOLS).

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