Wanting, having, and satisfaction: examining the role of desire discrepancies in satisfaction with income.
In 3 studies, the authors tested the predictors of income satisfaction, examining whether discrepanc between the things people have and the things they desire predict satisfaction. Study 1 manipulated the desirability of items that can be purchased with participants' income, and showed that their satisfaction with that income depended on the desirability of these items. Study 2 demonstrated that whether people's income enabled them to purchase the things they desired influenced their satisfaction with income. Study 3 found that the effect of comparisons with a person's past on income satisfaction is completely mediated by one's desires; and the effect of social comparison on income satisfaction is partially mediated by desires. Thus, desires play a pivotal role in determining people's satisfaction with income.
Solberg
Emily Crawford
EC
Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 61820, USA.
Diener
Ed
E
Wirtz
Derrick
D
Lucas
Richard E
RE
Oishi
Shigehiro
S
D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007182:Income; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012938:Social Perception