title: Training for happiness: the impacts of different positive exercises on hedonism and eudaemonia.
abstract: Theoretical conceptions on happiness have generally considered two broad perspectives: hedonic enjoyment and eudaemonia. However, most research on how to improve people's happiness has focused primarily on the enhancement of hedonic happiness. In this longitudinal experimental study we test the differential impact of two positive exercises-Best Possible Selves and the Lottery Question-on hedonic and eudaemonic happiness. The hypothesis that the practice of the Best Possible Selves exercise would increase hedonic happiness was confirmed. This effect was immediate and maintained a week after the exercise. Furthermore, this exercise also increased eudaemonic happiness. However, its effect decreased after a week. Contrary to what was expected the Lottery Question exercise decreased both eudaemonic happiness and hedonic happiness over time. We discuss implications of this study for the literature on positive psychological and behavioral interventions to increase happiness.
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Political Sciences, Lisbon University, Rua Almerindo Lessa, 1300-663 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Miguel Pereira
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7720-8657
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Political Sciences, Lisbon University, Rua Almerindo Lessa, 1300-663 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Patricia Jardim
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: da Palma
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Political Sciences, Lisbon University, Rua Almerindo Lessa, 1300-663 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Bruno Cardoso
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Political Sciences, Lisbon University, Rua Almerindo Lessa, 1300-663 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gomes
keywords: Eudaemonia; Experimental; Happiness; Hedonic enjoyment; Positive exercise