Relying on the best available research methods in social science, combining controlled experiments with large-scale survey data, this initiative will address three main areas:

1: The GOOD LIFE as actual Experience:
Happiness and Quality of Life

Fundamentally, we will adopt a broad psychological perspective to understand the causes and consequences of what people experience as a “good life”.

This include several related key dimensions, such as happiness, life satisfaction, meaning in life, and psychological richness. We are using the terms “well-being” and “quality of life” to refer to the sum of these dimensions, where the research-based goal is to support positive development in any of them, or the overall quality of life, for everyone.

2: The good life in decision-making:
Morality, prediction, and choice

Second, we will study not only the drivers of happiness and well-being, but also how people think about the good life when making decisions.

This includes how people make moral judgments (what we ought to do, what is considered a good life in the first place, which well-being dimensions are most important); the connection between values and behavior; and how people make predictions about their future well-being (the future is always uncertain so good decisions require a prediction of long-term well-being after choosing option A over option B, and these predictions vary in how accurate or biased they are). That is, future expectations are important drivers, and sometimes powerful barriers, to happiness and quality of life.

3: The GOOD LIFE in Leadership and Policymaking

Third, we aim to inform citizens, leaders, and policymakers about what we have learned from the best available research on happiness.

Specifically, we will connect general research on happiness and quality of life with individual and social strategies for improvement, applications to organizations and work life, good and bad leadership practices, consumer decisions and welfare, and public health.