{"id":37087,"date":"2018-02-03T06:00:58","date_gmt":"2018-02-03T14:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?p=37087"},"modified":"2018-01-25T09:30:02","modified_gmt":"2018-01-25T17:30:02","slug":"whats-the-difference-between-happiness-and-well-being","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/theory-of-well-being-elements-interventions-0203184","title":{"rendered":"Theory of Well-Being: Elements and Interventions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PersonSome of the founding fathers of psychology, including Sigmund Freud<\/a>, believed human motivation was based on a person\u2019s need to avoid anxiety. In the last few decades, a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist often saw it as their job to provide interventions or prescribe medications that help reduce anger, anxiety, or sadness (Seligman, 2012). Some would argue parents and teachers have taken on this role as well with their children or students\u2014minimizing negative emotions<\/a> rather than teaching people how to function well despite these emotions. Some people believe by minimizing negative emotions, one is free to achieve \u201chappiness<\/a>,\u201d which is what many people believe the goal of life should be.<\/p>\n

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Happiness theory, as it was originally defined, measured life satisfaction. The goal of this theory was to increase one\u2019s life satisfaction. The original author of the theory has since redefined his theory to encompass more than life satisfaction, noting that humans are more complex than one singular motivation. Well-being is now the focus of positive psychology<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Building Blocks of Well-Being<\/h2>\n

According to Seligman (2012), well-being involves five elements:<\/p>\n