The effect and mechanisms of self-transcendence values on durable happiness

People who prioritize caring for others (self-transcendence values) tend to experience durable happiness—a stable state of contentment and inner peace—whereas those focused on self-enhancement experience fluctuating pleasure and distress. The mechanism involves three paths: reduced defensive responses to self-threatening information, more socially engaging emotions such as empathy, love, and compassion, and increased prosocial behaviors. The authors propose further investigation of these mechanisms and recommend education in self-transcendence values to foster a healthy social mentality.

Study at a glance

Abstract

: Values play a guiding role during an individual’s development and values are closely related to well-being. If a person focuses egocentrically on self-enhancement values, the consequence may be fluctuating happiness in forms of the alternation of transitory pleasure and afflictive effects. In constrast, if a person endorses values of self-transcendence in terms of caring for the well-being of others, the outcome may be durable happiness, which is characterized by a state of enduring contentment and inner peace. As far as the mechanism is concerned, an individual who endorses on self-transcendence values displays fewer defensive responses to self-threatening information as well as experiences more socially engaging emotions such as empathy, love and compassion, and he or she also exhibits more prosocial behaviors. Overall, through these three paths, individuals who endorsed the values of self-transcendence may experience durable happiness. A variety of methods and means should be used to investigate the effect of values of self-transcendence on durable happiness. In addition, other potential mechanisms between the two variables can be studied. Also, education about values of self-transcendence should be carried out to cultivate a healthy social mentality.