This book offers scholarly summaries of theory and research on topics at the frontier of the study of social psychological influences-including interpersonal relationships like friendship and romance-on subjective well-being and life satisfaction.

Part I: Foundational Issues 1. Subjective Well-Being and Life Satisfaction: An Introduction to Conceptions, Theories, and Measures James E. Maddux 2. Social Neuroscience of Subjective Well-Being and Life Satisfaction Alex W. daSilva and Todd F. Heatherton 3. Cultural Differences in Subjective Well-Being: How and Why William Tov and Ze Ling Serene Nai Part II: Interpersonal Influences 4. Intimate Relations, Subjective Well-Being, and Health Behavior: Insights from a Dyadic Perspective Chloe O. Huelsnitz, Alexander J. Rothman, and Jeffry A. Simpson 5. The Role of Friendships in Well-Being Beverley Fehr and Cheryl Harasymchuk 6. Leave Well Enough Alone? The Costs and Benefits of Solitude Robert J. Coplan, John M. Zelenski, and Julie C. Bowker 7. Forgiveness Everett L. Worthington, Jr., Brandon J. Griffin, and Caitlin Provencher 8. Humility Everett L. Worthington, Jr., Don E. Davis, Joshua N. Hook, and Caitlin Provencher 9. Helping and Well-Being: A Motivational Perspective David A. Lishner and Eric L. Stocks 10. Gratitude Philip C. Watkins and Daniel Schriebe 11. Social Comparison Processes Pieternel Dijkstra and Abraham P. Buunk 12. Social Media Use and Well-Being Jung-Hyun Kim 13. The Social Psychology of Employee Well-Being: A Needs-Based Perspective Nathan A. Bowling Part III: Intrapersonal and Self-Related Influences 14. Meaning in Life in Context Samantha J. Heintzelman 15. The Impact of a Materialistic Value Orientation on Well-Being Helga Dittmar and Megan Hurst 16. Religiosity, Spirituality, and Well-Being Joshua A. Wilt, Nick Stauner, and Julie J. Exline 17. Self-Presentation and Subjective Well-Being James M. Tyler, Katherine E. Adams, and Peter Kearns 18. Self-Awareness, Hypo-Egoicism, and Psychological Well-Being Mark R. Leary 19. Sexual Orientation and Well-Being Adam W. Fingerhut 20. Motives, Goals, and Well-Being Throughout the Lifespan Jutta Heckhausen and Joseph S. Kay Part IV: Strategies for Enhancing Subjective Well-Being and Life Satisfaction 21. Positive Activity Interventions to Enhance Well-Being: Looking Through a Social Psychological Lens Julia Revord, Lisa C. Walsh, and Sonja Lyubomirsky