Credit score: Traits in Cognitive Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2025.04.002
New analysis means that psychological richness—a lifetime of perspective-changing experiences—might matter simply as a lot as happiness or which means.
For hundreds of years, students and scientists have outlined the “good life” in one among two methods: a life that’s rooted in happiness, characterised by optimistic feelings, or one that’s centered on which means, guided by function and private success. However what if there may be one other, equally beneficial path—one which prioritizes problem, change and curiosity?
This third dimension, which can lead to a extra psychologically wealthy life for some, is being explored in a brand new examine printed in Traits in Cognitive Sciences, led by College of Florida psychologist Erin Westgate, Ph.D., in collaboration with Shigehiro Oishi, Ph.D., of the College of Chicago. In line with their analysis, some individuals prioritize selection, novelty, and intellectually stimulating experiences, even when these experiences are tough, disagreeable, or lack clear which means.
“This idea came from the question: Why do some people feel unfulfilled even when they have happy and meaningful lives?” Westgate stated. “We found that what was missing was psychological richness—experiences that challenge you, change your perspective and satisfy your curiosity.”
Westgate and Oishi’s analysis exhibits {that a} psychologically wealthy life is distinct from lives outlined by happiness or which means. Whereas happiness focuses on feeling good, and which means is about doing good, richness is about pondering deeply and seeing the world in another way. And for a major minority of individuals world wide, that third path is the one they’d select—even when it means giving up happiness or which means.
A brand new method to consider the ‘good life’
In line with Westgate and Oishi, psychological richness is outlined as a life crammed with various, perspective-changing experiences—whether or not these are exterior, akin to touring or endeavor new challenges, or inner, like absorbing highly effective books or items of music.
“A psychologically rich life can come from something as simple as reading a great novel or hearing a haunting song,” Westgate stated. “It doesn’t have to be about dramatic events, but it can shift the way you see the world.”
Not like completely happy or significant experiences, wealthy experiences aren’t all the time nice or purposeful.
“College is a good example. It’s not always fun, and you might not always feel a deep sense of meaning, but it changes how you think,” Westgate stated. “The same goes for experiences like living through a hurricane. You wouldn’t call it happy or even meaningful, but it shakes up your perspective.”
Researchers in Westgate’s lab at UF have been finding out how individuals reply to occasions like hurricanes, monitoring college students’ feelings and reactions as storms strategy. The outcomes present that many individuals have seen these difficult experiences as psychologically wealthy—altering how they noticed the world, even when they did not get pleasure from them.
The roots of the concept
Whereas the examine is new, the idea has been years within the making. Westgate and Oishi first launched the time period “psychologically rich life” in 2022, constructing on earlier analysis and scale growth round 2015. Their newest paper expands the concept, exhibiting that the idea resonates with individuals throughout cultures and fills a spot in how individuals outline well-being.
“In psychology and philosophy, dating back to Aristotle, there’s been a focus on hedonic versus eudaimonic well-being—happiness versus meaning,” Westgate stated. “What we’re doing is saying, there’s another path that’s just as important. And for some people, it’s the one they value most.”
Whereas many individuals ideally need all three—happiness, which means and richness—there are trade-offs. Wealthy experiences usually come at the price of consolation or readability.
“Interesting experiences aren’t always pleasant experiences,” Westgate stated. “But they’re the ones that help us grow and see the world in new ways.”
Westgate hopes the examine will broaden how psychologists and the general public take into consideration what it means to reside properly.
“We’re not saying happiness and meaning aren’t important,” Westgate stated. “They are. But we’re also saying don’t forget about richness. Some of the most important experiences in life are the ones that challenge us, that surprise us and that make us see the world differently.”
Extra info:
Shigehiro Oishi et al, Psychological richness gives a 3rd path to a great life, Traits in Cognitive Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2025.04.002
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Psychologists introduce third path to ‘good life’—one filled with curiosity and problem (2025, July 18)
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