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<p>Many researchers oppose the hedonic idea that wellbeing can be reduced to the maximization of positive affect (PA) and the minimization of negative affect (NA). However, few studies have investigated alternative optimal levels of affects other than maximized PA and minimized NA. This paper examines ideal levels of PA and NA, and their alignment as an alternative approach to wellbeing. Study 1 investigates people’s ideal levels of affects. In a randomized forced-choice experiment (<i>N</i> = 352, U.S.-based), most participants rejected a life without NA and idealized experiencing 10-13% NA and 66-80% PA across experimental conditions and two selfreported measures. Study 2 (<i>N</i> = 638, international sample) examines whether life satisfaction corresponds more closely to affective alignment than to affective maximization. Using piecewise regression, we found that PA was consistently and positively associated with life satisfaction. Lower NA was associated with higher life satisfaction only among those experiencing more NA than desired. For those already below their ideal NA level, further reduction was no longer related to life satisfaction. Crucially, participants whose experienced and ideal affects were aligned reported the highest life satisfaction, instead of the group with highest hedonic experience. Overall, our findings suggest that individuals feel most satisfied when their experience aligns with their ideal, rather than when maximizing hedonic experience. Furthermore, the alignment is more linked to life satisfaction than to wisdom or personal growth. All in all, maximizing PA and minimizing NA are neither desired nor associated with the highest life satisfaction.</p>

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Positively Negative: Why Negative Affect is Linked to Higher Wellbeing

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月28日

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  • Jinrui Liu,
  • Ragnhild Bang Nes,
  • Joar Vittersø,
  • Irene J. E. Teulings,
  • Espen Røysamb

摘要

Many researchers oppose the hedonic idea that wellbeing can be reduced to the maximization of positive affect (PA) and the minimization of negative affect (NA). However, few studies have investigated alternative optimal levels of affects other than maximized PA and minimized NA. This paper examines ideal levels of PA and NA, and their alignment as an alternative approach to wellbeing. Study 1 investigates people’s ideal levels of affects. In a randomized forced-choice experiment (N = 352, U.S.-based), most participants rejected a life without NA and idealized experiencing 10-13% NA and 66-80% PA across experimental conditions and two selfreported measures. Study 2 (N = 638, international sample) examines whether life satisfaction corresponds more closely to affective alignment than to affective maximization. Using piecewise regression, we found that PA was consistently and positively associated with life satisfaction. Lower NA was associated with higher life satisfaction only among those experiencing more NA than desired. For those already below their ideal NA level, further reduction was no longer related to life satisfaction. Crucially, participants whose experienced and ideal affects were aligned reported the highest life satisfaction, instead of the group with highest hedonic experience. Overall, our findings suggest that individuals feel most satisfied when their experience aligns with their ideal, rather than when maximizing hedonic experience. Furthermore, the alignment is more linked to life satisfaction than to wisdom or personal growth. All in all, maximizing PA and minimizing NA are neither desired nor associated with the highest life satisfaction.