Self and Emotions: Implications for Well-Being

More than two millennia ago Lord Buddha had observed, “what we think, we become.” While he was not a psychologist in modern sense of the term, his observation has a strong bearing for contemporary psychological theory and practice. The contents of our thoughts are powerful determinants of various life outcomes such as happiness, health, and well-being. In fact, psychology is now flooded with evidence from all corners that the potential of being self-conscious and being able to direct our attention toward ourselves as an object has strong implications for the way we feel, think, and act. A major direction of enquiry in this area has been the research related to two different models of self-construal – independent vs. interdependent self. This chapter explores how these differing cultural models emphasize different aspects of self-construal and how they are connected to the experiences of positive and negative affect, emotions, and well-being. Finally, the outcomes of differential patterns of emotional engagement for happiness and well-being are delineated.