Abstract
The general characteristics and some possible implications of the distinction between cognition and affect in the perception of well-being are reviewed. It is posited that currently-used rating-scale indicators of perceived well-being differ only marginally in the extent to which they are compounds of both factors, and consequently variables that move differently and possibly strongly on the underlying factors will have only muted relationships with the indicators. Two kinds of secondary analyses of data from recent American Surveys are presented which support and amplify this hypothesis, along with some British data. The first kind focusses on the area of non-overlap between happiness and life satisfaction ratings by dichotomising and cross-tabulating the two indicators, and then observing what further variables change diagnostically between appropriate cells of the 2×2 table. Differential trends with age and education, barely discernible in straightforward correlations against the indicators now emerge strongly, along with further interesting differences for other outside variables, notably enjoyment-of-life, affect balance, income and personal competence. The second kind of analysis draws on data sets which include Bradburn's affect balance scales along with a range of global ratings of subjective well-being. The considerable variance in the global ratings which remains after the affect scales are partialled out, and allowance is made for correlated method effects, is attributed to cognition. Starting points are then explored for analysing the role of cognition and affect more exactly by means of path models which include the cognitive factor as an unobserved variable.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Bibliography
Abrams, M.: 1975, ‘Subjective measures of perceived injustices’. Paper presented at the Conference on Subjective Measures of Quality of Life, jointly sponsored by the British and American Social Science Research Councils, Cambridge, England, September 1975.
Anderson, L. R. and Fishbein, M.: 1965, ‘Prediction of attitudes from the number, strength, and evaluative aspect of beliefs about the attitude object’. J. Pers. and Soc. Psych. 3, pp. 437–443.
Andrews, F. M. and Crandall, R.: 1976, ‘The validity of measures of self-reported well-being’, Social Indicators Research 3, pp. 1–19.
Andrews, F. M. and Withey, S. B.: 1976, ‘Social Indicators of Well-being: Americans’ Perceptions of Life Quality (Plenum Press, New York).
Bortner, R. W. and Hultsch, F. D.: 1973, ‘Patterns of subjective deprivation in adulthood’, Development Psychology 10, pp. 534–545.
Bradburn, N. M.: 1969, The Structure of Psychological Well-being (Aldine, Chicago).
Brenner, B.: 1975, ‘Quality of affect and self-evaluated happiness’, Social Indicators Research 2, pp. 315–331.
Campbell, A.: 1976, ‘Subjective measures of well-being’, American Psychologist, pp. 117–124.
Campbell, A., Converse, P. E., and Rodgers, W. L.: 1976, The Quality of American Life: Perceptions, Evaluations, and Satisfactions (Russell Sage Foundation, New York).
Cantril, H.: 1965, The Pattern of Human Concerns (Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick, New Jersey).
Cherlin, A. and Reeder, L. G.: 1975, ‘The dimensions of psychological well-being’, Sociological Methods and Research 4, pp. 189–213.
Citrin, J.: 1975, ‘Political alienation as a social indicator’, Paper presented at the Conference on Subjective Measures of Quality of Life, jointly sponsored by the British and American Social Science Research Councils, Cambridge, England, September 1975.
Easterlin, R. A.: 1974, ‘Does economic growth improve the human lot? Some empirical evidence’, in P. A., David and M. W., Reder (eds.), Nations and Households in Economic Growth (Academic Press, New York).
Gurin, G., Veroff, J., and Feld, S.: 1960, Americans View Their Mental Health (Basic Books, New York).
Hall, J.: 1975, ‘The relationship between objective and subjective indicators of individual well-being: A linear modelling approach’, Paper presented at the Conference on Subjective Measures of Quality of Life, jointly sponsored by the British and American Social Science Research Councils, Cambridge, England, September 1975.
Hall, J.: 1976, ‘Subjective measures of quality of life in Britain; 1971–75. Some developments and trends’, Social Trends, No. 7. H.M.S.O. 1976.
Herzber, F., Mauser, B., and Snyderman, B. B.: 1959, The Motivation to Work (John Wiley, New York).
Joreskog, K. C.: 1969, ‘A general approach to confirmatory maximum likelihood factor analysis’, Psychometrika 34, pp. 183–202.
Joreskog, K. G.: 1970, ‘A general method for analysis of covariance structures’, Biometrika 57, pp. 239–251.
Joreskog, K. G.: 1973, ‘A general method for estimating a linear structural equation system’, in A., Goldberger and O. D., Duncan (eds.), Structural Equation Models in the Social Sciences (Seminar Press, New York).
Joreskog, K. G. and van, Thillo, M.: 1972, ‘A general computer program for estimating a linear structural equation system involving multiple indicators of unmeasured variables’, Unpublished research bulletin RB-72–56 (Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey).
Joreskog, K. G. and Sorbom, D.: 1976, ‘Lisrel III: Estimation of linear structural equations systems by maximum likelihood methods’, a Fortran IV Program (National Educational Resources, Inc., Chicago).
King, N.: 1970, ‘Clarification and evaluation of the two-factor theory of job satisfaction’, Psychological Bulletin 74, pp. 18–31.
Mason, R. and Fulkenberry, G. D.: ‘Aspirations, achievements and life satisfaction’, Social Indicators, in press.
Mc Kennell, A. C.: 1974, ‘Surveying subjective welfare: strategies and methodological considerations’, in Subjective Elements of Well-being, ed. by B., Strumpel (O.E.C.D., Paris).
Mikes, P. S. and Hulin, C. L.: 1968, ‘Use of importance as a weighting component of job satisfaction’, Journal of Applied Psychology 52, pp. 394–398.
Quinn R. P. and Mangione T. W.: 1972, ‘Evaluating weighted models of measuring job satisfaction: A Cinderella story’, Proceedings, 80th Annual Convention A.P.A.
Robinson, J. P. et. al.: 1969, Measures of Social Psychological Attitudes (Institute for Social Research, Ann Arbor, Michigan).
Rosenberg, M. U.: 1956, ‘Cognitive structure and attitudinal affect’, J. Abn and Soc. Psych. 53, pp. 367–372.
Strumpel, B.: 1974, ‘Economic well-being as an object of social measurement’, in B., Strumpel (ed.), Subjective Elements of Well-being (OECD, Paris).
Strumpel, B.: 1975, ‘Social indicators for planning the good economy’, Paper presented at the Conference on Subjective Measures of Quality of Life, jointly sponsored by the British and American Social Science Research Councils, Cambridge, England, September 1975.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mc Kennell, A.C. Cognition and affect in perceptions of well-being. Social Indicators Research 5, 389–426 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00352941
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00352941