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The Theory of Subjective Wellbeing Homeostasis: A Contribution to Understanding Life Quality

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Book cover A Life Devoted to Quality of Life

Part of the book series: Social Indicators Research Series ((SINS,volume 60))

Abstract

The Theory of Subjective Wellbeing Homeostasis forms part of the scientific legacy facilitated by Alex Michalos. The theory arose through conceptual overlap between physiological notions of homeostasis and understanding the remarkable degree of stability in subjective wellbeing data. This chapter summarises almost 20 years of research into this form of psychological homeostasis, outlining its theoretical and empirical basis, its predictive properties, and implications for applied research.

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Acknowledgements

I gratefully acknowledge advice from the following people on an earlier version of this chapter: Christine Baxter, Tanja Capic, Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Anna Lau, Mark Stokes, Adrian Tomyn, and Melissa Weinberg.

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Correspondence to Robert A. Cummins .

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Cummins, R.A. (2016). The Theory of Subjective Wellbeing Homeostasis: A Contribution to Understanding Life Quality. In: Maggino, F. (eds) A Life Devoted to Quality of Life. Social Indicators Research Series, vol 60. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20568-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20568-7_4

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