Abstract
Veenhoven (1994) contrasted hypotheses of whether happiness is a trait or state, concluding that it is a state variable. This article critiques the conceptual foundation of Veenhoven's paper, and examines technical deficiencies in his review of evidence. Based on previous findings and new analyses, we conclude that happiness has both traitlike and statelike properties, but that individual differences in happiness endure despite its situational reactivity, and explain greater variance than situational effects.
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Stones, M.J., Hadjistavropoulos, T., Tuuko, H. et al. Happiness has traitlike and statelike properties: A reply to Veenhoven. Soc Indic Res 36, 129–144 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01079722
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01079722