Hedonic goal pursuit - Determinants and consequences of the successful pursuit of pleasure

Project 4: Hedonic goal pursuit - Determinants and consequences of the successful pursuit of pleasure

Self-control enables people to focus their behavior on important, long-term goals (e.g. go running to stay fit) and to protect them from the influence of conflicting, hedonic goals (e.g. relaxing on the couch). Research has shown that this ability has many positive consequences and is, for instance, positively related to well-being. But also the successful pursuit of hedonic goals can be difficult and can be disturbed by conflicting, long-term goals (e.g. in the form of intrusive thoughts). To investigate this hypothesis, we developed a scale to measure the capacity to pursue hedonic goals. In an SNF-funded research project (Grant Nr: 10001C_197635), we investigate the underlying mechanisms of this capacity as well as its consequences in the areas of well-being, health and performance.

Dr. Katharina Bernecker

Aiste Guobyte, M.Sc.

Dr. Daniela Becker, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

Bernecker, K. & Becker, D. (under revision). Beyond self-control: The relevance of hedonic goal pursuit for subjective well-being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.

Bernecker, K. (2022). Zwischen Spass und Verzicht. Spektrum der Wissenschaft: Gehirn&Geist, 1/2022, Titelthema. Zum Heft

Becker, D., & Bernecker, K. (2020). Wenn das Glas Wein am Abend der einzige Weg zur Entspannung ist. SuchtMagazin, 6, 19-23. https://www.suchtmagazin.ch/2020/articles/id-62020.html