Contentment

Contentment or Satisfaction is a pleasant or positive emotion, feeling or state of mind. Satisfaction is when a desire or a need is fulfilled. Satisfaction is when a person has nothing to complain about. Someone feels satisfied when they achieve a difficult goal. A person feels satisfied by accomplishment, recognition, invention and service. Someone can feel job satisfaction when they like their work. A person tends to feel satisfied by basic body functions. These can include eating, exercising, hygiene, sex or defecation. Some people feel satisfied when they get revenge for something that hurt them. Satisfaction is related to pleasure, gratification and contentment.

 Contentment as an emotion  

Humans and many other mammals feel satisfaction. Sometimes a person lacks satisfaction. They may feel negative feelings such as discontent, emptiness, boredom or sadness. This is the opposite of satisfaction. It is called dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction occurs when we fail at doing something many times. Dissatisfaction may occur when comparing yourself to another person.Schachter S. 1959. The psychology of affiliation: Experimental studies of the sources of gregariousness, vol. 1. Stanford University Press. This is called social comparison theory. Ongoing dissatisfaction causes complacency, apathy and even depression.

Satisfaction does not occur automatically. Satisfaction is the process of coping with life.Kaibara, E.: Der Weg zur Zufriedenheit, Frankfurt 2002. Humans are in a constant fight against dissatisfaction. The Dalai Lama spoke about this: 
"When you are discontent, you always want more, more, more. Your desire can never be satisfied. But when you practice contentment, you can say to yourself, "Oh yes—I already have everything that I really need."
If someone slips into total dissatisfaction, they might experience anguish. A person is more likely to be happy and satisfied if they learn how to control their negative experiences and to process positive thoughts.Wilker, J.: Das Einmaleins der Zufriedenheit: Glücklichsein und bleiben, Bielefeld 2007.Rahn, H.J.: Zum Sinn des Lebens, Hamburg 2012, S. 281. Usually, a person does not share their satisfaction with other people. That is called pride. 

Satisfaction, like all emotions, is a motivator of behavior. Satisfaction is an important part of one's quality of life. In positive psychology, researchers are studying what gives a person satisfaction in life. Delayed gratification is a part of satisfaction. Delayed gratification is when a person chooses long-term rewards over immediate rewards. Delayed gratification is also when a person prioritizes long-term objectives over closer targets. When a person delays gratification, they feel satisfied. 

Psychologists say that life satisfaction and well-being are the two main ingredients of happiness.

Satisfaction and happiness 
Satisfaction is different from happiness. Satisfaction refers to a particular situation or state of mind. Satisfaction is often temporary. Happiness is a prolonged condition. ’’Concise Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy’’ (London and New York 2000), “Happiness”.

Hedonism
Satisfaction is different from hedonism. A hedonist seeks pleasure or enjoyment above everything else. Satisfaction is not about doing things simply to feel pleasure. Satisfaction is not self-indulgent. 

 Related pages 
Happiness
Pleasure

 References 

 Other websites 
 Can’t Get No Satisfaction? The Buddha and Nietzsche Can Help
 The United States of Satisfaction

Category:Emotions