Seeking Pleasure is Good, but Avoiding Pain is Bad: Distinguishing Hedonic Approach from Hedonic Avoidance Orientations

Pursuing hedonia and eudaimonia are two fundamental approaches to achieving happiness. While eudaimonic orientation consistently relates to improved well-being, the relationship between hedonic orientation and well-being remains controversial. Based on theories (e.g., Regulatory Focus Theory), emphasizing the differences between approach and avoidance motivations, this research proposes two different hedonic orientations: a hedonic approach orientation focusing on seeking pleasant feelings and a hedonic avoidance orientation focusing on avoiding painful feelings. Across two studies (total n = 2599), we modified a previous measure of happiness orientation to assess hedonic approach, hedonic avoidance, and eudaimonic orientations, validated the new scale, and investigated their associations with self-reported well-being. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed that hedonic approach, hedonic avoidance, and eudaimonic orientations are three distinct happiness orientations. Furthermore, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that hedonic approach orientation was positively related to well-being, mostly when adjusted for hedonic avoidance orientation. Eudaimonic orientation has consistently been associated with improved well-being. Hedonic avoidance orientation provided a unique contribution over and above the former two orientations and was negatively related to well-being. These findings indicate that motives for seeking pleasure are beneficial, while those for avoiding pain are harmful, which clarifies how people’s pursuit of happiness is linked to experienced well-being and highlights the importance of distinguishing between hedonic approach and hedonic avoidance orientations.