Prior research indicates that experiences bring greater happiness than
material possessions, but which experiences result in the greatest
happiness? The current investigation is one of the first to categorize
types of experiences and highlights one important distinction: the
extent to which an experience is ordinary (common and frequent) versus
extraordinary (uncommon and infrequent). Eight studies examine the
experiences individuals recall, plan, imagine, and post on Facebook
finding that the happiness enjoyed from ordinary and extraordinary
experiences depends on age. Younger people, who view their future as
extensive, gain more happiness from extraordinary experiences; however,
ordinary experiences become increasingly associated with happiness as
people get older, such that they produce as much happiness as
extraordinary experiences when individuals have limited time remaining.
Self-definition drives these effects: although extraordinary experiences
are self-defining throughout one's life span, as people get older they
increasingly define themselves by the ordinary experiences that comprise
their daily lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]