Savoring: A New Model of Positive Experience

Citation

Gersema, M. (2007), "Savoring: A New Model of Positive Experience", Journal of Organizational Change Management, Vol. 20 No. 6, pp. 880-884. https://doi.org/10.1108/09534810710831073

Authors Fred B. Bryant and Joseph Veroff, two accomplished researchers and academicians in the field of social psychology, present a new model of positive psychology called Savoring in their book of the same title. The book is geared toward students, educators, and practitioners interested in the field of positive psychology. Concepts of savoring, ways in which people savor, research that has been conducted in the field, and ways in which individuals can increase savoring in their own lives are explored.

Bryant and Veroff distinguish three conceptual terms regarding savoring – the experience, processes, and responses. The savoring experience is the total combination of the person's sensations, thoughts, behavior, and emotions when being mindful of an event, and the environmental aspects of the event. Processes include the mental or physical actions that attend to the occurrence of, response, and reaction to, the positive instance. Responses or strategies are concrete behaviors or thoughts that enhance or detract from the level of savoring.

The writers provide a number of areas where savoring overlaps into several areas of positive psychology, such as meditation, emotional intelligence, daydreaming, and others, yet clarify that each area is also somehow distinct from that of savoring, both in concept and in implementation.

A savoring experience may be directly related to the reaction to concrete or sensory experiences, and can also be derived from the cognitive associations an experience evokes, the authors argue. A person may savor a painting's beauty not only because of the feelings brought about from the visual image of the painting itself, but also because of the other associations it elicits. The more knowledge one has about the subject matter to be savored, the greater potential for a complex savoring experience. Further, if feelings are reciprocated or shared, then savoring is enhanced. The authors imply that sharing is a powerful element of a savoring experience, and this concept is interspersed throughout the book.

Some level of mindfulness must be present in order to designate an occurrence as being savored (p. 29). Bryant and Veroff then state that this conscious awareness is defined by an individual's ability to explain it to another person or write it down or self‐report it through some other mechanism.

The writers assume that a person's beliefs or perception about his or her capacity to savor are interrelated to his or her actual ability to respond to an experience, and that a person's self‐awareness of his or her ability to savor will manifest in some proportional way to his or her personal capacity for savoring. Individuals engage in various thoughts and behaviors when encountering a savoring experience. These are defined as “ways of savoring (p. 41).” While the authors clarify these first two premises may not always be the actuality, and that the actual ability to savor positive experiences is more critical than their perceived abilities, the authors have nevertheless developed savoring instruments largely based on these assumptions. Both the instruments and the results of the data gathered through them have been incorporated into this book. In addition, narrative accounts, including those of the authors, have been included in their research. Bryant and Veroff's data and narratives evidence that people savor in characteristics ways that influence their levels of positive affect in response to positive events, people do have an awareness of how well they are able to savor positive experiences, and people can assess their personal ability to savor.

What, then, are the conditions that prompt a savoring experience? The first is an awareness of the present moment, and an environment where social and esteem needs do not influence the individual. The authors use an optimal level theory, the premise that there is an optimal level of arousal for an action (in this case, savoring) to occur, to explain the foundation for a savoring experience to occur. Expectancy‐value thinking is then used to assert that three elements must be known to understand the tendency for a person to act in a certain way – the nature and strength of the individual's incentive for attending, the motive to attend to pleasures, and his or her expectance that if the activity is performed, it will be successful in attaining a savoring experience (p. 58).

The writers look to objectively isolate the ways various strategies are used to enhance savoring. This is accomplished through the ways of savoring checklist developed by the writers. This tool asked respondents to write down the last good thing that happened to them, thoughts or behaviors that might have influenced the enjoyment of the experience, and how they influenced enjoyment. The results of this questionnaire showed some consistencies in perceived effects of savoring strategies across events, and some inconsistencies in perceived effects within events noted.

Research and theory ultimately resulted in ten dimensions of savoring reflected on the checklist, with each dimension representing various combinations of different thoughts and behaviors. Three of the dimensions focus on an individual's behavior (e.g. sharing the event with others), and the other seven dimensions are primarily cognitive (e.g. mentally capturing the even for future reference). The authors then begin to correlate the dimensions of savoring with each other.

Bryant and Veroff break down savoring strategies into three functions. The first of these is prolonging the experience. The second savoring response is intensifying the experience. The third savoring strategy is shifting gears from experiencing no savoring to bringing savoring into a person's life.

There are two ways to view savoring – through a world – or self‐focused perspective. The former is a type of savoring where the locus of control for the experience is on the external world, rather than inside the self, and self‐focused savoring emanates from within a person.

The authors examine various concepts of time and their relationships to savoring throughout the book. The savoring beliefs inventory developed by the authors is used to gather information about savoring and its connection to time. While a savoring experience occurs in the present, feelings from the past or future can enrich it. However, excessive reminiscing in order to avoid negative feelings about the present is considered maladaptive, and can inhibit the ability to savor the present. Having dreams about the future is a way of savoring. However, too much anticipation about the future can have negative consequences in that the joy of surprise is diminished.

The ability to savor is explored across ages, from childhood to adulthood. The authors state that savoring can only begin to occur in children when they are able to be mindful of the present, and can articulate it verbally. The writers suggest that savoring becomes more of an active act in older adults, as people are more apt to reflect on the positive and negative experiences thought lives.

Following this discussion, savoring and its interrelationship to other human emotions and experiences is considered. Savoring is also related to physical and mental well‐being, with the authors suggesting that research shows that positive affect and humor contribute to improved immunological functioning and physical health in general.

The final portion of Bryant and Veroff's book is devoted to ways in which savoring can be elicited in everyone. Some strategies suggested include: creating social support to share our experiences; capturing the positive experiences in writing to enhance savoring; cognitively evaluating one's current state in such a way that it seems better in relation to other comparative standards, or “downward hedonic contrast (p. 202)”; engaging in spiritual or religious involvement; and to be aware that positive experiences do not last and should therefore be savored.

Savoring evokes many points that warrant further research and exploration. The authors have presented a reasonable theoretical argument for what savoring is, and why savoring may be interlinked to, yet distinct from, other aspects of positive psychology. By exploring these various related fields of positive psychology, savoring and its nuances are effectively illustrated.

The authors' data and the accompanying checklist assumes that a person's belief in his or her ability to savor is correlated to their actual savoring abilities. It is not clear why this assumption is made, except to serve as a foundation for the research to occur. In addition, savoring relies on a person's ability to communicate or convey their savoring experience in some way, either through writing or verbal exchange, as the writers say this recollection further evidences a person's conscious awareness the experience. It appears overly simplistic and presumptive that the writers would assume people with the inability to express themselves in a verbal or written manner would be exempt from savoring processes.

The writers are not clear about what prompts a savoring experience to start or stop, and invoke premises from optimal‐level theory and expectancy‐value thinking to explain the regulation of savoring. While the authors do not purport to be clear about this aspect of a savoring experience, it is frustrating as a reader to understand and agree with this abstract and what appears to be somewhat unfounded, albeit not unreasonable, postulation.

Little analysis has been done regarding the processes that underlie positive experiences, the writers state. This is evident in their presentation of evidence to support savoring. The data cited appears incomplete, and begins to correlate factors of savoring, but cannot do so in any definitive way. However, while more research must occur prior to making solid rationales for the existence, patterns, and interrelationships of savoring processes and strategies, this is a book that allows the field a premise for continued research‐based exploration of savoring.

The book contains an uneven understanding and knowledge of savoring. For example, the writers thoroughly explore time and its multiple interrelationships to a savoring experience, but can only offer preliminary assertions with regard to savoring and its connection to physical health. This variance in substantive presentation creates greater credibility around certain aspects of savoring, and calls others into question. Perhaps, this questioning, however, will prompt future research and study.

Another concern with the book is the use of subjective evidence. Various passages refer to a specific instance in one or the other author's personal life that is not then further substantiated by objective evidence or research. While a personal anecdote gives greater insight into the particular aspect of savoring the authors are exploring than their research in the field, in this case it does not add to the credibility of the overall work. It would have been more impacting to call on the experiences gleaned from the authors' research and tools to support their assertions, and not stories from their personal life experiences.

The authors have begun conducting research to try to capture as much information about savoring through written data gathered from students and other groups. To that end, the authors' use of a variety of literary passages and poems to support their savoring arguments is mystifying. Interpretation or critical analysis of poetic and other creative writing does not reinforce a well‐founded premise or approach to savoring. If the writers wish to focus on deciphering the use of savoring themes and processes in literature, that is quite distinct to creating a helpful guide for increased understanding of savoring for researchers, students, and practitioners, and distract from the text.

It is also apparent Bryant and Veroff, accomplished researchers and academicians, are introducing a new concept to their field, and it is unreasonable to assume that they would have extensive data to support all aspects of savoring.

I enjoyed investigating the various elements that played into a savoring experience with the authors. As the book unfolded, I found myself thinking about instances where I have savored, and became more conscious of considering what constituted the experience as a savoring one, how my behaviors contributed to the experience, and how I recalled it to myself or others. In this respect, while they did not contribute to the strength of the narrative in a more objective, data driven sense, the personal anecdotes of the writers may have contributed to my exploration of savoring on a personal level. Thus, while many of the arguments presented by the authors are logical, it would be anticipated that future work would focus more on the application of these concepts in a broader sense, and that resulting data would reflect their legitimacy.

The writers intersperse throughout the narrative that, while many factors can bring about a savoring experience, these same factors if focused on excessively, can also detract from or prevent the occurrence of a savoring experience. In addition, other elements may be introduced into the savoring experience that ultimately contributes to the experience's end. Throughout the book, it is as though the writers are trying to articulate the perfect recipe for savoring to occur. While the basic concept of savoring is not difficult to grasp, the exact dimensions and processes that allow for a savoring experience are apparently more complex. If you undercook, overcook, or add one ingredient too many your savoring cake goes flat. While this enhanced my overall understanding of the multiple aspects of savoring, it became somewhat fatiguing, as savoring dimensions, processes, and potential pitfalls are explored at length.

The authors begin to touch on complex savoring experiences as opposed to more simple pleasures, but lack the data in truly understanding how the complexity of an experience contributes to the evocation of savoring behaviors. They can assert that savoring behaviors are different for various types of savoring events, but cannot clarify why this occurs. As savoring evolves, I would hope to learn more about how an event such as a wedding is savored differently than everyday occurrences that invoke savoring.

Overall, Bryant and Veroff have begun exploring an exciting concept in savoring, and have effectively presented a foundation for further exploration of the theory and benefits of savoring. The book reads like a big road map that lays out multiple destinations and areas worthy of further investigation. While perhaps inconsistent in its data and research, and how they support the existence and importance of savoring, that appears appropriate for the concept in its embryonic stage of development. As interest, data, and research increase in this area, it is expected Bryant and Veroff's model of savoring will become more comprehensively presented and supported, and clearer in its application and role in individuals' lives, as well as the field of positive psychology.