The adaptive power of the present: Perceptions of past, present, and future life satisfaction across the life span

• We examined past, present, and future perceptions of life satisfaction.
• Participants rated perceptions along 9 decades covering the entire life span.
• The sample included three age groups (young, middle-aged, and older adults).
• Growth models showed that each age group was most satisfied with the present life.
• Personality predicted the level of perceived trajectories of life satisfaction.

Despite remarkable stability of life satisfaction across the life span, it may be adaptive to perceive change in life satisfaction. We shed new light on this topic with data from 766 individuals from three age groups and past, present, and future life satisfaction perceptions across the life span. On average, participants were most satisfied with their current life. When looking back, satisfaction increased from past to present, and when looking ahead, satisfaction decreased into the future. Trajectories were best fitted with a curvilinear growth model. Neuroticism and extraversion predicted the level of trajectories, but none of the Big Five predicted the slope. We conclude that humans have an adaptive capacity to perceive the present life as being the best possible.