Relational Well-Being Predicts Positive First Impressions More Strongly Than Affective Well-Being

Does happiness make us see others more positively? Although classical research suggests yes, recent high-powered studies indicate otherwise. We propose that these inconsistencies may stem from conflating different dimensions of well-being. In two studies with American samples (Study 1: n = 196; Study 2: n = 250, preregistered), participants rated faces on multiple traits and completed comprehensive well-being assessments. Principal component analysis revealed two factors: Affective Well-Being (AWB; emotions, vitality, arousal) and Relational Well-Being (RWB; community, self-worth, belonging). Across analytical approaches, RWB consistently predicted more positive impressions of others with superior predictive power, whereas AWB showed weak to null effects. The pattern of results replicated using validated affective versus relational subscales from the Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving. Despite the correlational design, our consistent findings highlight RWB as a key predictor of person perception, suggesting the classic “feel good, judge favourably” effect may reflect stable relational schemas shaping perceptions of others.