Final answer:
Daniel Gilbert's studies suggest that trying to predict future happiness is known as affective forecasting. It is a process of predicting emotional states in the future and is related to the economic concept of utility, where individuals aim to make choices that maximize their satisfaction or happiness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Trying to predict what in the future will make you happy, according to Daniel Gilbert's studies, is called affective forecasting. Affective forecasting is the process of predicting one's emotional state in the future, often in the context of specific future events or decisions.
This concept is significant in various fields, particularly in economics and psychology. For instance, the term utility is used by economists to describe a person's level of satisfaction or happiness with their choices, reflecting a connection between affective forecasting and economic decision-making.
When individuals make decisions, they undertake a step-by-step process where they consider their options and predict which will bring them the greatest utility or happiness.
This process includes thinking about the costs, the potential happiness derived from various choices, and ultimately selecting the option that they believe will provide them with the highest level of utility.