The Strength and Vulnerability Integration (SAVI) model explains how emotional well-being changes across adulthood. It suggests that as people age, they become better at using strategies to avoid or limit exposure to negative stimuli, but they may struggle more with high levels of sustained emotional arousal. Older adults often respond better to negative stimuli than younger adults, but when experiencing high arousal, their emotional well-being is less effective. SAVI provides a framework to understand how emotional experiences change over the lifespan and predicts these changes. Emotional well-being is influenced by age-related strengths and vulnerabilities. As people age, they gain skills in attentional strategies, appraisals, and behaviors that help regulate emotions. These skills contribute to higher levels of affective well-being in older adults. However, age-related vulnerabilities can make it harder to manage high and sustained emotional arousal. SAVI integrates these strengths and vulnerabilities to explain when emotional well-being improves with age and when it does not. The model highlights that older adults focus more on positive information and less on negative information, a phenomenon known as the positivity effect. This is supported by studies showing that older adults react faster to positive stimuli than negative ones. Additionally, older adults are more likely to disengage from negative experiences, using strategies to reduce emotional engagement. These behaviors are not simply due to mood congruency but reflect age-related changes in emotional regulation. SAVI also considers the role of time in emotional well-being. As people age, they have a more present-focused perspective, which influences their goals and appraisals. This shift leads to a greater focus on maintaining emotional well-being rather than achieving future goals. Older adults also benefit from accumulated experience and knowledge, which enhances their ability to regulate emotions and navigate daily life. The model acknowledges that while older adults may have strengths in emotional regulation, they also face challenges, such as difficulty recovering from high arousal. These challenges are balanced by the strengths that allow older adults to maintain emotional well-being. SAVI provides a comprehensive understanding of how emotional well-being changes across adulthood, integrating both strengths and vulnerabilities.The Strength and Vulnerability Integration (SAVI) model explains how emotional well-being changes across adulthood. It suggests that as people age, they become better at using strategies to avoid or limit exposure to negative stimuli, but they may struggle more with high levels of sustained emotional arousal. Older adults often respond better to negative stimuli than younger adults, but when experiencing high arousal, their emotional well-being is less effective. SAVI provides a framework to understand how emotional experiences change over the lifespan and predicts these changes. Emotional well-being is influenced by age-related strengths and vulnerabilities. As people age, they gain skills in attentional strategies, appraisals, and behaviors that help regulate emotions. These skills contribute to higher levels of affective well-being in older adults. However, age-related vulnerabilities can make it harder to manage high and sustained emotional arousal. SAVI integrates these strengths and vulnerabilities to explain when emotional well-being improves with age and when it does not. The model highlights that older adults focus more on positive information and less on negative information, a phenomenon known as the positivity effect. This is supported by studies showing that older adults react faster to positive stimuli than negative ones. Additionally, older adults are more likely to disengage from negative experiences, using strategies to reduce emotional engagement. These behaviors are not simply due to mood congruency but reflect age-related changes in emotional regulation. SAVI also considers the role of time in emotional well-being. As people age, they have a more present-focused perspective, which influences their goals and appraisals. This shift leads to a greater focus on maintaining emotional well-being rather than achieving future goals. Older adults also benefit from accumulated experience and knowledge, which enhances their ability to regulate emotions and navigate daily life. The model acknowledges that while older adults may have strengths in emotional regulation, they also face challenges, such as difficulty recovering from high arousal. These challenges are balanced by the strengths that allow older adults to maintain emotional well-being. SAVI provides a comprehensive understanding of how emotional well-being changes across adulthood, integrating both strengths and vulnerabilities.