Which One of the Following Is Not One of the Ways in Which We Can Be Happier?

Learning Objectives

Past the end of this section, you volition be able to:

• Define and talk over happiness, including its determinants
• Describe the field of positive psychology and identify the kinds of issues it addresses
• Explain the pregnant of positive impact and discuss its importance in health outcomes
• Describe the concept of flow and its relationship to happiness and fulfillment

Although the study of stress and how information technology affects us physically and psychologically is fascinating, it is—admittedly—somewhat of a grim topic. Psychology is also interested in the report of a more upbeat and encouraging approach to human affairs—the quest for happiness.

HAPPINESS

America'southward founders alleged that its citizens have an unalienable right to pursue happiness. But what is happiness? When asked to ascertain the term, people emphasize different aspects of this elusive state. Indeed, happiness is somewhat cryptic and can be defined from different perspectives (Martin, 2012). Some people, especially those who are highly committed to their religious religion, view happiness in ways that emphasize virtuosity, reverence, and aware spirituality. Others encounter happiness equally primarily contentment—the inner peace and joy that come from deep satisfaction with one'south surroundings, relationships with others, accomplishments, and oneself. Still others view happiness mainly as pleasurable appointment with their personal environment—having a career and hobbies that are engaging, meaningful, rewarding, and exciting. These differences, of course, are merely differences in emphasis. Near people would probably agree that each of these views, in some respects, captures the essence of happiness.

Elements of Happiness

Some psychologists have suggested that happiness consists of three singled-out elements: the pleasant life, the practiced life, and the meaningful life (Seligman, 2002; Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005). The pleasant life is realized through the attainment of twenty-four hours-to-day pleasures that add fun, joy, and excitement to our lives. For instance, evening walks forth the beach and a fulfilling sex life can enhance our daily pleasure and contribute to the pleasant life. The good life is achieved through identifying our unique skills and abilities and engaging these talents to enrich our lives; those who reach the good life ofttimes find themselves absorbed in their piece of work or their recreational pursuits. The meaningful life involves a deep sense of fulfillment that comes from using our talents in the service of the greater adept: in ways that benefit the lives of others or that make the earth a improve identify. In general, the happiest people tend to be those who pursue the full life—they orient their pursuits toward all iii elements (Seligman et al., 2005).

Happiness is an enduring state of well-being involving satisfaction in the pleasant, skillful, and meaningful aspects of life.

For practical purposes, a precise definition of happiness might incorporate each of these elements: an enduring state of mind consisting of joy, contentment, and other positive emotions, plus the sense that ane'southward life has meaning and value (Lyubomirsky, 2001). The definition implies that happiness is a long-term state—what is often characterized as subjective well-being—rather than only a transient positive mood we all experience from fourth dimension to time. It is this indelible happiness that has captured the interests of psychologists and other social scientists.

The study of happiness has grown dramatically in the last iii decades (Diener, 2013). One of the most basic questions that happiness investigators routinely examine is this: How happy are people in general? The average person in the world tends to be relatively happy and tends to bespeak experiencing more than positive feelings than negative feelings (Diener, Ng, Harter, & Arora, 2010). When asked to evaluate their current lives on a scale ranging from 0 to 10 (with 0 representing "worst possible life" and 10 representing "best possible life"), people in more than 150 countries surveyed from 2010–2012 reported an average score of 5.2. People who alive in N America, Commonwealth of australia, and New Zealand reported the highest average score at vii.i, whereas those living Sub-Saharan Africa reported the lowest average score at iv.half dozen (Helliwell, Layard, & Sachs, 2013). Worldwide, the five happiest countries are Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, the netherlands, and Sweden; the U.s.a. is ranked 17th happiest (Helliwell et al., 2013).

(a) Surveys of residents in over 150 countries betoken that Kingdom of denmark has the happiest citizens in the earth. (b) Americans ranked the Us as the 17th happiest country in which to live. (credit a: modification of work by "JamesZ_Flickr"/Flickr; credit b: modification of piece of work by Ryan Swindell)

Several years ago, a Gallup survey of more than 1,000 U.Southward. adults found that 52% reported that they were "very happy." In improver, more than 8 in ten indicated that they were "very satisfied" with their lives (Carroll, 2007). Withal, a contempo poll of ii,345 U.S. adults surprisingly revealed that only i-third reported they are "very happy." The poll too revealed that the happiness levels of certain groups, including minorities, recent college graduates, and the disabled, take trended downward in recent years (Gregoire, 2013). Although it is difficult to explain this apparent decline in happiness, it may exist connected to the challenging economic conditions the United States has endured over the last several years. Of course, this presumption would imply that happiness is closely tied to 1's finances. But, is information technology? This question brings u.s.a. to the next of import issue: What factors influence happiness?

Factors Connected to Happiness

What really makes people happy? What factors contribute to sustained joy and contentment? Is it coin, bewitchery, cloth possessions, a rewarding occupation, a satisfying relationship? Extensive research over the years has examined this question. I finding is that age is related to happiness: Life satisfaction unremarkably increases the older people get, just at that place do non announced to be gender differences in happiness (Diener, Suh, Lucas, & Smith, 1999). Although information technology is of import to point out that much of this piece of work has been correlational, many of the key findings (some of which may surprise you) are summarized below.

Family and other social relationships announced to be key factors correlated with happiness. Studies show that married people report being happier than those who are unmarried, divorced, or widowed (Diener et al., 1999). Happy individuals as well report that their marriages are fulfilling (Lyubomirsky, King, & Diener, 2005). In fact, some have suggested that satisfaction with matrimony and family life is the strongest predictor of happiness (Myers, 2000). Happy people tend to have more friends, more high-quality social relationships, and stronger social back up networks than less happy people (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005). Happy people also have a high frequency of contact with friends (Pinquart & Sörensen, 2000).

Can money buy happiness? In general, all-encompassing enquiry suggests that the respond is aye, but with several caveats. While a nation'south per capita gdp (Gross domestic product) is associated with happiness levels (Helliwell et al., 2013), changes in GDP (which is a less certain index of household income) bear piffling relationship to changes in happiness (Diener, Tay, & Oishi, 2013). On the whole, residents of flush countries tend to be happier than residents of poor countries; within countries, wealthy individuals are happier than poor individuals, but the association is much weaker (Diener & Biswas-Diener, 2002). To the extent that information technology leads to increases in purchasing power, increases in income are associated with increases in happiness (Diener, Oishi, & Ryan, 2013). However, income within societies appears to correlate with happiness but upwards to a indicate. In a written report of over 450,000 U.Due south. residents surveyed past the Gallup Organization, Kahneman and Deaton (2010) found that well-beingness rises with almanac income, but only upward to $75,000. The average increase in reported well-being for people with incomes greater than $75,000 was zip. As implausible as these findings might seem—later all, higher incomes would enable people to indulge in Hawaiian vacations, prime seats equally sporting events, expensive automobiles, and expansive new homes—higher incomes may impair people's ability to savour and relish the modest pleasures of life (Kahneman, 2011). Indeed, researchers in one report found that participants exposed to a subliminal reminder of wealth spent less time savoring a chocolate candy bar and exhibited less enjoyment of this experience than did participants who were not reminded of wealth (Quoidbach, Dunn, Petrides, & Mikolajczak, 2010).

What about education and employment? Happy people, compared to those who are less happy, are more probable to graduate from college and secure more meaningful and engaging jobs. In one case they obtain a job, they are also more than probable to succeed (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005). While education shows a positive (just weak) correlation with happiness, intelligence is non appreciably related to happiness (Diener et al., 1999).

Does religiosity correlate with happiness? In general, the answer is yes (Hackney & Sanders, 2003). Nevertheless, the relationship between religiosity and happiness depends on societal circumstances. Nations and states with more hard living conditions (e.g., widespread hunger and low life expectancy) tend to be more highly religious than societies with more favorable living atmospheric condition. Among those who live in nations with difficult living weather condition, religiosity is associated with greater well-existence; in nations with more favorable living conditions, religious and nonreligious individuals report similar levels of well-being (Diener, Tay, & Myers, 2011).

Conspicuously the living atmospheric condition of one'due south nation tin can influence factors related to happiness. What well-nigh the influence of one'due south culture? To the extent that people possess characteristics that are highly valued by their culture, they tend to exist happier (Diener, 2012). For case, self-esteem is a stronger predictor of life satisfaction in individualistic cultures than in collectivistic cultures (Diener, Diener, & Diener, 1995), and extraverted people tend to be happier in extraverted cultures than in introverted cultures (Fulmer et al., 2010).

And so we've identified many factors that exhibit some correlation to happiness. What factors don't show a correlation? Researchers have studied both parenthood and physical attractiveness as potential contributors to happiness, only no link has been identified. Although people tend to believe that parenthood is central to a meaningful and fulfilling life, aggregate findings from a range of countries signal that people who practice not have children are generally happier than those who do (Hansen, 2012). And although one's perceived level of attractiveness seems to predict happiness, a person's objective physical attractiveness is simply weakly correlated with her happiness (Diener, Wolsic, & Fujita, 1995).

Life Events and Happiness

An important point should exist considered regarding happiness. People are often poor at affective forecasting: predicting the intensity and duration of their future emotions (Wilson & Gilbert, 2003). In one study, nearly all newlywed spouses predicted their marital satisfaction would remain stable or improve over the post-obit four years; despite this loftier level of initial optimism, their marital satisfaction actually declined during this catamenia (Lavner, Karner, & Bradbury, 2013). In addition, we are often incorrect when estimating how our long-term happiness would change for the better or worse in response to certain life events. For instance, it is easy for many of united states to imagine how euphoric we would feel if we won the lottery, were asked on a date by an attractive celebrity, or were offered our dream task. Information technology is besides easy to understand how long-suffering fans of the Chicago Cubs baseball game team, which has not won a Globe Series championship since 1908, retrieve they would feel permanently elated if their team would finally win another World Series. Besides, it easy to predict that we would experience permanently miserable if we suffered a crippling blow or if a romantic relationship ended.

Still, something like to sensory accommodation often occurs when people feel emotional reactions to life events. In much the same way our senses suit to changes in stimulation (e.1000., our eyes adapting to vivid light after walking out of the darkness of a picture palace into the vivid afternoon sun), we eventually suit to changing emotional circumstances in our lives (Brickman & Campbell, 1971; Helson, 1964). When an issue that provokes positive or negative emotions occurs, at first we tend to experience its emotional impact at total intensity. We feel a outburst of pleasance following such things as a marriage proposal, birth of a child, acceptance to law school, an inheritance, and the like; as you might imagine, lottery winners experience a surge of happiness after hitting the jackpot (Lutter, 2007). As well, nosotros experience a surge of misery following widowhood, a divorce, or a layoff from work. In the long run, however, nosotros somewhen accommodate to the emotional new normal; the emotional touch of the event tends to erode, and we eventually revert to our original baseline happiness levels. Thus, what was at first a thrilling lottery windfall or Earth Serial championship eventually loses its luster and becomes the condition quo. Indeed, dramatic life events have much less long-lasting impact on happiness than might be expected (Brickman, Coats, & Janoff-Bulman, 1978).

(a) Long-suffering Chicago Cub fans would no doubt experience elated if their team won a World Series championship, a feat that has non been achieved by that franchise in over a century. (b) In ways that are similar, those who play the lottery rightfully think that choosing the correct numbers and winning millions would lead to a surge in happiness. However, the initial outburst of elation following such elusive events would well-nigh likely erode with time. (credit a: modification of work by Phil Roeder; credit b: modification of work by Robert Southward. Donovan)

Recently, some have raised questions concerning the extent to which of import life events tin can permanently alter people'due south happiness fix points (Diener, Lucas, & Scollon, 2006). Testify from a number of investigations suggests that, in some circumstances, happiness levels practice non revert to their original positions. For example, although people generally tend to adapt to marriage so that it no longer makes them happier or unhappier than before, they often do not fully accommodate to unemployment or astringent disabilities (Diener, 2012). The chart beneath, which is based on longitudinal data from a sample of over 3,000 German respondents, shows life satisfaction scores several years before, during, and later various life events, and information technology illustrates how people adapt (or neglect to adapt) to these events. High german respondents did not get lasting emotional boosts from marriage; instead, they reported brief increases in happiness, followed past quick adaptation. In contrast, widows and those who had been laid off experienced sizeable decreases in happiness that appeared to result in long-term changes in life satisfaction (Diener et al., 2006). Further, longitudinal data from the same sample showed that happiness levels changed significantly over time for virtually a quarter of respondents, with 9% showing major changes (Fujita & Diener, 2005). Thus, long-term happiness levels can and practice change for some people.

This graphs shows life satisfaction scores several years before and after three pregnant life events (0 represents the twelvemonth the outcome happened) (Diener et al., 2006).

Increasing Happiness

Some recent findings about happiness provide an optimistic flick, suggesting that real changes in happiness are possible. For example, thoughtfully adult well-being interventions designed to augment people'southward baseline levels of happiness may increase happiness in ways that are permanent and long-lasting, not just temporary. These changes in happiness may be targeted at private, organizational, and societal levels (Diener et al., 2006). Researchers in one written report constitute that a series of happiness interventions involving such exercises equally writing downward iii good things that occurred each day led to increases in happiness that lasted over six months (Seligman et al., 2005).

Measuring happiness and well-being at the societal level over time may aid policy makers in determining if people are mostly happy or miserable, likewise equally when and why they might experience the way they exercise. Studies show that average national happiness scores (over time and across countries) relate strongly to six key variables: per capita gdp (Gdp, which reflects a nation's economical standard of living), social back up, freedom to make important life choices, healthy life expectancy, freedom from perceived corruption in government and business, and generosity (Helliwell et al., 2013). Investigating why people are happy or unhappy might assist policymakers develop programs that increment happiness and well-existence within a guild (Diener et al., 2006). Resolutions about contemporary political and social issues that are frequent topics of debate—such as poverty, taxation, affordable wellness care and housing, clean air and water, and income inequality—might be all-time considered with people's happiness in listen.

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

In 1998, Seligman (the same person who conducted the learned helplessness experiments mentioned before), who was and then president of the American Psychological Association, urged psychologists to focus more on understanding how to build man strength and psychological well-being. In deliberately setting out to create a new direction and new orientation for psychology, Seligman helped found a growing movement and field of enquiry chosen positive psychology (Compton, 2005). In a very full general sense, positive psychology tin can exist thought of every bit the scientific discipline of happiness; it is an area of study that seeks to place and promote those qualities that lead to greater fulfillment in our lives. This field looks at people's strengths and what helps individuals to lead happy, contented lives, and it moves away from focusing on people's pathology, faults, and problems. Co-ordinate to Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi (2000), positive psychology,

at the subjective level is about valued subjective experiences: well-existence, contentment, and satisfaction (in the past); hope and optimism (for the future); and… happiness (in the present). At the individual level, information technology is about positive individual traits: the capacity for dearest and vocation, courage, interpersonal skill, aesthetic sensibility, perseverance, forgiveness, originality, future mindedness, spirituality, high talent, and wisdom. (p. v)

Some of the topics studied by positive psychologists include altruism and empathy, creativity, forgiveness and compassion, the importance of positive emotions, enhancement of immune arrangement operation, savoring the fleeting moments of life, and strengthening virtues equally a fashion to increment authentic happiness (Compton, 2005). Recent efforts in the field of positive psychology have focused on extending its principles toward peace and well-being at the level of the global community. In a state of war-torn world in which disharmonize, hatred, and distrust are common, such an extended "positive peace psychology" could take of import implications for understanding how to overcome oppression and work toward global peace (Cohrs, Christie, White, & Das, 2013).

Dig Deeper: The Center for Investigating Healthy Minds

On the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the Centre for Investigating Healthy Minds at the Waisman Center conducts rigorous scientific research on good for you aspects of the heed, such as kindness, forgiveness, compassion, and mindfulness. Established in 2008 and led past renowned neuroscientist Dr. Richard J. Davidson, the Center examines a wide range of ideas, including such things as a kindness curriculum in schools, neural correlates of prosocial behavior, psychological effects of Tai Chi preparation, digital games to foster prosocial behavior in children, and the effectiveness of yoga and breathing exercises in reducing symptoms of mail service-traumatic stress disorder.

According to its website, the Center was founded later Dr. Davidson was challenged by His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, "to apply the rigors of science to study positive qualities of heed" (Center for Investigating Wellness Minds, 2013). The Center continues to deport scientific research with the aim of developing mental health grooming approaches that help people to live happier, healthier lives).

Positive Bear upon and Optimism

Taking a cue from positive psychology, all-encompassing enquiry over the last 10-15 years has examined the importance of positive psychological attributes in physical well-being. Qualities that help promote psychological well-being (east.g., having significant and purpose in life, a sense of autonomy, positive emotions, and satisfaction with life) are linked with a range of favorable health outcomes (peculiarly improved cardiovascular health) mainly through their relationships with biological functions and health behaviors (such as diet, physical activity, and sleep quality) (Boehm & Kubzansky, 2012). The quality that has received attention is positive impact, which refers to pleasurable engagement with the environment, such as happiness, joy, enthusiasm, alacrity, and excitement (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988). The characteristics of positive touch on, as with negative touch on (discussed earlier), tin can be brief, long-lasting, or trait-like (Pressman & Cohen, 2005). Independent of age, gender, and income, positive bear on is associated with greater social connection, emotional and applied support, adaptive coping efforts, and lower depression; information technology is likewise associated with longevity and favorable physiological performance (Steptoe, O'Donnell, Marmot, & Wardle, 2008).

Positive touch also serves every bit a protective factor confronting middle affliction. In a 10-year study of Nova Scotians, the rate of heart disease was 22% lower for each one-point increase on the measure out of positive bear upon, from one (no positive impact expressed) to five (extreme positive impact) (Davidson, Mostofsky, & Whang, 2010). In terms of our health, the expression, "don't worry, exist happy" is helpful communication indeed. At that place has also been much piece of work suggesting that optimism—the general trend to expect on the bright side of things—is also a significant predictor of positive health outcomes.

Although positive affect and optimism are related in some means, they are not the same (Pressman & Cohen, 2005). Whereas positive affect is mostly concerned with positive feeling states, optimism has been regarded as a generalized tendency to wait that skillful things will happen (Chang, 2001). It has also been conceptualized every bit a tendency to view life's stressors and difficulties every bit temporary and external to oneself (Peterson & Steen, 2002). Numerous studies over the years take consistently shown that optimism is linked to longevity, healthier behaviors, fewer postsurgical complications, ameliorate allowed functioning among men with prostate cancer, and better treatment adherence (Rasmussen & Wallio, 2008). Further, optimistic people report fewer physical symptoms, less pain, better physical functioning, and are less likely to be rehospitalized following heart surgery (Rasmussen, Scheier, & Greenhouse, 2009).

Catamenia

Some other cistron that seems to be important in fostering a deep sense of well-existence is the ability to derive flow from the things we do in life. Flow is described every bit a particular experience that is and so engaging and engrossing that it becomes worth doing for its own sake (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997). It is ordinarily related to creative endeavors and leisure activities, but information technology tin as well be experienced by workers who like their jobs or students who dear studying (Csikszentmihalyi, 1999). Many of the states instantly recognize the notion of flow. In fact, the term derived from respondents' spontaneous utilize of the term when asked to describe how it felt when what they were doing was going well. When people feel period, they become involved in an activity to the point where they feel they lose themselves in the activity. They effortlessly maintain their concentration and focus, they experience as though they accept complete control of their actions, and fourth dimension seems to pass more rapidly than usual (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997). Period is considered a pleasurable feel, and it typically occurs when people are engaged in challenging activities that crave skills and knowledge they know they possess. For example, people would be more than likely report flow experiences in relation to their work or hobbies than in relation to eating. When asked the question, "Do you ever get involved in something and then deeply that nothing else seems to affair, and you lose track of time?" about 20% of Americans and Europeans report having these menstruation-like experiences regularly (Csikszentmihalyi, 1997).

Although wealth and material possessions are overnice to take, the notion of flow suggests that neither are prerequisites for a happy and fulfilling life. Finding an activity that you are truly enthusiastic virtually, something so absorbing that doing information technology is reward itself (whether it exist playing tennis, studying Arabic, writing children's novels, or cooking lavish meals) is perhaps the existent key. According to Csikszentmihalyi (1999), creating weather that brand flow experiences possible should exist a top social and political priority. How might this goal be accomplished? How might flow exist promoted in schoolhouse systems? In the workplace? What potential benefits might be accrued from such efforts?

In an platonic world, scientific research endeavors should inform united states of america on how to bring near a amend globe for all people. The field of positive psychology promises to exist instrumental in helping us empathise what truly builds hope, optimism, happiness, salubrious relationships, flow, and genuine personal fulfillment.

Summary

Happiness is conceptualized as an enduring land of heed that consists of the capacity to feel pleasure in daily life, as well as the power to engage one's skills and talents to enrich 1's life and the lives of others. Although people around the world mostly report that they are happy, in that location are differences in average happiness levels beyond nations. Although people have a tendency to overestimate the extent to which their happiness gear up points would change for the better or for the worse following sure life events, researchers have identified a number of factors that are consistently related to happiness. In contempo years, positive psychology has emerged every bit an surface area of report seeking to identify and promote qualities that lead to greater happiness and fulfillment in our lives. These components include positive affect, optimism, and flow.

Self Check Questions

Critical Thinking Questions

1. In considering the iii dimensions of happiness discussed in this section (the pleasant life, the good life, and the meaningful life), what are some steps you could take to amend your personal level of happiness?

2. The day earlier the drawing of a $300 million Powerball lottery, you notice that a line of people waiting to buy their Powerball tickets is stretched outside the door of a nearby convenience store. Based on what you've learned, provide some perspective on why these people are doing this, and what would likely happen if ane of these individuals happened to pick the correct numbers.

Personal Application Question

3. Remember of an activity you participate in that y'all find engaging and absorbing. For example, this might exist something like playing video games, reading, or a hobby. What are your experiences typically like while engaging in this activity? Do your experiences conform to the notion of flow? If so, how? Do yous think these experiences have enriched your life? Why or why not?

Answers

1. Answers will vary, but may include mentioning things that heave positive emotions (the pleasant life), developing and using skills and talents (the good life), and using 1's talents to help others (the meaningful life).

2. These individuals' affective forecasting is such that they believe their lives would exist immeasurably happier if they won the lottery. Although winning would certainly atomic number 82 to a surge of euphoria in the brusk term, long term they would likely conform, and their happiness levels would probable render to normal. This fact is lost on most people, especially when considering the intensity and duration of their emotions following a major life consequence.

Glossary

flow state involving intense engagement in an activity; commonly is experienced when participating in creative, work, and leisure endeavors

happiness enduring state of mind consisting of joy, delectation, and other positive emotions; the sense that one's life has meaning and value

optimism tendency toward a positive outlook and positive expectations

positive affect state or a trait that involves pleasurable date with the surround, the dimensions of which include happiness, joy, enthusiasm, alertness, and excitement

positive psychology scientific surface area of study seeking to place and promote those qualities that lead to happy, fulfilled, and contented lives

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