Is the study of Happiness a Worthy Scientific Pursuit?
- Previous thought on happiness concluded that investigation into this area was indulgent, and the in the instance of maslow's hierarchy, lower level needs (safety, survival, belonging) were more pertinent and achievement of those would ultimately lead to happiness.
- Set point theory – individual happiness levels are static despite external circumstances
- Is the pursuit of happiness a luxury when viewed against suffering?
- scientific definition could be a) cognitive component overall life satisfaction b) affective (concerned with the change of emotions) : contrasting positive/negative affective attributes
Definitions
Hedonistic - good experiences and sense pleasure outweigh painful experiences
Eudaimonic - realisation of personal potential
- full happiness occurs when life activities coincide with most profound personal values resulting in authentic experiences and aliveness
- autonomy, growth, self-acceptance, life purpose, environmental mastery, positive relation to others are the key aspects of fulfilling ones 'daimon'
- happiness does not result from the pursuit of pleasure but by addressing many aspects of ones personality
pleasant life - maximises pleasure & positive experiences
good life - develop key abilities in activities one has deep interest in
meaningful life - developing strengths in activities that contribute to experiences outside themselves, ie the community
Flow theory can be integrated into a possible pathway to happiness, where flow is the deep engagement in an activity where peak experience occurs from accomplishing a clear goal, intense concentration, loss of time -- expanding experience of happiness beyond a pleasure state
Happiness Set Point
Despite changes in circumstance, happiness levels generally remain the same
Humans have a tendency to rapidly adapt to new environments "hedonic treadmill"
Initial evidence of this contrasted lottery winners to paralysis victims who returned to their general states of being after a time
- Recent developments in this theory:
- set points are believed to be above neutral, with most people being relatively happy most of the time
- set points are unique to everyone
- +/- affect have unique set points
- drastic life events change happiness levels
- adaptability varies depending on individual coping strategies
- these points suggest that intervention is possible in relation to the experience of happiness outside the set point
There is evidence to refute the notion that happiness is an inherent trait in specific individuals -- that it is not independent of external circumstance. While certain personality traits like extroversion may subjectively aid well-being, changes in happiness reports over a long period of time show that individual personalities do not pre-disposed people to happiness.
Relative happiness -- evidence suggests that subjective comparisons between societal situations do not account for the variability in reported well-being. Despite significant changes in economic wealth of a country rarely does this coincide with drastic changes in well-being, generally as standards of comparison change.
Early research into happiness interventions show promising possibilities.
- Changes in life circumstances may not have lasting effects on happiness,
- amplify pleasurable experiences by spacing out the timing of indulgences and savouring memorable experiences.
- tasks to increase awareness of positive aspects of life, identifying personal strengths and abilities, changes in activities (such as initiating work towards a new life goal) are current strategies to increase happiness
Gratitude and kindness have a tangible effect on subjective well-being.
- Gratitude has the possibility to counteract materialism
- grateful people report being happier more often than less grateful people
- literally counting the grateful and kind acts that occur over a time period help people with their happiness
Wealth
After basic needs are met, there is no clear association between happiness and wealth
As western culture and advertising is set on the notion of wealth=happiness, this challenges many fundamental notions
Obsession with these tendencies of materialism distract individuals from aspects of life that contribute to well-being, ultimately becoming detrimental
Excessive consumerism is an obsession detrimental to society as a whole, as these goals are negatively self-serving. People fail at affective forecasting, where they overestimate the amount of happiness an event will cause them. (ie overestimate the intensity and duration pleasure they will recieve from a purchase.)
National :)
National happiness can be evaluated alongside individual, supported by research that suggests positive trends in well-being in times of economic reform