Happiness This Way

The serenity and inner peace, happiness

Do not Worry, Be Happy

Bobby McFerrin

In general happiness and subjective well involve mostly currently experiencing positive emotions, negative moods relatively few, and high life satisfaction. Happiness has probably generated more interest and research than any other topic of positive psychology, and perhaps, but not directly related to the serenity and peace of mind, research is at least indirectly, related, and follows a brief summary of the investigation:

The Wealth does not bring happiness. Beyond the basic needs of a simple life, make more money is not directly associated with greater happiness. The more we do, the more we seem to need. The pursuit of wealth (ie, strong financial aspirations) is associated with being socially inclined insurance, ambitious, politically conservative, conventional and relatively less able academically, but not be psychologically distressed or improved. Obviously, in reality, financial success depends on having the means to enable one to do it, and seems likely to have strong financial aspirations without resources needed is the configuration of future problems (ie, unhappiness and lack of serenity). Our financial situation perceived (The amount you believe that compared to those around us) can be an important predictor of happiness at how much they actually do. Perception of control over our circumstances of life and ability to protect the "environmental shocks" appear to mediate this financial link to happiness (ie, we need enough money for food and basic necessities of life). Cion is used in itself is certainly related to happiness. It is noted elsewhere that the money is strongly associated with welfare measures in the lowest income levels, but beyond the basic needs that more money leads to some diminishing returns. In one study, showed that income, possession of luxury amenities, and living standards were moderately strong predictors of life assessment, but much weaker predictors of positive and negative feelings. On the other hand, positive and negative feelings were more strongly associated with satisfaction of psychological needs (learning, autonomy, using their skills, respect and the ability to count on others emergency) in short-term rates, in contrast to the prosperity (economic and social, psychological) are associated with different types of well-being (cognitive and emotional).

The media is also a field day with a study recently published online by the Princeton University economist Angus Deaton and Daniel Kahneman. Initially support many previous studies, typically NOT find a way relationship between income and happiness, they argue that an analysis should involve logarithmic transformation of income (due to increased income of $ 2000 does not mean the same thing someone with an initial deposit of $ 100,000 as it does to a person with an income of $ 10,000). Distinguish also between two types of happiness "," emotional wellbeing "(hedonic experiences felt Yesterday's joy, the excitement, sadness, anxiety, etc) and "life satisfaction (satisfaction with life as a whole). Analysis (using Gallup Healthways welfare data) of the logarithmic transformation of income and showed the two measures of happiness that high income (Up to $ 75,000 year) means "to buy life satisfaction, but not emotional, and low income is associated with satisfaction low life and low emotional well-being. The publication prompted the media to conclude that money (at least $ 75,000 a year) it can buy happiness. Apart from other concerns with the publication, which is basically correlational research. The positive relationship between satisfaction income and life does not prove that more money leads to greater satisfaction with life, and that the link could easily be the result of a third (possibly not even considered) variables involved. One could even argue that positive life satisfaction CAUSES higher income (satisfaction with life from an early age may be linked to a number of positive features that could lead to higher incomes, including optimism, self-efficacy, social skills, etc.). In summary, satisfaction with life perhaps positive you can buy a higher income.

In a fascinating study, Dunn, Atkin and Norton (2008) showed that "spending money on others promotes happiness. "In a nationally representative survey, found that those who spent a greater proportion of their income in other reported higher levels of happiness. In a field study of the extraordinary expenses (which receives an unexpected gift from his place of work), which spent more on others reported greater levels of happiness. Since both studies are correlational (and therefore not necessarily show causation), we conducted a third study in which subjects were randomly assigned to spend the money they are given either by themselves or others. Again, those who spent more on others later reported higher levels of happiness. Therefore, if you want to be happy, please do not hesitate to send some of your money (just kidding).

Definitely married people in general seems to be happier than those who live alone. World benevolence beliefs (belief in the goodness of the world) are associated with subjective well-being and become more than age. Some groups tend to have lower levels of happiness, including those recently partners lost, new customers therapy, hospitalized alcoholics, students under political repression, and recently incarcerated prisoners (taught me one class per semester at a federal prison for 20 years and I can attest to the social adjustments and stresses that newcomers experience in that environment.) comparison social (judging yourself compared to others), especially if they "win" comparison of your own mind, can make you quite miserable.

Act like you are happy. The basic act of smiling brings the mood, while happiness decreases with frown. Smiling stimulates the hormones that are associated with mood elevation. Think happy, smiling and talking optimistically. The Duchenne smile is a genuine smile, rather than a forced or fake smile. The smile contracts the zygomatic muscles at the corners of eyes (formation of crow's feet "), and it is difficult to counterfeit. There are plenty of examples of Duchenne smiles on the Internet (just search for "smile dystrophy "). In an interesting study and well known, the researchers rated the women smile in their college yearbook pictures and found that authentic smiles predicted favorable outcomes marriage and personal well-being up to 30 years later. In a similar study, researchers analyzed the autobiographies written hand (written at an average age of 22 years) of 180 nuns. The autobiographies were scored by positive or negative emotional content, and positive emotional content highly predictive of the longevity of 60 years. It is important to note that the nuns was very similar lifestyles (sex, diet, social activities and support do not smoke or consume excessive amounts of alcohol, etc), giving further support to the importance of positive emotions is relatively free of confounding variables.

Sonja Lyubomirsky has carried out some of the largest studies and scientifically valid happiness to date (see Lyubomirsky, 2007). Basically, after to review a significant body of literature which argues that approximately 50% of happiness is the result of a "set point" that is determined early and that is the result of genetics, biology and prenatal experiences (think of the set of points "known" in many weight loss programs). As noted, a growing body of literature supports the idea that personality and cognitive characteristics are determined many in part and to some extent by genetic predisposition (Examples could include schizophrenia, alcoholism, IQ, and level activity). Many of these features are linked to happiness, in the sense that they determine the range or interval in which their level of happiness may fall at any moment given, and there's not much you can do to change (except, perhaps, by taking "happy pills" — my point of view, it is not Lyubomirsky). The "hedonic treadmill" refers to the finding that good or bad events may temporarily affect happiness, but soon returned to the "neutrality hedonic "or our" set "point. For example, within three months the effects of being fired or being promoted to lose most of its impact. A 10% or less than present happiness is determined by life circumstances (many of which are described in the long list of "things of happiness" described above). Although many of these circumstances affect happiness levels in the short term, the change takes place them limited potential to produce changes sustainable happiness. Finally, Lyubomirsky says that approximately 40% of current happiness is the result of intentional activities, intentional activities that can be done with the expectation of increasing current levels of happiness. In his recent book that discusses in detail the 12 activities happiness intentional including gratitude, optimism, avoiding social comparison, kindness, encouraging social, coping, forgiveness, flow, tasting, commitment goals, spirituality and care of your body. Note that all these actions are intentional, probably related to the serenity and inner peace as well, and discussed elsewhere in this article.

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY! Basta Ya!

Our concern for the happiness is starting to generate a significant reaction in the popular press. For example, Barbara Ehrenreich is the renowned author and several books, including N and ickel Dimed and Bait and switch. His latest book, bright face how tireless promotion of positive thinking has undermined U.S. (2009), has recently been creating a stir. In general, argues that our relentless pursuit of happiness, subjective well-being and positivity has failed. She recognizes Phineas Quimby to be the founder of "positive thinking" back in 1859 (nothing new about it.) A breast cancer survivor, Ehrenreich notes that those who do not survive often blamed for not being positive enough (blame the victim.) She has a gift for memorable phrases used to describe things ("bullshit Quantum "comes to mind). Ehrenreich discusses positive professional psychologists in the same category as sects, healers, and snake oil suppliers (To make money fast). It devotes an entire chapter to an interview with Martin Seligman (not improvement), and refers to his efforts as "scientific breakthrough or offering to finance extravagant and attention? ". She says Seligman efforts probably helped create jobs for a number of psychologists, and also promoted a spirit of "groupthink" among his followers. She also has extensive support for many "mega-churches" and his assertion that "God wants you rich." In the end, she argues that we must be more in tune with realism and awareness of the anger / pain. Ehrenreich is certainly not new to criticize our emphasis on joy and positivity, and probably contributes to the continuous reduction in the general public popularity positive psychology as we know, but it was fun to read anyway.

REFERENCES

Dunn, EW, Aknin, LB and Norton, MI (2008) Spending money on others promotes happiness. Science, 319, 1687-1688.

Ehrenreich, B. (2009)-bright face: How the tireless promotion of positive thinking has undermined the United States. New York, Metropolitan Books.

Lyubomirsky, A. (2007) The science of happiness: a scientific approach to getting the life you want. Penguin Press, New York.

About the Author

Dale R. Floody received his Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from Rutgers University in 1977, and subsequently completed 27 additional credits in clinical and counseling Psychology at Wichita State University. He’s been teaching a variety of psychology and related classes for roughly 35 years, and also served in a wide range of administrative and community service positions related to psychology. He is a retired professor emeritus with the University of Wisconsin Colleges, and currently teaches part-time at Viterbo University. He really enjoys teaching balanced positive psychology and statistics and research design.

www.balancedpsych.com

Alexis Jordan: Happiness