Happiness, as a subject of research, is relatively
new. Psychological studies in happiness did not occur in large
numbers until the 1960’s. And even now there is a relatively
limited amount of research, considering how important happiness
is to the average person. The work that has been done in this field
tends to be somewhat controversial and riddled with contradictions.
But out of this tumultuous field, certain solid studies have elicited
a greater understanding of what makes people happy.
Psychologist Robert Epstein points out that happiness is a primary
goal in most people and is often treated like the Holy Grail. He
suggests the industry of marketing as an example. Whatever is trying
to be sold, whether it’s a car, a new movie, or a pharmaceutical,
what is usually being offered is happiness. For example, if the
message of an advertisement suggests that a certain car will help
you get an attractive mate, what it is really saying is that the
car will help you get the attractive mate, who will make you happy.
Take a look at any Self-help section of a bookstore, or the latest
pharmaceutical craze, it is happiness that is being peddled and
people are spending enormous amounts of money on it.
But do these things really make people happy? Psychologists tend
to be very leery about answering questions like this. They usually
begin by dividing the topic into two sides: happiness (a long-term
sense of fulfillment) and pleasure (short-term feelings of joy).
Psychologists are also quick to point out that almost anything
can bring any individual happiness. Having said that, there have
been numerous important and useful studies that examine the question;
of “what makes people happy?”
The Results
By studying people who are exceptionally happy, exceptionally
depressed and neither, psychologists have compiled some fascinating
evidence regarding what produces and maintains a happy mood.
Long-term happiness tends to occur in individuals who simply tend
to have fulfilled a greater number of happiness factors. While
these factors tend to be very subjective, statistics suggest certain
universal tendencies for what works to create moods of happiness.
The following are some of the more important factors in making
people happy.
Social Satisfaction
Although almost anything is capable of producing a happy mood,
most research points to social interaction as being the most
important variable in determining happiness. Everything from
a chat with a coworker, to a phone call from a loved one, to
greeting a stranger in the street - these everyday, social events
are the primary source of people’s happy moods.
Among these social interactions none produce as much happiness
as the much coveted romantic relationship. Relationships, statistically
speaking, have an enormous impact on a person’s level of
happiness. In fact, not only are couples happier than singles,
but even couples who are unsatisfied with their current relationship
tend to have a higher average level of happiness than those who
are single.
Job Status
One thing that almost all happy people agree upon is that they
love their jobs. Considering that in industrialized countries
people spend an average of 80% of their waking lives at work
it should not be surprising that it plays such an important role.
Enormous amounts of time and money have been spent on studying
the relationship between happiness and job performance. The results
are very clear that the happier a person is, the harder they work
and the more productive they are.
As often is the case with the happiness, it builds upon itself.
If a person is happy doing their job they tend to be more successful
at it. This success then tends to make that person happy, which
again leads to enhanced performance.
Reflecting how important job status is, research suggests that
one of the most depressing experiences a person can have is to
be unemployed.
Socioeconomic Success
Money and status are aspects that conventional wisdom tends to
downplay in the role of happiness. Research suggests that it
is otherwise.
Money’s relationship to levels of happiness is such that
it can be devastating to be destitute. Happiness increases with
income from poverty up to a mid-range of income at which point
happiness levels balance out and no longer increase with income.
It would seem that after all of the basic necessities are met and
a few luxuries, money ceases to increase happiness. People with
income levels around $65,000 USD, tend to be far happier than people
earning $15,000 USD, and just as happy as people earning $5,000,000
USD.
Yet Robert H. Frank, in his article “How Not to Buy Happiness,” points
out that income levels, as they relate to happiness, are strictly
relative. In other words, a man who might feel happily wealthy
in one country because he owns many more cows than anyone around,
may feel sadly impoverished if he moved to Hollywood.
Practical Application
Psychologists provide mixed messages regarding what a person is
to do with the information provided by their studies. While some,
like Michael Fordyce, suggest that happiness is best attained by
those who chase it, others, like Robert Epstein agree with Edith
Wharton when she wrote, "If only we'd stop trying to be happy
we could have a pretty good time."
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