Happiness

Question 1

bad definitions of happiness

Answer 1

pleasure and positive emotions
desire satisfaction: fulfilling desires

Question 2

good definition of happiness (eudaimonia)

Answer 2

deriving meaning in life; becoming a better person
human flourishing

Question 3

measuring happiness

Answer 3

using self-report because happiness is subjective
considers emotion (current emotions) and cognitive (life satisfaction)

Question 4

at what age are people the happiest

Answer 4

after the 60s (kids go to college? better at regulating emotions)

Question 5

at what age are people the least happy

Answer 5

during 30-40s (have children)

Question 6

set-point of happiness

Answer 6

genetically-determined set point
happy people tend to stay happy

Question 7

happiness paradox

Answer 7

trying to make yourself happy leads to unhappiness

Question 8

why might happiness paradox exist

Answer 8

unhappy people are trying to be happy
aiming for happiness is not stable; aim for goals, exercise, etc.

Question 9

do happy people have more genuine (duchene) smiles?

Answer 9

yes, based on high school year book pictures, genuine smilers had happier lives and less stress

Question 10

does money make you happy

Answer 10

yes, to an extent
initially yes to meet your survival needs
at higher income, happiness plateaus

Question 11

describe the diminishing effect

Answer 11

it takes more money to make you happier / for you to see a change at higher incomes

Question 12

which countries are happier on average

Answer 12

life satisfaction: scandinavian countries -> wealthier, social safety net, social capital, freedom
emotional: latin american ->

Question 13

how much does happiness change as a result of good and bad events?

Answer 13

do not influence happiness as much as we think because we adapt to life circumstances

Question 14

hedonic adaptation

Answer 14

we adapt to good and bad events with efficiency
external environments do not influence happiness as much as we think

Question 15

strategies to improve happiness

Answer 15

1. interact with people
2. be in the moment
3. favor relative over absolute
4. seek experience instead of materials
5. spend money on others
6. mind your peaks and ends
7. find religion or something similar
8. being grateful
9. acting happy

Question 16

why will interacting with people increase happiness

Answer 16

we are social creatures
social support -> happiness
strangers
(but social anxiety can make us reluctant)

Question 17

why will being in the moment increase happiness

Answer 17

mind-wandering is likely causing unhappiness
what you are currently doing is more important

Question 18

why will favoring relative over absolute increase happiness

Answer 18

less social comparisons -> happiness

Question 19

why seeking experience instead of materials increase happiness

Answer 19

materials goods lend themselves to easy comparison
experiences involve other people
we can converse about experience in the future and relive pleasure

Question 20

why does spending money on others increase happiness

Answer 20

make positive difference, engage conversation or provide experience for others

Question 21

why does minding your peaks and ends increase happiness

Answer 21

when we are remembering experiences, we remember extreme values

Question 22

why does religion increase happiness

Answer 22

more social
healthy living
unity, sense of meaning in life

Question 23

why does being happy increase happiness

Answer 23

smiling increases mood