Happiness and Wellbeing

Question 1

The main researcher used in this chapter is:

Answer 1

lyubomisky

Question 2

What determines happiness?

Answer 2

1. genetic set point
2. circumstances- hedonic adaptation
   - income
   - neighbourhood and living conditions
   - parenthood
   - autonomy
   - competence and belonging
3. Construal- chronically happy people tend to think about life and events in the ways that enhance and maintain their happiness.
4. Social comparison process - unhappy people tend to be happier when they hear other people are performing worse than them

Question 3

Let’s talk about construal: happy people tend to recall both happy and unhappy events more favourably than unhappy people. the evaluate objects, people and events more positively. Why is this? Who explains this fact?

Answer 3

People perceive, interpret and remember life events in a way that serves to reinforce their affective dispositions.
- lyubomisky and Tucker 1998
“the glass is half full, not half empty”

Question 4

How do happy people self reflect?

Answer 4

they are less inclined to self reflect.

Question 5

How do unhappy people self reflect?

Answer 5

they are more inclined to reflect, such as negative social comparison.
they have fewer cognitive resources which puts them at higher risk of experiencing negative social or performance feedback.

Question 6

What is the Broaden and Build Theory? Who proposed it?

Answer 6

• Fredrickson 1998
• positive emotions broaden people’s though-action repertoires, encouraging them to discover new/novel patterns of though or action (including coping strategies)

Question 7

What determines/improves happiness?

Answer 7

Nature
social relationships
live in the present 
practice optimism about the future
spiritual and religious activities
take physical activity a habit 
commitment to meaningful goals

Question 8

How do one improve social well being SWB?

Answer 8

random act of kindness
expressing gratitude
savouring events

Question 9

Moderators of Positive Activities Interventions

Answer 9

• Variety of events to reduce hedonic adaptation effect
• Dosage less is often more.
• Motivation: self selection into PAI is associated with greater well being gains than random selection
  certain activities may work best for certain people. Collectivists might benefit more from other-orientated positive activities and individualists from self-orientated activities (Boehm et al. 2011)
• Placebo
• Effort: lyubomisky showed that people who took part in a “happiness increasing” exercise and put more effort into them showed bigger gains.