Is happiness achievable by all? Flashcards
(29 cards)
What is the difference between subjective and psychological wellbeing?
- Subjective wellbeing includes life satisfaction, positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA)
- psychological wellbeing includes functioning, autonomy, and purpose.
What does eudaimonic wellbeing refer to?
A sense of purpose, personal growth, and self-realisation—linked to Aristotle’s concept of flourishing.
Who pioneered the Positive Psychology movement?
Martin Seligman, along with Csikszentmihalyi, in the early 2000s.
What are the three key areas of Positive Psychology?
- Positive emotions
- positive individual traits (e.g. character strengths)
- positive institutions (e.g. family, schools).
What is the aim of Positive Psychology according to Seligman (2002)?
To study what people do right and how they achieve optimal functioning and happiness.
Why has GDP been criticised as a sole indicator of societal success?
It doesn’t reflect quality of life, happiness, or social wellbeing.
What is Gross National Happiness (GNH), and where was it developed?
A holistic measure of national wellbeing developed in Bhutan, incorporating 9 domains like:
- health
- education
- cultural resilience.
What are some indicators included in Bhutan’s GNH?
- Psychological wellbeing
- health
- education
- time use
- governance
- living standards.
What is the UK’s Measuring National Wellbeing Programme?
- ONS initiative launched in 2010
- assess national wellbeing using a set of:
- evaluative
- hedonic
- eudaimonic questions.
Name one international initiative besides the UK’s that measures wellbeing.
- OECD’s Better Life Initiative
- WHO’s SAGE survey on ageing and health.
What types of questions are used in the UK’s wellbeing survey?
- Life satisfaction
- purpose (worthwhile)
- happiness yesterday
- and anxiety yesterday (scored 0–10).
What is evaluative wellbeing?
A person’s overall judgment of their life satisfaction and specific life domains.
How is experienced wellbeing typically measured?
- diary studies or experience sampling methods.
What pattern does wellbeing follow across the lifespan?
A U-shaped curve: dips in midlife and rises again after age 60.
What is meant by “flourishing” in psychological terms?
Experiencing high levels of emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing.
What does the Construal Theory of Happiness suggest?
Happiness depends on how individuals interpret and evaluate their experiences (Lyubomirsky, 2001).
What is the main idea of Evaluation Theory (Diener & Lucas, 2000)?
Happiness results from evaluating self-relevant information based on personal goals and needs.
What does the Onion Theory of Happiness propose?
Wellbeing has multiple layers—some more influenced by external conditions than others (Czapinski, 1989).
Name the three layers in the Onion Theory of Happiness.
- General subjective wellbeing
- will to live
- domain satisfactions (e.g. health, income).
According to Lyubomirsky et al. (2005), what three factors determine happiness?
- Genetics
- Life Circumstances
- Intentional activities
What do cross-cultural studies suggest about happiness and income?
High income doesn’t guarantee happiness; many poorer groups report high subjective wellbeing.
Which three culturally diverse groups reported similar happiness levels to wealthy Americans?
- The Amish
- the Inuit
- the Maasai (Diener & Seligman).
What factor seems critical for happiness among poorer communities?
Having basic needs met and not desiring more than one has.
What role does social comparison play in happiness levels?
Negative comparisons reduce happiness, especially when others are perceived as more successful.
