Happiness

Subjective well-being

The extent of happiness

What percent of US adults consider themselves happy most or all of the time? 80% happy most of the time. 80% consider themselves optimists. How accurate do you think these statistics are?

Some people are skeptical

Pessimists are better judges of reality. Dont look at the world through rose colored glasses. Must be willing to keep an open mind. Nurture optimism in ourselves and others.

Elements of subjective well-being

1. Happiness: --an emotional state. --how you feel about yourself and the world. 2. Satisfaction with Life: --more global judgment about your acceptance with your life. --more of a cognitive assessment.

How happy are we?

Time magazine poll (12/2004) Would you say that so far you have lived --the best possible life you could have. --a very good life --a good life --a fair life --a poor life

How happy are we? Results.

Time magazine poll (12/2004) Would you say that so far you have lived --the best possible life. 13% --a very good life 37% --a good life 33% --a fair life 15% --a poor life 2%

Good + very good + best possible = 83%

Last element of SWB

3. Emotional stability: --low level of neuroticism. --lack of serious personality flaws. Neurosis: poor ability to adapt to one's environment, an inability to change one's life patterns, and the inability to develop a richer, more complex, more satisfying personality." (Boeree, 2002)

How do we measure SWB?

Most widely used scale developed by Ed Diener Dr. Happiness

Satisfaction with Life Scale

Edward Diener

 Not at all true 1 2 3

Moderately true 4 5 6

Absolutely true 7

1. In most ways my life is close to my ideal. 2. The conditions of my life are excellent. 3. I am satisfied with my life

 Not at all true 1 2

Moderately Absolutely true true 3 4 5 6 7

4. So far I have gotten the important things I want in life. 5. If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.

Scoring the Diener SWB

31-35 26-30 21-25 20 15-19 10-14 5-9 Extremely satisfied Very satisfied Slightly satisfied Neutral point Slightly dissatisfied Dissatisfied Extremely dissatisfied

Can we trust self report?

Is person telling the truth Or giving socially acceptable answer? Diener found high correlation between self report and reports of family and friends of subject. Joe and Joes spouse and friends. Others perceive same happieness. Also agreement with overt behavior of subject (actions and expressions).

What do numbers represent?

Not at all true 1 2 3 Moderately Absolutely true true 4 5 6 7

Rank ordered scale (ordinal data) not real numbers like height and weight (ratio data). But, after all, this is called subjective well-being. Even IQ is really a subjective construct.

Is SWB stable over time?

All have mood swings. Some days better than others. Get good or bad news. Solution: Event sampling. Csikszentmihalyi gave subjects pagers. When pager beeps, have to enter mood and activity into a journal or mini computer. SWB small changes but quite stable.

Changes in SWB
Life crisis will cause a dip. Celebration will cause a rise. But SWB quite consistent. A few long term studies.

Aging with Grace

David Snowdon Longitudinal study Essays written when take their vows. Those who expressed positive themes had high SWB at advanced age. Low level of Alzheimers.

Yearbook pictures
Harker and Kettner (2001) Compared college yearbook photos with SWB 30 years later. Looking for Duchenne smile. Duchenne did first studies on facial expressions (1862) in France.

Varieties of smile
Pan American smile

Duchenne smile

Varieties of smile
Duchenne vs. Pan American smiles
Correlates of Duchenne smile Greater enjoyment Broad smile that you can read in the eyes. Seen in lower photo.

Smiles and SWB

Women with Duchenne smiles in college yearbook photos. 30 years later: Had happier marriages Felt less stress Had higher SWB scores. Conclusion SWB stable over time. Related to psychological wellness.

Psychological components of SWB

Ed Diener and David Myers 1. High self esteem Most important predictor of SWB Western cultures value individual achievement and success Eastern cultures value group success. Self esteem tied to group membership.

Psychological components #2
2. Sense of perceived control. Belief some measure of control over life events (in cases where possible). Rutter: Locus of Control Internal locus best. Newer term: personal control: belief that you can effect outcomes.

Not always in control

Some occasions may turn over control. Example: higher power in AA. Relinquish perceived control. Hurricane, floods, acts of God. Events outside your control. Wisdom to know when to depend on this belief.

Psychological components #3
3. Extroversion Higher SWB in people who are interested in things outside themselves. Extroverts generally have higher SWB. Seek and enjoy company of others. Doesnt mean that all introverts are unhappy. Introverts prefer join a few close friends.

Psychological components #4
Optimism a tendency to expect the best possible outcome; to dwell on the most hopeful aspect of a situation. Look to the future with hope and positive expectations. Optimistic explanatory style

Explanatory style example

Professor doesnt return my phone call about writing a recommendation. Negative: professor hates me; he is ignoring me. Positive: out of town, will respond when he returns. Make another call in a week.

Psychological components #5
5. Positive social relationships High correlations of SWB with satisfaction with family and friends. Social support and emotional intimacy. Important for physical and psychological health. Strongest external source of SWB. Social contact better predictor than wealth, education or career.

Importance of family
Rare person who, as his life draws to a close, wishes he had spent more time with at work.

Psychological components #6
6. Sense of meaning and purpose. Defined as spirituality by some. Doesnt have to be religious. Belief that your life is connected to a greater good. Your life will make a difference.

Mans search for meaning

Viktor Frankl Concentration camp survivor. Belief that you can find a purpose in life even in terrible conditions. To give up hope is to give up the will to live.