What Makes You Happy?

FriendsAs the philosopher William James once said, The emotions aren’t always immediately subject to reason, but they are always immediately subject to action. Whatever that means, one thing is clear: the emotions are increasingly subject to study by psychologists. Even something so individualistic as personal happiness is being placed under the microscope, but what are we learning about what makes us happy (or not)? Some recent findings suggest just how much our habits of comparing ourselves to others can affect our sense of well-being.

Is happiness contagious? New research explores how not only our own choices and actions but also those of others affect our emotional well-being – and how one person’s cheer, even a stranger’s, might infect others. Studies suggest that emotions may have a kind of “collective existence” beyond what individuals feel. A sense of humor is a large part of what makes people happy. Not surprisingly, psychologists are studying that too, examining what people’s responses to humor might reveal about their personalities.

Psychologists who study happiness or life satisfaction can now search a database of global survey data, thanks to Dutch social psychologist Ruut Veenhoven (see “World Database of Happiness” link below). Interesting comparisons of “gross national happiness” can now be made between countries.

Related Links

  • Why We’re Still Happy
    When bad news, such as grim reports about the state of the economy, affects nearly everyone in general, it tends not to make anyone in particular less happy. How do our concerns about relative status contribute to our emotional well-being?
    (Source: New York Times, December 27, 2008)
  • Happiness and Economic Performance
    The Beatles sang, “money can’t buy me love” – but can it buy happiness? This study explores how economic factors such as increased income and unemployment affect people’s happiness and life satisfaction.
    (Source: Scribd.com)
  • Strangers May Cheer You Up, Study Says
    Is happiness contagious? New studies explore how others’ happiness can improve our own sense of emotional well-being.
    (Source: New York Times, December 5, 2008)
  • World Database of Happiness
    Search this amazing global collection of data on the “subjective appreciation of life.” It takes a little love of statistics, but the information is here to answer the question: Where is the happiest place on Earth?
    (Source: World Database of Happiness)
  • Obama and McCain Walk into a Bar . . .
    One question that intrigues psychologists involves studying differences in people’s sense of humor: for example, who laughs more easily – a liberal or a conservative?
    (Source: New York Times, November 4, 2008)

3 Comments

  1. no name says:

    iam always happy

  2. beatles says:

    I am in love all the time and happy

  3. Anonymous says:

    K BUENO ESTS