Temporary Effect Of External Factors On A Person's Happiness

Jennifer Senior discusses her research concerning positive psychology and whether or not happiness is teachable and highlights some of the darker sides of happiness. To start the article, Senior reveals her score on her test from the Authentic Happiness Inventory. The test designed by Chris Peterson of the positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania. This test is intended to numerically score ones level of happiness. In a scale of 1 to 5, Jennifer got a grade of 2.88. This indicated she was below average for most rankings such as “age, education level, gender and occupation” (422). Senior states she is at the 50 percent mark for her given zip code. She stated that liking her

Happiness is something that many people spend their whole lives searching for, but when it comes down to it, is often impossible to truly find. In John Gertner’s essay “The Futile Pursuit of Happiness,” he discusses the findings from the happiness studies done by Daniel Gilbert, Tim Wilson, George Loewenstein, and Daniel Kahneman. The results of the studies suggest that although people can predict who or what will make them happy, they do not know how long it will last or to what degree.

From the perspective of positive psychology, there is a well-being formula invested by Martin Seligman to achieve a higher well-being. Martin Seligman (2010) defined as happiness: H (to maintain the length of happiness) = S (happy range breadth) + V (you can control the factors) + C (your living environment). Happy length: the distinction between "temporary" happy and "persistent" happy. Temporary happiness can be achieved by food, comedy, bunch of flowers. While the persistence of happiness is mainly affected by genetic, and this genetic trait can be changed. The breadth of happiness: psychologists think that we are born with a happy constant point, like a thermometer. If there is a happier thing, even if we are upset, it will be dedicated

In the article, Determinants of Happiness in Undergraduate University Students, it says, “Researchers such as Cummins et al. (2009) go as far as to suggest that individuals are happier when whole society’s functions better” (Flynn and MacLeod 452). This shows that without happiness, people could not work well together. It is why so many people work together, and keeping the economy well. In the article Determinants of Happiness in Undergraduate University Students, it says, “It is well known in the positive psychology literature that increased happiness is related to multiple benefits including better mental and physical health, (see Lyubomirsky et al. 2005)” (Flynn and MacLeod 452). This is why people that are happier have a better life in their jobs and schools. It also shows that people have better eating habits if they are happy. In the article Determinants of Happiness in Undergraduate University Students, it says that, “The individual benefits can pale in comparison to the potential societal gains of having a population comprised of such happy and therefore “successful” individuals” (Flynn and MacLeod 453). This is why people who like their job are better at their job. People that are fortunate are ones who usually like their job. People are happier if what they are doing is what they like, and it helps them to be happier than they

However, the study showed that parental education had no effect on the student 's life satisfaction, but it did show that perceived family and personal social status did have a positive effect. Furthermore, individual subjective happiness is not affected by the parental education levels, but once again perceived family status did. "Previous research has consistently linked economic resources and human capital to positive and negative health outcomes across their life span" (Zorotovich 630). Dr. Zorotovich et al look at more factors than just that of income level, and how these factors could maximize well-being, and takes into account how social status of a person and their family members can also affect well-being. They found that people and their families perceived social status had a large impact on the individual 's life satisfaction and happiness, but people with a greater perceived social status of themselves and their families had reported greater levels of happiness and life satisfaction.

Some people argue that happiness helps make good decisions because happy people strive for the best result. David states, “[Positive emotions] help build vital social, physical, and cognitive resources that lead to positive outcomes and affiliations” (124). David points out that with the right amount of positivity, people make good judgments. The author acknowledges that happiness can have benefits, but she states that too much happiness could hurt human development because the mind does not consider the consequences of an action. Julie Norem, a psychology professor, points out, “’If you’re a pessimist who really thinks through in detail what might go wrong, that’s a strategy that’s likely to work very well for you’” (qtd. in Wallis). She explains

Last year I spent so much time trying to figure how much happier I will be if I will make a big effort and start to earn more money. After some research I think that, even though UK Office of National Statistics show an interrelation between income and level of happiness, our emotional state is not correlated with financial sustainability as much as many people think because US National Academy of Science thinks that high income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being, and psychologist Daniel Kahneman and economist Angus Deaton also concluded that happiness doesn’t really increase above

Following Malcolm Gladwell’s idea on “the story of success”, Sonja Lyubomirsky put happiness to the test. Happiness has many great advantages that some may not think about. Studies shown happiness leads to stronger relationships, higher work performance, and even living longer with many health benefits.

I think many of us fail to achieve real happiness because most of us are not willing to do what it takes to be happy…happiness elevates our moods from a low frequency to a high frequency which allows us to feel good about ourselves. So, in essence, being happy affects our physiological conditions. (1)

Happiness does not solely depend on external things, but rather on how those particular things are used.

In his article The Funds, Friends, and Faith of Happy People David G. Myers analyzes results of different surveys and researches in attempt to answer the question: “does money make people happier?” The conclusion suggests they do not. While many people have an opposite opinion, facts show the correlation between money and happiness weakens with the increase of income.

Our internal world governs our happiness, not conditions put upon us from our external environment or conditions we place on ourselves. To put it another way, our search for happiness is the very reason we’re unhappy (McLeod, 2007). Psychology considers happiness an emotion or mental state and a predictor of how well one’s life is going. Some say that happiness is a choice, and therefore a behavior that one chooses. Happiness is a way of interpreting the world, since while it may be difficult to change the world, it is always possible to change the way we look at it (McLeod, 2007).

So, what is happiness? The research suggests that happiness is a combination of how satisfied you are with your life. For example, finding meaning in your work and how good you feel on a day to day basis. Both of these are relatively stable. Life changes and our mood changes, but our general happiness is more genetically determined than anything else. The good news is that with consistent effort, this can be offset. Think of it like you think about weight: if you eat how you want to

Psychologists have not located assured causes that lead people to well-being. David G. Myers in his article “The Funds, Friends, and Faith of Happy People” published in the American Psychologist (2000) and Michael Wiederman in “Why It's So Hard to Be Happy” published in the Scientific American Mind (2007), discuss the reasons which lead people to be happy, and the factors which contribute to unhappiness.

When you hear the word happiness, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Do you think of material possessions like designer clothes and accessories, the newest iPhone with the highest possible storage capacity, or a shiny red supercar? Do you think the amount of money you have or your current financial status has an effect on how happy you are? Plenty of college students, myself included, would associate happiness with possessing items like these or just having a lot of money in general. In today’s society, one common belief about social class is that the richer and more money or things that one has, the happier this will make them. This belief is reinforced by countless advertisements we see and hear everywhere, whether that be on