myers and diener

• What is subjective well-being?

  person's opinion of how happy they are
• What are collectivist cultures?

  cultures where the group takes priority over individual's needs
• What are individualist cultures?

  cultures where individual takes priority over group
• What is flow?

  being so caught up in an activity that the mind doesn't wander > oblivious to surroundings and time flies
• METHOD

  lit rev of existing research > topic = happiness, examining factors correlated with happiness and features of people who are happy

  secondary info > didn't carry out original research

  studies examined - carried out between 1985-91 (wide range of countries)

  research reviewed used variety of different methods to assess SWB (e.g. observations, self report techniques, correlation)
• PROCEDURE - lit review > no procedures

  select topic = happiness

  search lilt (on topic)

  develop argument (find factors that link to happiness)

  survey lit (see what it suggests about factors that link to happiness)

  develop findings (about features of people who are happy and factors that influence happiness)

  write review of findings
• FINDINGS - factors relating to happiness

  AGE - not related

  survey 170,000 from 16 different countries

  no time in life = happier than another

  EXT - no evidence of mid life crisis
• FINDINGS - factors relating to happiness

  GENDER - not related

  across 16 different countries > 80% men and 80% women = fairly satisfied with life (Inglehart 1990)

  EXT - another study > women 2 times more likely to be at risk of depression than men

  men 5 times more vulnerable to addiction
• FINDINGS - factors relating to happiness

  MONEY - related and not

  poorer countries - money related to happiness, but as far as helping to afford life's basic needs (food , home)

  EXT - people who win the lottery > report brief increase in happiness but returns to normal after 3 months
• FINDINGS - factors relating to happiness

  culture - related

  individualist cultures > greater SWB than collectivist

  EXT - some variation between countries

  Portugal = 10% = very happy

  Netherlands = 40% = very happy
• FINDINGS - features of happy people

  RELATIONSHIPS

  people who can name several friends = happier than those with few friends

  EXT - married = more likely to describe themselves as very happy than those who aren't married, are divorced / separated
• FINDINGS - features of happy people

  PERSONALITY - consistently happy people - 4 key traits:

  • high self esteem = like themselves
  • control - feel empowered, cope well with stress
  • optimism = look on the positive side of things
  • extroversion = outgoing and sociable
• FINDINGS - features of happy people

  WORK + FLOW

  if work = challenging and engaging > creates sense of flow and individual feels absorbed

  flow achieved = sense of wellbeing
• FINDINGS - features of happy people

  RELIGION

  religious people report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction

  people = strongly religious - 2 times more likely to say they're very happy

  EXT - strong positive correlation between happiness and worship attendance and strength of religious affiliation
• CONCLUSIONS

  • knowing age, race, sex and income doesn't inform us how happy they are > better clues > personality traits and asking who is happy

  > can help people rethink priorities and build a world that enhances wellbeing

  • cultural world view > person's culture influences how they view the world

  > some cultures percieve the world as benevolent and controllable > others socialise people to accept anxiety and guilt as normal

  > your culturally influenced view of the world affects how you respond to life events > influences happiness
• CONCLUSIONS

  • importance of adaptation

  > any theories of happiness must emphasize the role of adaptation

  > people have an enormous capacity to adjust and adapt to significant life events

  > effects of highs and lows don't alter happiness levels in long term

  • values and goals

  > important factor in wellbeing = feeling that you're making progress towards long term goals