findings and conclusions

• Myths of happiness: age


  No time of life is more or less happy than another but predictors of happiness become more important
• myths of happiness: gender

  there are gender gaps in misery.women feel more intense sadness and joy. Gender accounts for <1% global wellbeing
• myths of happiness: race and disability

  no relative difference in self esteem and wellbeing

  happiness varies dramaticallly across nations ( 10% in Portugal vs 40% in Netherlands)
• Myths of happiness: Money


  Once people afford life necessities , increasing levels of affluence have limited effect on happiness
• happy people traits


  high self esteem

  personal control

  optimistic

  extrovert

  supportive relationshps
• people who are happy enter a state of flow through engaging in mindful activity
• people with strong faith cope better after divorce, bereavement or unemployment
• conclusions


  theory of happiness made of 3 strands

  1. importance of adaption- effect of pos and neg events fade over time
  2. happiness is a cultural world view- some cultures offer pos interpretations for daily events
  3. values and goals are important