HappinessHappiness

Subjective well-beingSubjective well-being

The extent of happinessThe extent of happiness

• What percent of US adults consider What percent of US adults consider themselves happy most or all of the themselves happy most or all of the time?time?

• 80% happy most of the time.80% happy most of the time.• 80% consider themselves optimists.80% consider themselves optimists.• How accurate do you think these How accurate do you think these

statistics are?statistics are?

Some people are skepticalSome people are skeptical

• Pessimists are better judges of Pessimists are better judges of reality.reality.

• Don’t look at the world through rose Don’t look at the world through rose colored glasses.colored glasses.

• Must be willing to keep an open Must be willing to keep an open mind.mind.

• Nurture optimism in ourselves and Nurture optimism in ourselves and others.others.

Elements of subjective well-beingElements of subjective well-being

• 1. 1. HappinessHappiness::• --an --an emotional stateemotional state..• --how you feel about yourself and --how you feel about yourself and

the world.the world.• 2. 2. Satisfaction with LifeSatisfaction with Life::• --more global judgment about your --more global judgment about your

acceptance with your life.acceptance with your life.• --more of a --more of a cognitive assessmentcognitive assessment..

How happy are we?How happy are we?

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

How happy are we? Results.How happy are we? Results.

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

• Good + very good + best possible = 83%Good + very good + best possible = 83%

Last element of SWBLast element of SWB

• 3. 3. Emotional stabilityEmotional stability::• --low level of neuroticism.--low level of neuroticism.• --lack of serious personality flaws.--lack of serious personality flaws.• Neurosis: “poor ability to adapt to one's Neurosis: “poor ability to adapt to one's

environment, an inability to change one's environment, an inability to change one's life patterns, and the inability to develop a life patterns, and the inability to develop a richer, more complex, more satisfying richer, more complex, more satisfying personality." (Boeree, 2002) personality." (Boeree, 2002)

How do we measure SWB?How do we measure SWB?

• Most widely Most widely used scale used scale developed by developed by Ed DienerEd Diener

• ““Dr. Happiness”Dr. Happiness”

Satisfaction with Life ScaleSatisfaction with Life Scale

Edward DienerEdward Diener

• Not at all Moderately AbsolutelyNot at all Moderately Absolutely true true truetrue true true 1 2 3 4 5 6 71 2 3 4 5 6 7

1.1. In most ways my life is close to my ideal.In most ways my life is close to my ideal.

2.2. The conditions of my life are excellent. The conditions of my life are excellent.

3.3. I am satisfied with my life I am satisfied with my life

• Not at all Moderately AbsolutelyNot at all Moderately Absolutely true true truetrue true true 1 2 3 4 5 6 71 2 3 4 5 6 7

4.4. So far I have gotten the important things I want So far I have gotten the important things I want in life.in life.

5.5. If I could live my life over, I would change If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing.almost nothing.

Scoring the Diener SWBScoring the Diener SWB

• 31-35 Extremely satisfied31-35 Extremely satisfied• 26-30 Very satisfied26-30 Very satisfied• 21-25 Slightly satisfied21-25 Slightly satisfied• 20 Neutral point20 Neutral point• 15-19 Slightly dissatisfied15-19 Slightly dissatisfied• 10-14 Dissatisfied10-14 Dissatisfied• 5-9 Extremely dissatisfied5-9 Extremely dissatisfied

Can we trust self report?Can we trust self report?

• Is person telling the truthIs person telling the truth• Or giving socially acceptable answer?Or giving socially acceptable answer?• Diener found high correlation between Diener found high correlation between

self report and reports of family and self report and reports of family and friends of subject.friends of subject.

• Joe and Joe’s spouse and friends.Joe and Joe’s spouse and friends.• Other’s perceive same happieness.Other’s perceive same happieness.• Also agreement with overt behavior of Also agreement with overt behavior of

subject (actions and expressions).subject (actions and expressions).

What do numbers represent?What do numbers represent?

• Not at all Moderately AbsolutelyNot at all Moderately Absolutely

true true truetrue true true

1 2 3 4 5 6 71 2 3 4 5 6 7

Rank ordered scale (ordinal data) not Rank ordered scale (ordinal data) not

““real numbers” like height and weight (ratio data).real numbers” like height and weight (ratio data).

But, after all, this is called subjective well-being.But, after all, this is called subjective well-being.

Even IQ is really a subjective construct.Even IQ is really a subjective construct.

Is SWB stable over time?Is SWB stable over time?

• All have mood swings.All have mood swings.• Some days better than others.Some days better than others.• Get good or bad news.Get good or bad news.• Solution: Event sampling.Solution: Event sampling.• Csikszentmihalyi gave subjects pagers.Csikszentmihalyi gave subjects pagers.• When pager beeps, have to enter mood When pager beeps, have to enter mood

and activity into a journal or mini and activity into a journal or mini computer.computer.

• SWB small changes but quite stable.SWB small changes but quite stable.

Changes in SWBChanges in SWB

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

Aging with GraceAging with Grace

• David SnowdonDavid Snowdon• Longitudinal studyLongitudinal study• Essays written when take Essays written when take

their vows.their vows.• Those who expressed Those who expressed

positive themes had high positive themes had high SWB at advanced age.SWB at advanced age.

• Low level of Alzheimer’s.Low level of Alzheimer’s.

Yearbook picturesYearbook pictures

• Harker and Kettner (2001)Harker and Kettner (2001)• Compared college Compared college

yearbook photos with yearbook photos with SWB 30 years later.SWB 30 years later.

• Looking for Duchenne Looking for Duchenne smile.smile.

• Duchenne did first studies Duchenne did first studies on facial expressions on facial expressions (1862) in France.(1862) in France.

Varieties of smileVarieties of smile

• Pan American smilePan American smile

• Duchenne smileDuchenne smile

Varieties of smileVarieties of smile

• Duchenne vs. Pan Duchenne vs. Pan American smilesAmerican smiles

• Correlates of Duchenne Correlates of Duchenne smilesmile• Greater enjoymentGreater enjoyment• Broad smile that you Broad smile that you

can read in the eyes.can read in the eyes.• Seen in lower photo.Seen in lower photo.

Smiles and SWBSmiles and SWB

• Women with Duchenne smiles in college Women with Duchenne smiles in college yearbook photos.yearbook photos.

• 30 years later:30 years later:• Had happier marriagesHad happier marriages• Felt less stressFelt less stress• Had higher SWB scores.Had higher SWB scores.• Conclusion SWB stable over time.Conclusion SWB stable over time.• Related to psychological wellness.Related to psychological wellness.

Psychological components of SWBPsychological components of SWB

• Ed Diener and David MyersEd Diener and David Myers• 1. High self esteem1. High self esteem• Most important predictor of SWBMost important predictor of SWB• Western cultures value individual Western cultures value individual

achievement and successachievement and success• Eastern cultures value group success.Eastern cultures value group success.• Self esteem tied to group membership.Self esteem tied to group membership.

Psychological components #2Psychological components #2

• 2.2. Sense of perceived controlSense of perceived control..• Belief some measure of control over life Belief some measure of control over life

events (in cases where possible).events (in cases where possible).• Rutter: Locus of ControlRutter: Locus of Control• Internal locus best.Internal locus best.• Newer term: personal control: belief that Newer term: personal control: belief that

you can effect outcomes. you can effect outcomes.

Not always in controlNot always in control

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

this belief.this belief.

Psychological components #3Psychological components #3

• 3. Extroversion3. Extroversion• Higher SWB in people who are Higher SWB in people who are

interested in things outside themselves.interested in things outside themselves.• Extroverts generally have higher SWB.Extroverts generally have higher SWB.• Seek and enjoy company of others.Seek and enjoy company of others.• Doesn’t mean that all introverts are Doesn’t mean that all introverts are

unhappy.unhappy.• Introverts prefer join a few close friends.Introverts prefer join a few close friends.

Psychological components #4Psychological components #4

• OptimismOptimism• ““a tendency to expect the best possible a tendency to expect the best possible

outcome; to dwell on the most hopeful outcome; to dwell on the most hopeful aspect of a situation.”aspect of a situation.”

• Look to the future with hope and Look to the future with hope and positive expectations.positive expectations.

• Optimistic explanatory styleOptimistic explanatory style

Explanatory style exampleExplanatory style example

• Professor doesn’t return my phone call Professor doesn’t return my phone call about writing a recommendation.about writing a recommendation.

• Negative: Negative: • professor hates me; he is ignoring me.professor hates me; he is ignoring me.• Positive: Positive: • out of town, will respond when he out of town, will respond when he

returns.returns.• Make another call in a week.Make another call in a week.

Psychological components #5Psychological components #5

• 5. Positive social relationships5. Positive social relationships• High correlations of SWB with High correlations of SWB with

satisfaction with family and friends.satisfaction with family and friends.• Social support and emotional intimacy.Social support and emotional intimacy.• Important for physical and psychological Important for physical and psychological

health.health.• Strongest Strongest externalexternal source of SWB. source of SWB.• Social contact better predictor than Social contact better predictor than

wealth, education or career.wealth, education or career.

Importance of familyImportance of family

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

Psychological components #6Psychological components #6

• 6. Sense of meaning and purpose.6. Sense of meaning and purpose.• Defined as spirituality by some.Defined as spirituality by some.• Doesn’t have to be religious.Doesn’t have to be religious.• Belief that your life is connected to a Belief that your life is connected to a

greater good.greater good.• Your life will make a difference.Your life will make a difference.

Man’s search for meaningMan’s search for meaning

• Viktor FranklViktor Frankl• Concentration camp survivor.Concentration camp survivor.• Belief that you can find a Belief that you can find a

purpose in life even in terrible purpose in life even in terrible conditions.conditions.

• To give up hope is to give up To give up hope is to give up the will to live.the will to live.