Happiness

Question 1

What is affective forecasting?

Answer 1

We overestimate how positive or negative we will feel in response to good or bad events (accurate in how we will feel, inaccurate in specific emotion, intensity and duration)

Question 2

What did the “breakup study” indicate?

Answer 2

“Luckies” (no breakups) were shown to not have a higher level of happiness than “leftovers” (at least one breakup), “luckies” also predicted a higher level of sadness than “leftovers” actually experienced → overestimate the impact of bad events

Question 3

What is focalism?

Answer 3

Solely focusing on the influence of a specific future event in predicting future happiness (i.e. thinking a relationship will make you happy) → affects predictions for good and bad outcomes

Question 4

What is immune neglect?

Answer 4

Underestimating coping resources in the case of a negative outcome → only affects predictions for negative outcomes

Question 5

What are the effects of money on happiness?

Answer 5

Depends on what it is spent on → spending on others can lead to greater levels of happiness (Dr. Elizabeth Dunn)

Question 6

What is self-determination theory?

Answer 6

People function best when needs for connectedness (need to be cared for and care for others), autonomy (exercising free will), and competence (need to feel effective in what you are doing) are met

Question 7

What is flow?

Answer 7

Feeling of being completely absorbed in a challenging activity (Csinkszentmihalyi)

Question 8

What is mindfulness?

Answer 8

Awareness of one’s internal states and surroundings

Question 9

How does emotional expression influence happiness?

Answer 9

Reliving negative emotions can allow people to work through them, but reliving positive emotions can cause people to overanalyze them and diminish the impact

Question 10

What is practice in the context of happiness?

Answer 10

Count your blessings (Lyubomirsky, 2006) - flow, take care of your body, being kind, and expressing gratitude