Happiness Flashcards
What is Happiness?
Aristotle And Epicurus
Aristotle - Happiness is an end on its own unlike money or honour which are means
Epicurus - Absence of Pain and Fear is Happiness
How is happiness achieved
It is achieved as eudemonia:
– By pursuing that which gives life meaning
– By cultivating unique human endowments of virtue
Authentic Happiness Theory (Seligman 2002)
(Seligman 2002)
Pleasure (hedonic)
- Positive Emotion
- The Pleasant Life
Engagement (Eudaimonia)
- Flow
- The good life
Meaning
- Sense of purpose
- The meaningful life
Measuring Happiness
• Self report
– Most commonly used method (for measuring
pleasure)
• Experience Sampling Method
– For measuring engagement
Genetic Set-Range (50%)
• Traits: mix of biological, psychological and societal influences that characterise a person’s thoughts and ac8ons throughout their lives
• Main idea: you can measure and categorize people according to their personality traits, for traits are:
– Enduring
– Different amongst individuals – Influence behaviour
Twin Studies
- Identical Twins
- Raised Apart
Examples:
22 lottery winners
- 1 year later no more happy
Medical Patients
- Paraplegic people with spinal cord injuries, only a bit less happy than lottery than not paralysed
Intentional Activity 40%
Attitudes and Behaviours towards past, present and future: – Gratitude – Forgiveness – Optimism – Acts of kindness – Meaning – Mindfulness – Engaging strengths – Flow experiences
Circumstances 10%
- Age
- Gender – Females happier and sadder
- Physical Attractiveness
- Geographic location
- Wealth beyond needs
Happiness formula
Genetics (set point) 50% + Intentional Activity 40% + Circumstances 10% = happiness
Flourishing: Theory of Wellbeing
From concern with happiness – To concern with wellbeing
• Goal to increase human flourishing
• Component evaluative criteria:
– Contributes to well-being
– Pursued it for its own sake, not as a means to another end
– Defined and measured independently of the other
elements
