Lecture 7: Cross-national happiness, money and religion Flashcards
Is the correlation between money and happiness larger within or between nations?
Between/across nations
Which component of SWB is most strongly related to money?
Life satisfaction - as payout increases so does standard of living which impact SWB
*what is done with money matters
How does money have “diminishing returns” for happiness
Low levels of income to high levels = happiness shoots up quickly
High levels to higher levels = not a very big difference in happiness
SO link between happiness and income weakens as income increases
What is the gallup world poll? How is it completed?
What does it compare?
Annual survey begun by Gallup org in 2005 that samples entire world (160 nations, 98% of population - approx 1000 people)
- includes measures of well-being designed by PP
- random digit dialing, approaching households (random selection survey approach)
Compares SWB with wealth and social resources (respect, using skills, learning)
What are the major findings of the GWP?
Money predicts SWB, more for satisfaction
Feelings more impacted by social resources
National income predicts SWB above individual wealth
- its nice to live in a rich society: gov ability to provide healthy infrastructure
- some small relative deprivation
Rising incomes over time can increase SWB
What does Kasser say about the price of materialism?
Switch to intrinsic values brings down materialism
Materialistic values bring down care for nature and pro-social
What is the association between materialism and SWB?
Consumerism and materialism are negatively correlated with happiness
Depression, anxiety and substance abuse are common among people who value C/M
Materialism is also negatively correlated with prosocial behaviors (less empathetic, cooperative and generous)
What are the associations between prosocial spending and happiness? What were the results of an influential study on the topic?
Spending money on others seems to facilitate happiness
Initial study in Science
- longitudinally, before/after bonus at work “windfall”, tracked how they spent the money, people who spent bonus on others were happier (not super reliable)
- Experimentally (5$ vs, 20$; self vs. other), double affective broadcasting error (people who thought they would be happy spending money on themselves were not)
What other phenomena, experienced by children, is closely related to the effects of pro-social spending?
Sharing/giving - video of child sharing with stuffed monkey, coded emotional expression of children, child is happiest when giving their own treats to puppet
Correlation observed in much of the world
When does pro-social spending seem to facilitate SWB the most?
Hint: 3
Seems to facilitate SWB most when meeting basic needs of the self-determination theory
Relatedness: spending money on someone you’re closer to, even more so when you get to experience it with them
Competence: idea that you are having an observable effect/impact
Autonomy: when you choose to do it you are happier than when you are forced to do it
How is religion associated with SWB? When/where is religion most important to SWB?
Particular type of religion not important
Gives a sense of meaning/purpose to life, feel respected and a sense of community (social support)
Places where difficult circumstances are most prevalent (poorer, less educated, more dangerous) - religion seems to be a buffer and is most important for SWB
What is the religion paradox? what can we resolve from this paradox?
If religion is good for happiness/SWB, then why are people dropping out of it?
Idea that where we find religion is most prevalent in places with difficult circumstances. Prevalence also encourages more followers, if the culture is religious people are more likely to ascribe.
Places where religion is dropping are stable/un-disturbed by struggles, here, religion doesn’t seem to do much for happiness
