Positive Approach Myers and Diener: Who is Happy?

Question 1

Describe the methodology and procedures of Myers and Diener’s research ‘Who is happy?’. (3) marks as per the Question

Answer 1

Literature review and meta-analysis of research on the topic of happiness

Happiness was assessed using subjective well-being. SWB measured using a multi-item scale through questionnaire, and closed questions in interview.

Example: ‘How satisfied are you with your ilfe as a whole these days?’

Use of correlation to consider what co-variables vary with SWB and observation to determine effect of activity on SWB .

Question 2

Describe the findings of Myers and Diener’s research ‘Who is happy?’.

Answer 2

Age: No difference. Survey of almost 170,000 across 16 countries found no difference (Inglehart). All ages reported average 80% satisfaction with life

Gender: (Inglehart‘s) survey found generally no differences. 80% of men/women ‘fairy satisfied’ with life.

Culture: large differences found, 10% very happy in Portugal and 40% very happy in the Netherlands (Inglehart).

**CULTURE CONTINUED:
**Collectivist cultures reported lower SWB than Individualist cultures.

Money: People who win the lottery only experience brief increases in happiness (Argyle). Very modest correlation of +0.12 between income and happiness. **Money has an effect up to a point where certain level of comfort is reached. **

Traits of happy people: High self esteem, optimisim and extraversion. Not clear whether these traits cause higher SWB or vice versa.

Relationships: (Burt) People who can name several close friends are healthier and happier. (Lee) Married people reported 39% happiness vs 24%.

Work: (Csikszentmihalyi) used beepers to sample behaviour. People were happiest when engaged in mindful challenge and experiencing flow.

Religion: religious people reported higher levels of happiness (Poloma and Pendleton)

Question 3

Briefly describe the conclusions of Myers and Diener’s research ‘Who is happy?’.

Answer 3

• Theory of happiness should consist of importance of adaptation, cultural world view and values and goals.
• A person’s happiness is not predictable from their age, gender or affluence. It is may associated with race, culture.
• Happy people have certain traits, close relationships, enjoy world and are religious.
• Research into happines is a ‘welcome complement’ to psychological studies about depression.
• Research into happiness will help us “better understand how to build a world that enahnces human well-being”.

Question 4

(From the textbook) Outline the 4 conclusions from Myer’s and Diener’s study ‘Who is happy?’.

Answer 4

• There are 3 elements as part of the theory of happiness.
• Importance of goals: suggests that negative and positive effects fade over time. Study found only events in last 3 months affect SWB. This is because of the human capacity to adapt to life circumstances.
• Cultural world view: Cultural attitudes predispose people to interpret life goals differently, depending on whether positive or negative emotions are emphasised.
• Values and Goals: People with high SWB have goals. All other factors like money, intelligence only matter if they are relevant to your goals.
• The future: A person’s happiness is not predictable from their age, gender or affluence. It is may associated with race, culture. Happy people have certain traits, close relationships, enjoy world and are religious.

Using this, we can enhance human well-being.