POSITIVE Evidence - Myers and Diener Flashcards
Aim of Myers and Diener Study
The study aimed to pool previous research on happiness to answer key questions about factors contributing to happiness.
Methodology
Literature review; collected findings from various studies (interviews, questionnaires, observations, correlations, meta-analysis).
Findings
170,000 people from 16 countries; found no significant differences in happiness across gender, ethnicity, or culture.
Inglehart (1990)
80% of both men and women reported being ‘fairly satisfied’; gender accounted for 1% of global wellbeing.
Having et al (1984)
Women are twice as vulnerable to depression compared to men.
Robins (1991)
African Americans reported nearly twice as much happiness as European Americans.
Diener et al (1993)
Individualist cultures report greater subjective wellbeing than collectivist cultures.
Astin et al (1987)
Wealth does not correlate with greater happiness; people on the Forbes list are 37% less happy than the average American.
Jean-Paul Sartre (1973)
“Hell is other people” - Relationships can cause stress for some.
Married vs. Non-Married Happiness
Married people are happier than non-married people: 39% vs. 24%.
Lee et al (1991)
In North America and Europe, religious individuals report higher happiness levels.
Paloma and Pendleton (1990)
‘Flow’ refers to being deeply involved in an activity where other matters feel less important.
Conclusions
- Importance of adaptation;
- Positive/negative events fade over time;
- Cultural worldview shapes interpretations;
- High SWB individuals have goals.
Cultural Worldview
Cultural attitudes predispose people to interpret life events differently.
Values and Goals
SWB is linked to having meaningful goals; money and intelligence matter only if relevant to goals.
Evaluation - Methodology
Literature review, potential researcher bias, and limited scope of research included.
Self-Report Data Issues
Social desirability bias, subjectivity, and difficulty in assessing one’s own wellbeing.
Reliability Issues
Sample issues, self-reported data may lack accuracy, and findings are based on a single question.
Alternative Evidence - Howell and Hill (2009)
Money can produce happiness, but spending on experiences (vs. material goods) is more effective.
Schinka et al (2004)
Some people have a gene associated with higher life satisfaction.
Lyubomirsky (2013)
50% of happiness is genetic, 40% is self-control, and 10% is based on circumstances.
Ethical Implications
Literature review avoids experimentation, but self-reporting happiness could lead to psychological harm and invasion of privacy.
Social Implications
Findings could be socially sensitive, possibly fueling discrimination, especially against non-European/American groups.
