“People wait all week for Friday, all year for summer, all life for happiness.”
In An Introduction to Positive Psychology, Dr. William Compton describes positive psychology as seeking “to make normal life more fulfilling.” It utilizes the scientific method (hypothesis, prediction, study, research, analysis) to understand the positive and emotionally fulfilling aspects of human behavior. It is the study of what actions, pursuits, and motivations best contribute to the good life.
I enjoy reading positive psychology. The more I discover, the more I am reminded that happiness is rarely found in material possessions or worldly pursuits. Our most fulfilled lives are discovered living for greater causes.
These pursuits are available to us regardless of our heritage, background, or socioeconomic standing. They are freely available to anyone who chooses to dedicate their lives to them.
10 Positive Psychology Studies to Change Your View of Happiness
1. From Wealth to Well-being? | Harvard Business School, 2009. While there does appear to be some correlation between happiness and income when basic needs are not yet met, people tend to overestimate the influence of wealth on happiness by 100%. Money does not lead to nearly as much happiness as people think it will.
2. Buying Experiences, not Possessions, Leads to Greater Happiness | San Francisco State University, 2009. The study demonstrates that experiential purchases, such as a meal out or theater tickets, result in increased greater well-being than material possessions. These experiences tend to satisfy higher order needs, specifically the need for social connectedness and vitality—a feeling of being alive.
3. The Science of Gratitude | University of Pennsylvania, 2005. One of the greatest contributing factors to overall happiness in life is how much gratitude we show. And a noticeable difference can be experienced with as little as three expressions each day (“Thank you for…”).
4. Trust, Morality, and Oxytocin. Claremont Graduate University, 2011. Based on research findings, psychologists believe humanity’s trust, empathy, and morality increase as their levels of oxytocin increase. Neuroeconomist Paul Zak explains the simple act of eight hugs a day can increase internal oxytocin levels and result in a happier you and a better world.
5. For a Better Day, Smile. | Michigan State University, 2011. People who smile as a result of cultivating positive thoughts can significantly and immediately improve their mood. Simply put, one easy way to improve your mood right now is to recall pleasant memories—and smile because of it.
6. The Dynamic Spread of Happiness | University of California, San Diego, 2008. In this significant study, people who were surrounded by happy people were more likely to lead happy lives in the future. So if you want to discover more happiness in your life, make a point to surround yourself with joyful people.
7. Kindness Counts | University of British Columbia, 2012. In this study conducted at an elementary school, students who performed kind acts experienced significantly higher increases in peer acceptance. In other words, people who are kind to others are more well-liked. This contributes to their own personal popularity as they help other people.
8. People who Exercise on Work Days are Happier | University of Bristol, 2008. People’s moods significantly improve after exercising. They are also more productive and equipped to manage stress in their workday.
9. Is Volunteering a Public Health Intervention? | University of Exeter Medical School, 2013. Evidence suggests volunteering benefits mental health and even, survival. Donating time to causes you believe in not only improves well-being and overall life satisfaction, it is also linked to decreased depression and a lower risk of dying early.
10. Spending Money on Others Promotes Happiness | University of California Berkeley, 2008. This study suggests that how people spend their money may be at least as important as how much money they earn. Specifically, spending more of one’s income on others results in greater happiness. So go ahead, be generous. You’ll be glad you did.
Cece Allen says
I’m happy reading your blog. Thank you! I am grateful for you – for sharing your life with us.
Gladys (The Pinay Mom) says
I always believe that gratitude makes us have a happy life. Being grateful on things,big or small.
maximyou.com says
I read your post with great interest, even though I skipped the 10 studies themselves (chosen among the hundreds of happiness studies out there) – because I’m always interested in (new) obstacles to happiness.
Even though I get the point in studying, I hope!, in the case of happiness (not only, but also), to think “happy” must be measured and understood, first, is in fact the ultimate obstacle from ever making it to happy.
Why would anyone think studying happiness comes before happiness – I’m clueless. Fact is, the demand for happiness studies is such that even The United Nations has been drafted to meet it. The most select group of happy people we could find? How if they just started to ACT happy – wouldn’t that produce the hotly (expensively) pursued object of their study, instantly?
By making happiness rocket science the UN is doing happiness a disservice. It also kills all hope of them warning the world’s population that if you need a reason to be happy, that reason can be taken away from you again.
“People Happiest Between 60 and 69 Years Old” (caught the other day on a large news channel) – implies happiness can be measured and that it depends on age. Nothing could be wronger, but if anything, then more people hope to be 60 years old now, than before that headline.
Maybe the question to ask, was the person who wrote this piece – happy or unhappy?
Happy people do not study happiness, they explain it – hence are automatically excluded from the study group (which otherwise would have ended before it starts).
Unhappy people on the other side can’t explain it because they have no clue what they’re talking about – how would anyone be happy in that situation?
As an ex-unhappy person myself, I know the unhappy have in their arsenal the most powerful of defenses: the happy are simply too dumb to be unhappy. If they were smarter they’d be like me, then we could be unhappy together.
While the happy, with a pinch of sadness, conclude “Nothing is funnier than unhappiness” (Samuel Beckett).
Shawnh says
You are likely unhappy. Read your reply carefully and objectively to see if you can detect a sense of unhappiness in your comments. Your intent is to relay objective, intelligent, unemotionally attached information to explain that information about studies of happiness are flawed as unhappy people create them. I have viewed many issues as objectively as possible. I was trained to do so and feel randomized controlled double blind studies seem as the best way to obtain solid data. The null hypothesis has more recently been viewed a questionable by statisticians and I agree that the null hypothesis and all the study techniques are flawed but a few are the best we have to work with. Staying happiness by those methods will allow more people to consider the potential o be happier by altering their behaviors. Those behaviors are not all innate. Reading literature on happiness, like any other topic, can lead to behavior change and happier people. Many of these people have poor self perceptions and can develop better self perception and clarity. You may have a poor self perception so please read your comments again. If this last sentence caused you immediate anger and defensive posture than you are not considering my comments objectively and then cannot make a true, rational decision. sorry if I come across rude or too judgemental. I honestly read your reply closely and enjoyed portions of it. However, I feel strongly that happy people can and do study happiness to confirm certain beliefs about ways to better people and society.
David says
Cool reply Shawn
Falconium says
I’d be happy if you deleted your post. I’d be grateful for that. And my oxytocin levels would increase upon your departure. You are, what I call, a black cloud person, always the fly in the ointment.
Tara says
Let us hope that studying happiness will lead to a global readjustment of the dominant narrative of economic growth and prosperity and contribute to a movement toward a ‘truer’ narrative that happiness, wellbeing and sustainability would make more useful measurements than economic growth.
That focusing on relationship rather than ‘making the guys next door jealous with your stuff’ will bring you more fulfilment that the current message in advertising and media.
Unfortunately, some of us have lost touch with what makes us feel good for its own sake and when we can’t access the intrinsic worth of something, the legitimacy of a study may be the lever that people need to give it a go.
Maybe maximyou just needs a hug. :)
Tope Fabusola says
Thanks, Thanks, Thanks for this awesome collection. I believe in Gratitude for one. About smiling, as I read I recalled one of those moments and found myself genuinely happy and smiling.
Generally, this post is great and on point.
Thanks again.
Teri Clifton says
Loved this and passing it along! :)
laramealor.com says
I love #7 Kindness does count , I believe in what you put out in the world you get back!
http://www.laramealor.com/12-unconventional-ways-keep-family-healthy-vacation/
Kush Sharma says
Great list. May I add one more? Learning a skill like some sport, art, musical instrument, etc. Acquiring a skill that is enjoyable to our cerebral and physical faculties is a sort of active meditation that can go a long way in cultivating peace of mind.
Rakesh Tirath says
Yes, developing a passion will make and keep people happy. Ideal to have a superordinate goal as your passion.
For me a superordinate goal is one that brings smile to masses.
I also believe that contrary to the common belief that success brings happiness reality is just opposite. Happiness is an attitude, state if mind and those who opt to remain happy get lasting success ie bliss.
BrownVagabonder says
It is so gratifying to see scientific proofs for all the learnings that, minimalism and living life filled with experiences rather than stuff, has already given to us. We know that these learnings feel true on the inside. We couldn’t really give a logical explanation for why they felt so good. But now whenever anyone comes at us with an argument for buying stuff to grow the economy, we can throw the book at them. The book filled with scientific studies that you were so gracious to compile. Thank you!
Judy says
I have always been grateful for the smallest of things…and I thank my mom for that. When I was just a kid, she would put me to bed and we’d say our prayers. She’d tell me to be grateful for a warm cover and a nice bed to sleep in, because not everyone was so lucky. She taught me gratitude right from the start. —Life hit with some hard blows and gratitude became a great coping mechanism.
Thank you, mom.
Judy says
P.S. I lost her at 13 years of age to lupus. Her wisdom is with me still. How we loved her!
Noelle says
What a wonderful memory of your mom, Judy. I love that. I want to start helping my children give thanks at bedtime. What a sweet way to fall asleep, for me as well.
Angela says
“At the end of the day, just kneel and pray, thank you lord for my work and play. I’ve tired to be good, like I know that I should. That’s my prayer for the end of the day …………. Google ‘At the end of the day’ for the full prayer / song. It’s ful of positives. My Mum used to sing this to us when we were very little xx
Neghie says
My mom has Lupus too and it almost took her as well. I’m grateful I didn’t lose her early on my life. Learning to be grateful for my life in general, has also helped me through a couple of years of hardship on the pursuit to happiness. I live in America and even with all flaws, opportunities are abound.
Jamie says
I especially love #3. Gratitude is hard–it requires effort and choice. It’s good to have your grateful list handy, in case you start sinking into self pity.