Picture obtained from financetwitter and is not related to this study; we hereby state, categorically, that neither "Dr" Rosmah nor her husband, the PM, took part in this sutdy. But we got your attention ;-) |
“Happiness Isn’t Getting What You Want, But
Wanting What You Get”
“Variety is the Spice
of Life”
These sayings seem to have a psychological basis, according
to a new study by an MU psychologist who identified two keys to becoming
happier and staying that way.
“Although the
Declaration of Independence upholds the right to pursue happiness, that search
can be a never-ending quest,” said Kennon Sheldon, professor of psychological
sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences. “Previous research shows that an
individual’s happiness can increase after major life changes, such as starting
a new romantic relationship, but over time happiness tends to return to a
previous level. Through our research, we developed a model to help people
maintain higher levels of happiness derived from beneficial changes.”
This model consists of two major components:
1. the need to keep
having new and positive life-changing experiences and,
2. the need to keep
appreciating what you already have and not want more too soon.
In the recent study, Sheldon, along with co-author Sonja
Lyubomirsky of the University of California, Riverside, first surveyed 481
people about their happiness. Six weeks later participants identified a recent
positive change in their lives that had made them happier. Six weeks after
that, the psychologists evaluated whether the original happiness boost had
lasted. For some it had, but for most it
had not. The psychologists then tested and confirmed their model for predicting
whose boost had lasted.
Wanting More and Raising Standards
“The majority got
used to the change that had made them happy in the first place,” Sheldon said.
“They stopped being happy because they kept wanting more and raising their
standards, or because they stopped having fresh positive experiences of the
change, for example they stopped doing fun things with their new boyfriend and
started wishing he was better looking. A few were able to appreciate what they
had and to keep having new experiences. In the long term, those people tended
to maintain their boost, rather than falling back where they started.”
Genetics and
“Set-Point” of Happiness
Due to genetics and other factors, individuals have a
certain “set-point” of happiness they normally feel. Some people tend to be
bubbly, while others are more somber, though individuals vary in a range around
their set-point. Sheldon’s research suggests how people can train themselves to
stay at the top of their possible range of happiness.
“A therapist can help
a person get from miserable to OK; our study shows how people can take
themselves from good to great,” Sheldon said.
Sheldon also noted that the best life changes don’t
necessarily equate to new purchases. Although a shiny new possession can boost
happiness, that purchase has to be experienced anew every day and appreciated
for what it brings to have any lasting effect on happiness.
Addiction to Wanting
More
“The problem with
many purchases is that they tend to just sit there,” said Sheldon. “They don’t
keep on providing varied positive experiences. Also, relying on material
purchases to make us happy can lead to a faster rise in aspirations, like an
addiction. Hence, many purchases tend to be only quick fixes. Our model
suggests ways to reduce the ‘let down’ from those purchases. For example, if
you renovate your house, enjoy it and have many happy experiences in the new
environment, but don’t compare your new decor to the Joneses’.”
The above story is based on the May 07, 2012 news release
from the University of Missouri-Columbia. The study has been published online
ahead of print: K. M. Sheldon, S. Lyubomirsky. The Challenge of Staying Happier: Testing the Hedonic Adaptation
Prevention Model. Personality and
Social Psychology Bulletin, 2012; 38 (5): 670 DOI: 10.1177/0146167212436400
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