what was veenhoven’s review on happiness (3) ? for each of his points, what has additional research revealed?
the pursuit of happiness makes us…
- more self-focused/less other-focused
-additional research: happiness associated w more concern for others. - more idle
-additional research: happier on more active days, more prosocial, better w cognitive tasks, more expansive writing movements on happier days. - less healthy
-additional research: happiness associated w heath + longevity
what are 3 things that SWB is related to according to lyubormirsky et al’s and pressman & cohen’s meta-analyses?
- more prestigious jobs and better job performance in general
- happier interpersonal relationships (including marriages)
- lower mortality/high survival rates
according to lyubormirksy et al’s and pressman & cohen’s meta-analyses, what does PA motivate ppl to do (2)?
-PA motivates ppl to act in ways to improve WB
-broadens attentional focus ( = enhanced coping & problem-solving)
T or F: according to lyubormirksy et al’s and pressman & cohen’s meta-analyses, happiness is an outcome of life success, not the other way around.
false! both ways (happiness fosters life success too)
T or F: a portion of SWB is heritable.
true
about how much (%) of variance in SWB is stable?
50%
was the hedonic treadmill theory correct?
-not completely.
-ex. some circumstances we never adapt to, adapt slowly to, or adapt incompletely to.
-our baseline is slightly happy; not neutral.
what is schooler et al.’s paradox?
pursuit of happiness is rarely successful when done for its own sake.
you don’t have to pursue happiness in order to be happy, you need to pursue ____.
optimal goals
what are optimal goals (5)?
- self-concordant (goals rooted in self-concept result in intrinsic motivation).
- approach-oriented (avoidance-motivated do not +WB).
- moderately challenging (effort = growth).
- attainable.
- instrumentally related (not in conflict).
do we ever adapt to goal-pursuit?
no!
what was fordyce’s intentional positive activities study?
-taught students what happy ppl do, had students practice those behaviours in everyday life.
-WB improved relative to control group (insight group, fundamentals group, activities group, control group).
-measured 50 random ppl’s WB 3 months later.
-fundamentals group experienced largest boost in WB.
-replicated findings; we can make ppl happier :)
according to lyubomirsky et al.’s positive activity model, what are the 3 main contributers to WB? what was their main claim regarding positive activities?
- intentional activity (40%)
- circumstances (10%)
- set-point (50%)
main point: practicing simple, intentional and regular activities meant to mimic the thoughts, behaviours and goals of happy ppl can boost happiness
sketch the positive activity model diagram
this website tryna make me pay to insert an image so just do this urself on a sticky note or smth :p
what are the 3 moderators of the positive activity model?
- activity features
-simple (but not passive), intentional, and effortful.
-dosage: depends on person-activity fit.
-variety (to prevent habituation).
-trigger: acts that trigger further positive acts.
-socially supported acts: connection to others, to some higher power/energy.
-sustained practice. - person features
-motivated + believe efforts will pay off (self-efficacy).
-personality traits (ex. extraversion & openness).
-initial affective state (ex. if already happy, not much of an increase available).
-perceptions of social support.
-demographics (determine values, goals). - person-activity fit
-activities must fit with personal characteristics.
-ex. self-oriented (optimism) vs. other-oriented (gratitude), i.e., individualists vs. collectivists.
-ex. social-behavioural (being kind) vs. reflective cognitive (savouring happy times), i.e., lonely vs. “frazzled” individuals.
-ex. past-focused (counting blessings) vs. future-oriented (ex. optimistic thinking), i.e., older adults vs. youth.
based on the positive activity model, why does performing positive activities benefit WB (3)?
- intentional and require effort
-can lead to flow. - increase happiness
-foster PA, positive thoughts/meaning, satisfies human needs. - counter hedonic adaptation = long-term happiness
-episodic, transient, varied activities.
-draw attention to features that produced initial happiness and help us to not take them for granted.
what are the specific WB interventions that we discussed in class (5)?
- counting your blessings
- expressing optimism
- focusing on good things
- focusing on character strengths
- using character strengths
counting your blessings: why gratitude (5)?
- prevents hedonic adaptation
- strengthens social relationships
- counters depressive affect
- increases resiliency
- acts as a moral barometer, motivator, and reinforcer
counting your blessings: what are the 2 associated studies and their findings?
- seligman et al.
-count your blessings vs control condition.
-write & deliver letter IRL to someone who had been kind to them, but never properly thanked.
-larger immediate boost in happiness relative to control.
-short-term benefits; by 3 months returned to baseline. - watkins et al.
-one daily one week interventions.
-memory placebo group, pride 3-blessings group, gratitude 3-blessings group.
-assessed PA, NA, LS, depression, gratitude.
-gratitude 3-blessings showed greatest boosts; still short-term tho.
conclusion: counting your blessings = short-term benefits.
expressing optimism: what is the evidence like?
-mixed.
-“write about your best possible self” reported boost in happiness that lasted for several weeks.
-“write about when you were at your best/personal strengths” reported immediate boost but returned to baseline by 1 week. note: control group happier tho??
focusing on good things: what is the evidence?
-supports!
-seligman et al.
-“write down daily 3 things that went well + why”
-long-term increases in happiness
focusing on good things: what is the evidence like?
-supports!
-seligman et al.
-“write down daily 3 things that went well + why”
-long-term increases in happiness. note: control group started out as happier but exp group ended happier.
focusing on character strengths: what is the evidence like?
-seligman et al.
-take survey + note top 5 and try to use throughout week.
-immediate boost in happiness relative to control.
-by 1 week returned to baseline.
using character strengths: what is the evidence like?
-seligman et al.
-take survey + note top 5 character strengths, use one of top character strengths in diff way every day
-long-term sustained increases in happiness. note: control group started out as happier but exp group ended happier.
