 |
|
Is Happiness Having What You Want, Wanting What You Have, or Both?
April 29, 2008Some argue that happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have. This maxim sounds reasonable enough, but can it be tested, and if so, is it true?
It turns out it can be tested. Texas Tech University psychologist Jeff Larsen and Amie McKibban of Wichita State University asked undergraduates to indicate whether they possessed 52 different material items, such as a car, a stereo or a bed.
Their results, which appear in the April issue of the Association for Psychological Science's journal, Psychological Science, suggest that people can grow accustomed to their possessions and thereby derive less happiness from them.
They also suggest, however, that people can continue to want the things they have and that those who do so can achieve greater happiness.
"Simply having a bunch of things is not the key to happiness," Larsen said. "Our data show that you also need to appreciate those things you have. It's also important to keep your desire for things you don't own in check."
If the students owned a car, the researchers asked them to rate how much they wanted the car they had. If they didn't have a car, they were asked to rate how much they wanted one.
Larsen and McKibban then calculated the extent to which people want what they have and have what they want. Their findings show that wanting what you have is not the same as having what you want. While people who have what they want tend to desire those items, the correlation between the two was far from perfect.
The researchers found that people who want more of what they have tend to be happier than those who want less of what they have. However, people who have more of what they want tend to be happier than those who have less of what they want.
Association for Psychological Science
They also suggest, however, that people can continue to want the things they have and that those who do so can achieve greater happiness.
"Simply having a bunch of things is not the key to happiness," Larsen said. "Our data show that you also need to appreciate those things you have. It's also important to keep your desire for things you don't own in check."
If the students owned a car, the researchers asked them to rate how much they wanted the car they had. If they didn't have a car, they were asked to rate how much they wanted one.
Larsen and McKibban then calculated the extent to which people want what they have and have what they want. Their findings show that wanting what you have is not the same as having what you want. While people who have what they want tend to desire those items, the correlation between the two was far from perfect.
The researchers found that people who want more of what they have tend to be happier than those who want less of what they have. However, people who have more of what they want tend to be happier than those who have less of what they want.
Association for Psychological Science
Happiness Current Events and Happiness News RSSTherapy 32 times more cost effective at increasing happiness than money
Research by the University of Warwick and the University of Manchester finds that psychological therapy could be 32 times more cost effective at making you happy than simply obtaining more money.
Ice cream researchers making sweet strides with 'functional foods'
A comfort food, a tasty treat, an indulgence - ice cream conjures feelings of happiness and satisfaction for millions. Ice cream researchers at the University of Missouri have discovered ways to make ice cream tastier and healthier and have contributed to ice cream development and manufacturing for more than a century.
U-M research shows chronically ill may be happier if they give up hope
Holding on to hope may not make patients happier as they deal with chronic illness or diseases, according to a new study by University of Michigan Health System researchers.
No pain, no gain: mastering a skill makes us stressed in the moment, happy long term
No pain, no gain applies to happiness, too, according to new research published online this week in the Journal of Happiness Studies.
Married with children the key to happiness?
Having children improves married peoples' life satisfaction and the more they have, the happier they are. For unmarried individuals, raising children has little or no positive effect on their happiness.
Exercise is good medicine for lymphoma patients
A healthy dose of exercise is good medicine, even for lymphoma patients receiving chemotherapy, University of Alberta researchers have found.
Is my robot happy to see me?
People are social creatures. Robots - not so much. When we think of robots, we think of cold, metallic computers without emotion.
Classroom behavior: Why it's hard to be good
Being seen as either well behaved or naughty at school is never entirely in the hands of the individual child, this study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council shows.
Poor money saving linked to general impulsiveness
Financial imprudence is linked to other impulsive behaviour such as overeating, smoking and infidelity, according to a new study led by UCL researchers, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.
Father-son team says positive gains can be made in 'psychological wealth'
A focus on psychological wealth rather than financial wealth can help people get through today's tough times, according to two of the world's leading psychological experts on happiness.
More Happiness Current Events and Happiness News Articles
 |
Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill by Matthieu Ricard (Author), Daniel Goleman (Foreword) " You may not find happiness in a book, but if reading a book can precipitate a tectonic shift in your life and mind toward robust, genuine, deeply rooted happiness, this would be the book." --JON KABAT-ZINN, AUTHOR OF COMING TO OUR SENSES This is a revolutionary look at happiness, deeply philo-sophical and tremendously engaging, from one of the world's most compelling voices on the subject. Drawing from works of fiction and poetry, contemporary Western philosophy, Buddhist thought, current psychological and scientific research, and personal experience, Ricard weaves an inspirational and forward-looking account of how we can begin to rethink our realities in a fast-moving modern world. With revelatory lessons and exercises that blaze a clear path for readers, this book offers an... |
 |
Happiness Starring: Jane Adams, Jon Lovitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Dylan Baker, Lara Flynn Boyle Directed By: Todd Solondz Also With: Maryse Alberti (Cinematographer), Todd Solondz (Writer), Christine Vachon (Producer), David Linde (Producer), James Schamus (Producer), Pamela Koffler (Producer), Ted Hope (Producer) HAPPINESS (DVD MOVIE) |
 |
Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert (Author) • Why are lovers quicker to forgive their partners for infidelity than for leaving dirty dishes in the sink? • Why will sighted people pay more to avoid going blind than blind people will pay to regain their sight? • Why do dining companions insist on ordering different meals instead of getting what they really want? • Why do pigeons seem to have such excellent aim; why can’t we remember one song while listening to another; and why does the line at the grocery store always slow down the moment we join it? In this brilliant, witty, and accessible book, renowned Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert describes the foibles of imagination and illusions of foresight that cause each of us to misconceive our tomorrows and misestimate our satisfactions.... |
 |
Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth by Ed Diener (Author), Robert Biswas-Diener (Author) Utilizing sophisticated methodology and three decades of research by the world's leading expert on happiness, Happiness challenges the present thinking of the causes and consequences of happiness and redefines our modern notions of happiness. shares the results of three decades of research on our notions of happiness covers the most important advances in our understanding of happiness offers readers unparalleled access to the world's leading experts on happiness provides "real world" examples that will resonate with general readers as well as scholars Winner of the 2008 PSP Prose Award for Excellence in Psychology, Professional and Scholarly Publishing Division of the Association of American Publishers |
 |
Happiness Starring: Jane Adams, Jon Lovitz, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Dylan Baker, Lara Flynn Boyle Directed By: Todd Solondz Also With: Maryse Alberti (Cinematographer), Todd Solondz (Writer), Christine Vachon (Producer), David Linde (Producer), James Schamus (Producer), Pamela Koffler (Producer), Ted Hope (Producer) HAPPINESS SIGNATURE SERIES (DVD MOVIE) |
 |
The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want by Sonja Lyubomirsky (Author) A groundbreaking, practical guide to attaining happiness based on innovative scientific research, The How of Happiness is a powerful contribution to the field of positive psychology and a gift to people who have sought to take their happiness into their own hands. Drawing upon years of her own pioneering research with thousands of men and women, psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky reveals that much of our capacity for happiness is within our power. Detailing an easy-to- follow plan, including exercises in new ways of thinking and understanding our individual obstacles, The How of Happiness offers a positive and empowering way to sustain a new level of joy in our lives. |
 |
The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt (Author) In his widely praised book, award-winning psychologist Jonathan Haidt examines the world's philosophical wisdom through the lens of psychological science, showing how a deeper understanding of enduring maxims-like Do unto others as you would have others do unto you, or What doesn't kill you makes you stronger-can enrich and even transform our lives. |
 |
The Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling and Start Living by Russ Harris (Author), Steven Hayes (Foreword) Are you, like milllions of Americans, caught in the happiness trap? Russ Harris explains that the way most of us go about trying to find happiness ends up making us miserable, driving the epidemics of stress, anxiety, and depression. This empowering book presents the insights and techniques of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) a revolutionary new psychotherapy based on cutting-edge research in behavioral psychology. By clarifying your values and developing mindfulness (a technique for living fully in the present moment), ACT helps you escape the happiness trap and find true satisfaction in life. The techniques presented in The Happiness Trap will help readers to: * Reduce stress and worry * Handle painful feelings and thoughts more effectively *... |
 |
Deepak Chopra: The Happiness Prescription Starring: Deepak Chopra HAPPINESS. We know it immediately when we see it in others. We spend our time, money and even our lives searching for it. So how do we achieve one of life s most coveted offerings? Renowned author, speaker and spiritual teacher DEEPAK CHOPRA offers us a powerful approach to possessing happiness in his groundbreaking work, The Happiness Prescription. Dr. Chopra offers us a life-changing prescription for how to live more joyfully and with greater AWARENESS of all things. In this beautifully recorded presentation, Dr. Chopra draws upon the world s major spiritual traditions including contemporary applications of Buddha s wisdom to reveal: How to get rid of negative thoughts The mystery of emotional intelligence How to stay centered and more consciously aware How to... |
 |
Happiness: Essential Mindfulness Practices by Thich Nhat Hanh (Author) Encouraging readers to be intelligent and skillful in their practice, this new collection by Thich Nhat Hanh outlines the essential steps by which we can all obtain real and lasting happiness. Each day, we perform the tasks of everyday life without thought or awareness ? walking, sitting, working, eating, driving, and much more. But Hanh points out that if we remain truly aware of our actions, no matter the task we?re performing, we can stay engaged in our lives and better our outlook through mindfulness. This key practice is the foundation for this accessible, easy-to-understand volume, and an invaluable tool for change for both seasoned Buddhist practitioners and lay readers interested in bettering their lives through full awareness. |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |