Positive Psychology

Even if You Can’t Buy It, Happiness Is Big Business

The theory of the hedonic treadmill suggests that people stay at about the same level of happiness regardless of what happens to them circumstantially. Thus, researchers have turned to personality and outlook as predictors of happiness. For instance, studies have shown that “the strongest predictor of a person’s happiness was how happy the person had been 10 years before (Baumeister 193).” This brings to light the question of how to improve one’s outlook and promote a happier life.

Addressing this question, the “positive psychology” movement is on the rise. Last week, the first American “Happiness and its Causes” conference was held in San Francisco. A two-day affair bringing together philosophers, scientists, psychologists and Buddhists, the conference incorporated several different cheerful workshops.

Topics considered at the conference included “Compassion and the Pursuit of Happiness” and “Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers.” People discussed things like mindfulness-based stress reduction as well as the role of emotional support in cancer.

Positive psychology, which began in Sydney in 2006, studies “ways of making human life better, enriching human experience, and helping people cultivate their potentialities” (Baumeister 50). It’s all about focusing on positive things. For instance, “Several psychological patterns have been shown to increase happiness, such as forgiving others, being grateful for blessings, practicing religious beliefs, and being optimistic” (Baumeister 193). And since happiness is linked to health and success in life, studying and having conferences about positive psychology sounds really worthwhile.

The award for the biggest bubble burster went to Darrin M. McMahon, a professor of history at Florida State University, who said, “We cannot feel good all the time, nor should we.” Is he advocating negative affect balance? I always strive to keep the frequency of my positive emotions minus the frequency of my negative emotions positive. Someone needs to check his life satisfaction!

References: Social Psychology & Human Nature, Baumeister