lecture 10- happiness and well-being

history of positive psychology

post World War II

• focus of psychology on human problems and how to remedy them (led to development of the DSM)

• led to field embracing "disease model of human nature”

disease model of human nature

people seen as flawed and fragile, casualties of cruel environments or bad genetics, focus on fixing weaknesses

history of positive psychology

post World War II

• focus of psychology on human problems and how to remedy them (led to development of the DSM)

• led to field embracing "disease model of human nature”

disease model of human nature

people seen as flawed and fragile, casualties of cruel environments or bad genetics, focus on fixing weaknesses

positive psychology

the scientific study of human flourishing, or of what goes right in life

• challenges the disease model, arguing that human goodness and excellence are just as authentic as disorders and distress

the good life

3 types of well-being, AKA “ways to pursue the good life” (Shige Oishi)

1. a happy life

2. a meaningful life

3. a psychologically rich life

subjective well-being

psychological operationalization of happiness

• 2 components (Ed Diener)

  1. affective → positive/negative emotions

  2. cognitive → life satisfaction

correlates of happiness

• genetic heritability

• income and wealth

  • wealth and happiness paradox → wealth only increases happiness to a certain point (happiness due to wealth levels off)

• close relationships

• faith and religion

hedonic adaptation (hedonic treadmill)

after positive/negative events, and a subsequent increase in positive/negative feelings, people return to relatively stable, baseline level of affect

Sustainable Happiness Model

proposes our subjective well-being is influenced by 3 factors

1. our set point/genetics

2. life circumstances

3. intentional activity

Positive Activity Model (Person-Activity Fit Model)

performance (positive activity) → increased well-being

• positive activities increase positive emotions, positive thoughts, positive behaviors, need satisfaction, which enhance well-being

  • activity features AND person features

activity features (Person-Activity Fit Model)

• across → dosage (frequency and timing of activity can impact effectiveness), variety (varying types of activities), and built-in social support (engaging in positive activities w/ others)

• between → present vs future vs past, other vs self-oriented, social vs reflective

person features (Person-Activity Fit Model)

motivation and effort, efficacy beliefs, baseline affective state, personality, social support, demographics

why pursue happiness?

happiness can come from being successful and also lead to success (Broaden-and-Build Theory)

• happy ppl more likely to be married and have strong marriage

• happiness predicts obtaining job, better job performance, and higher salaries

• happiness predicts better physical health, w/ positive emotions improving immune function