psych exam 3- happiness and well being

Maslows Hiearch of Needs

you must meet the lower needs (food, safety, belonging) before reaching the top

top is self actualization

many people get stuck at belonging/social needs

ex of people who have reached self-actualization: Gandhi, MLK

what are carl rogers conditions for positive growth

1. genuineness and empathy: honest about feelings and understand others feelings

2. unconditional positive regard: accepting people despite their flaws

3. internal locus of control: feeling in control of your own life

internal locus of control

you control your fate

leads to optimism/confidence

external locus of control

outside forces control your fate

leads to helplessness

learned helplessness

after repeated uncontrollable bad events, you stop trying to escape/fix things even when you can

• this triggers anxiety/depression

• ex) dogs shocked in cages stopped trying to escape, even when the cage opens

long-term happiness set point

your baseline happiness stays fairly stable over time

you return to this normal level even after good or bad events

does money buy business

yes, but only up to a point

more income —> more happiness/emotional well being

after a certain threshold —> no more benefit (platue point)

relative depression

happiness depends on comparing yourself to others

hedonic treadmill

buying things doesnt care lasting happiness

so you just keep continue chasing more (“running but going nowhere”)

Describe the meditation, mindfulness, and well-being research we discussed in class.

calms amygdala (fear/stress) and activates prefrontal cortex (positive feelings)

default-mode network —> active when mind-wandering (thinking about past/future)

lowers stress horomones (glucocorticoids)

reduces pain, boosts immune system, protects telomeres (slows cell aging)

breath=anchor to stay present

monk studies —> meditation reshapes brain circuity for well-being