PSYC34 - Lecture 1: Course Overview

Experience Machine

Nozick's thought experiment concerning a virtual reality machine which someone plugs into for life. The machine will create the experience of a very happy life, but Nozick argues that we value being in touch with reality more, so we won't choose to plug in.

Aldous Huxley's Brave New World

Novel exploring comfort versus real human experiences.

Easterlin Paradox

Happiness does not increase with long-term income growth.

Peer-group income and the Easterlin Paradox

Peer-group income negatively predicts individual happiness (ie. if my income increases but my peers' increases more, I feel less happy)

We assess our life position/satisfaction in relation to other people → we compare ourselves

Positive Emotionality

Enjoyment and happiness felt in a specific timeframe.

Life Evaluation Ladder

Scale from 0 (worst) to 10 (best) for life satisfaction.

Global life evaluation and income

there is a linear pattern, as income goes up, so does their standing on the "ladder"

Emotional well-being + positive emotionality in relation to income

up to around $70k there is an increase, but beyond that, more and more income doesn't translate to more emotional well-being

Maximiser

Person who seeks the best possible outcome.

Satisficer

Person satisfied with a good enough outcome.

what is a maximizing mindset associated with?

lower well-being → higher depression, less optimism, more regret, less satisfaction with life

Counterfactual Thinking

Considering 'what if' scenarios for decision-making.

Thomas Szasz

Critic of psychiatry; happiness is socially constructed, and is something that lies outside of us

Hedonia

Pleasure-based happiness focused on immediate gratification.

Eudaimonia

Meaningful happiness derived from purpose and fulfillment.

Conceptual Questions

Questions defining happiness and meaningfulness.

Methodological Questions

Questions about measuring happiness and meaningfulness.

Focusing Effect

Attention to one life aspect sways overall happiness evaluation.

(eg. drawing attention to how many dates someone has been on before asking how happy they are with life)

Epistemic Questions

Questions about the true nature of happiness.

Age and Happiness

Older individuals report higher life satisfaction and less anxiety

Socioemotional Selectivity Theory

Older adults prioritize meaningful experiences over time.