PSYCH EXAM 3 - HAPPINESS & WELLBEING

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

1. self-actualization

2. status, esteem

3. belonging, social activity

4. safety, security, comfort, sex

5. basic physiological needs, food, water, etc.

we must have needs lower on the hierarchy met before we can try to reach the state of self-actualization—fulfilling our potential

Carl Rogers’ Humanistic Approach

genuineness and empathy, unconditional positive regard, internal locus of control

genuineness and empathy

open with feelings, transparent and self-disclosing, attuned to others’ emotions

unconditional positive regard

an attitude of acceptance of oneself and others despite their failings

internal locus of control

the perception that we can control our own fate; you control your own outcomes through your actions and decisions (ex. “my efforts affect my future”)

external locus of control

the belief that outside forces control your life (luck, fate, other people) (ex. “things just happen to me”)

learned helplessness

a condition in which a person learns that their actions do not matter because they have experienced repeated failure or lack of control

(ex. Seligman’s dogs → dogs exposed to unavoidable shocks later did not try to escape even when escape was possible)

in humans → develops after chronic stress, abuse, or repeated failure

long-term happiness set-point

the long-term happiness set-point refers to the idea that each person has a relatively stable baseline level of hapiness that they tend to return to over time, even after major positive or negative life events

Does Money Buy Happiness?

Research indicates that there is an overall positive correlation between emotional well-being and income

• however, beyond a certain threshold, higher income is neither associated with experienced happiness nor relief from worry, sadness, or anger

relative deprivation

the feeling of dissatisfaction that arises when a erson compares themselves to others and believes they are worse off, even if their basic needs are met; happiness depends more on comparison than on actual wealth or status

(ex. student with an A- feels unhappy because their friend got an A+)

hedonic treadmill

the concept that people continually return to a stable level of happiness despite positive or negative life changes, because they quickly adapt to new circumstances

(ex. breakup → sadness → gradual return to baseline)

meditation

when labeling emotions during mindfulness meditation, people show less activation in the amygdala and more activation in the left prefrontal cortex

meditation also:

• slows down areas of the brain associated with mind-wandering & self-judgment

• protects against a relapse in major depression

• reduces anxiety and sleep problems

• reduces glucocorticoid levels during and after

• reduces perceptions of pain

• boosts the immune system response

• slows the aging process by protecting our telomeres from gradual decline