Value of Happiness
Value of Happiness!
Subjective well-being (SWB) which is defines as a scientific name for how people evaluate their lives depends on some indicators such as gender, race and wealth. It has been researched for centuries whether there is a correlation between money and happiness. Although there are some researchers against this idea as a result of some hypothesis such as Easterlin Paradox, the common view among them is that income has not a significant effect on subjective well-being in long-term. Besides, there are other ways to improve subjective well-being without money such as developing ‘traits of happy people’, not comparing oneself to one’s environment and following man’s desire to explore, create, and innovate. (Kluger, 2013)
It is generally believed that money can buy happiness and enhance SWB at least in certain circumstances like high national wealth and providing basic needs. (Kluger, 2013) However, there are some cases that money can not bring happiness because of modern time’s issues such as disabilities, depressions, high divorce and suicide rates. (Myer&Diener, 1995) First of all, national wealth is one of the major factors that increase SWB. According to a research which was conducted by Inglehart, people who are living in rich countries are happier. Although national wealth gives satisfaction, this situation may not be true all the time. For example, West Germans are wealthier but not happier than Irish people. ‘Doubling your salary…will not make you twice as happy.’ (Kluger, 2013) On the other hand, when basic needs such as food, clothing and security are provided, people simply reach a satiation point (Kluger, 2013) but according to Diener it doesn’t improve long-term happiness. (Myer&Diener, 1995) In addition, being happy with modest income is a current issue in poor countries because there is lack of national wealth. (Diener&Diener, 2011) There are some other times that money doesn’t mean happiness. When it is compared to past, people earn
Subjective well-being (SWB) which is defines as a scientific name for how people evaluate their lives depends on some indicators such as gender, race and wealth. It has been researched for centuries whether there is a correlation between money and happiness. Although there are some researchers against this idea as a result of some hypothesis such as Easterlin Paradox, the common view among them is that income has not a significant effect on subjective well-being in long-term. Besides, there are other ways to improve subjective well-being without money such as developing ‘traits of happy people’, not comparing oneself to one’s environment and following man’s desire to explore, create, and innovate. (Kluger, 2013)
It is generally believed that money can buy happiness and enhance SWB at least in certain circumstances like high national wealth and providing basic needs. (Kluger, 2013) However, there are some cases that money can not bring happiness because of modern time’s issues such as disabilities, depressions, high divorce and suicide rates. (Myer&Diener, 1995) First of all, national wealth is one of the major factors that increase SWB. According to a research which was conducted by Inglehart, people who are living in rich countries are happier. Although national wealth gives satisfaction, this situation may not be true all the time. For example, West Germans are wealthier but not happier than Irish people. ‘Doubling your salary…will not make you twice as happy.’ (Kluger, 2013) On the other hand, when basic needs such as food, clothing and security are provided, people simply reach a satiation point (Kluger, 2013) but according to Diener it doesn’t improve long-term happiness. (Myer&Diener, 1995) In addition, being happy with modest income is a current issue in poor countries because there is lack of national wealth. (Diener&Diener, 2011) There are some other times that money doesn’t mean happiness. When it is compared to past, people earn
Cited: David G. Myers and Ed Diener (1995). Who Is Happy? Psychological Science, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Jan., 1995), pp. 10-19. Retrieved from http://www.echocredits.org/downloads/2794689/Who.is.Happy.pdf Kluger, J. (2013). The Happiness of Pursuit. TIME Magazine July 8, 2013. Retrieved from http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2146449,00.html