Article summary of Is the study of happiness a worthy scientific pursuit? by Norrish & Vella-Brodrick - Chapter

What is this article about?

This articles is a critique on the view that the study of happiness is not a worthy scientific pursuit. It sets out to prove that the happiness set point and hedonic treadmill theories denote the complexity of increasing happiness levels due to genetic limitations and adaption. There is mounting evidence to suggest that happiness can be improved with the use of appropriate measures and specific interventions aimed at fostering strengths and virtues. Approaching human needs from a top down or holistic standpoint where individuals can use their strengths to overcome life's challenges is beneficial to health and well-being and thus worthy. 

The purpose of this article is thus to evaluate whether the increased investigation of positive aspects is a worthy, scientific pusuit. More specifically this article will examine the notion that the pursuit of happiness is a luxury, which neglects more important aspects of human suffering. And this article will evaluate two issues that pose significant challenges tot the justification of happiness research, being the happiness set theory and the difficulty in measuring happiness scientifically.

How can happiness be defined?

The terms happiness and subjective well-being are often used interchangeably with each other, the latter being the more scientific term. For evaluative purposes the subjective well-being that is discussed will invlude a cognitive component assessing overall satisfaction with life and an affective component which is further divided into the presence of positive affect and the absence of negative affect. Many recent perspectives of happiness are consistent with eudaimonic happiness. Eudaimonic happiness results from the actualisation of individual potential and from fulfulling one's true self. But other theorists look at happiness in a different way. 

What is the happiness set point?

The happiness set point theory is also called the dynamic equilibrium theory. It asserts that despite changes in individual's circumstances, happiness levels remain remarkebly constant over time. The happiness set point is believed to be caused in part by the human tendency to rapidly adapt to changes in the environment. This process of adaptation is often referred to as the hedonic treadmill or homeostatic control. Recently, Diener et al. provided a revision of the hedonic treadmill theory (2006).

What is happiness as a trait?

Another way of looking at happiness, is by seeing it as a trait, a temperamental disposition reflecting a tendency to appraise events and situations in a particular way. According to Headey, personality traits such as extraversion, neuroticism and openness to experience predispose individuals to experience more or less positive and negative life events, which in turn influences subjective well-being. Changes in happiness reports over long periods of time provide evidence against this theory that happiness is a trait, but some psychologists still see it this way.

How relative is happiness?

Some theorists make the argument that happiness is relative. This argument proposes that individuals' happiness evaluations are based on subjective judgements of their situation compared with the situations of others, earlier situations and future goals and aspirations. Increasing happiness can be seen as a goal because changes in individual living situations coincide with changes in standards of comparison. Veenhoven poses an important objection to this argument; while changing standards of comparisons may influence the cognitive component of happiness, it does not change the affective component. It seems that subjective comparisons do not account for all variance in subjective well-being. 

How can happiness be increased?

If happiness is somethat malleable, happiness could be comprised of the individual's set happiness point (S), the individual's circumstances (C) and voluntary factors that are under the individual's control (V). This is Lykken's formula for happiness: Happiness = S + C + V. A lot of psychologists have developed specific strategies aiming to empower individuals to increase their happiness. These strategies involve the identification and communication of external conditions and internal cofnitieve habits. Further research is necessary to find out whether happiness interventions have a lasting positive effect on happiness. 

What is the role of gratitude and kindness for happiness?

There is some promising evidence that suggests that gratitude and kindness have positive ramifications on individual happiness. This again shows that happiness levels are not static. 

What is the relation between happiness, wealth and materialism?

It has been found that after basic human needs are met, happiness is not clearly associated with wealth or material affluence. This idea is consistent with the happiness set point theory and can be partly explained by hedonic adaptation. But recent research shows that perhaps there is even a negative correlation between happiness, wealth and materialism.

Also, it has been proven that people do not accurately predict the amount of happiness events will cause them (see the article Affective Forecasting: Knowing what to want below). This is consistent with the finding that materialism does not result in sustained increases in happiness, as potentially, consumers overestimate the pleasure they will get from purchasing a new product. 

What is happiness on a national level?

There is also a positive correlation between economic growth of a nation and individual well-being. Studies indicating that happiness in nations rise in times of economic growth and decrease in times of economic insecurity provide evidenve that happiness can be increased and counter the argument that this attempt is futile and wothless. 

How can happiness be measured empirically?

A common argument against the scientific investigation of happiness is that is impossible to objectively measure happiness. An opposing view that more and more scientists have is that happiness is subjective and can therefore be measured by asking people how happy they are. With questions regarding happiness, it is important for scientists to accuratly explain to both the participants and the scientific community what they see as "happiness". If this is done correctly, happiness can be measured empirically.

Is investigating happiness a worthy goal?

It is worthy to direct scientific inquiry to the investigation of positive aspects of human behavior because this provides a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of human experience, emotion and behavior. Studies have found that happiness has a positive effect on overall physical health, psychological resilience and growth, relationships and the greater community and economic production and politics. This makes investigating happiness a worthy goal of science. 

There are however limitations. Most importantly there is the problem that psychological research into happiness often utilises diverse definitions of happiness. It would be good for future research to explain explicitly what concept of happiness is used and why that form or idea of happiness is examined. 

It is also important to not only look at happiness, but also to look at a positive attitude in unhappiness. Negative emotions are important and there are some positive attitudes that can help to get rid of negative emotions and to become more happy in general. 

In conclusion, the study of happiness is useful and a worthy, credible and valuable sceintific goal.