Happiness

Graphics courtesy of Calm ClinicOpens in new window People often state that they aspire to be happy, and people regularly wish happiness for their loved ones. However, people’s intuitive understanding of this affective state is imprecise, and many people may know little about what it would actually take to achieve happiness for themselves or for others.

Many researchers have attempted to clarify the diverse positive emotionsOpens in new window or affective states by assigning distinct terms to distinct states. For example, Kalat and Shiota (2007) have identified:

Measuring or detecting happiness is best achieved through multiple routes. One form of measurement is to simply ask people about their levels of happiness or related states such as satisfactionOpens in new window or other positive emotionsOpens in new window.

Another way is to observe behavior. Facially, the expression most associated with happiness is smiling. Of course, people can fake smiling to be polite, ingratiating, or for other reasons; smilingOpens in new window is not a completely reliable indicator of happiness. However, Duchenne smiles are more often true indicators of happiness than non-Duchenne smiles.

Although Duchenne smiles often (but not always) indicate true happiness, it is important to note that a person can be happy and not smile at all.

Physiologically, happiness is not easily distinguished, although some rough indicators exist. A temporary feeling of joy is associated with a slightly increased heart rate, not nearly as dramatic of an increase as occurs with fear or anger (Levenson, Ekman, & Friesen, 1990).

Some specific brain activity is linked to happiness. When people are either happy or angry, the frontal cortex of the left hemisphere of the bain is more active, whereas when people are sad or fearful, the frontal cortex of the right hemisphere increases in activity (e.g., Davidson & Fox, 1982; Henriques & Davidson, 2000). Note that activation of the left hemisphere is associated with both happiness and an emotion that is generally described as “negative”: anger.

The reason that these two affective states have the same brain activity pattern in the frontal cortex is because this pattern is apparently associated with approach behavior (whereas sadnessOpens in new window and fearOpens in new window are associated with avoidance behavior). When an individual is either happy or angry, she tends to become more outgoing and proactive. Additionally, two brain chemicals may be linked to happiness, although research findings are at this point inconclusive.

Dopamine, a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger in the brain) associated with pleasure, attention, and some other functions, may be higher in happy people. Also, endorphins, neurotransmitters which inhibit pain, may be more present in happy people than in people who are less happy (Zubieta et al., 2003).

A significant amount of research has been conducted on causes of happiness. Some researchers have simply asked people what makes them happy in their lives. In a large study, Markus, Ryff, Curhan, and Palmersheim (2004) found a number of factors related to life satisfaction.

When people are asked what would make them more happy, they often mention having more money. However, research indicates that even people who win large amounts of money in the lottery do not become permanently happier. Although they are happier for a few months, they often soon return to the level of happiness that they had prior to winning (Diener, Suh, Lucas, & Smith, 1999).

Some events do appear to have an effect on levels of happiness for long periods of time, often years. In particular, losing a spouse to either death or divorce and losing a loved job can both lead to long-term decreases in overall happiness.

Diener and Seligman (2004) found that losing a spouse was associated with diminishing levels of happiness. After the loss, happiness began to slowly increase over the years but did not return to the former typical level of happiness.

In a study of 24,000 German workers, Lucas, Clark, Georgellis, and Diener (2004) found that participants’ happiness dropped when they lost a job. Then happiness began to increase over time but did not return to prior levels even after 15 years or after getting another job.

The study of happiness and other positive emotions and affective states has exploded since the 1990s, as part of an interest in what constitutes the “good life,” a field called positive psychologyOpens in new window. Research on these positive states has proved fruitful; scientists have learned much about the benefits of positive emotions.

Lyubomirsky, King, and Diener (2005) have conducted a large review of research, reporting the links between positive emotional states such as happiness and a wide variety of positive outcomes such as good physical health, satisfaction in relationship, satisfaction with one’s work life, and above average problem solving. The study of positive emotion states is “hot,” and the field is likely to continue to produce new findings that, when appliled, can improve the quality of people’s lives.