Presentation for my Social Psychology class.

1. HEDONIC ADAPTATION: CAN WE BE HAPPIER?

5. SOURCES OF HAPPINESS Lyubomirsky, Sheldon, Schkade (2005)

9. THE HAPPY PERSON Wilson (1967); Seligman (2002) Well-paid Once GNP > $8000 pp, correlation disappears Fabulously rich only slightly happier Extremely poor find much of their life satisfying ✓✗ Married Robust correlation; might not be causal Only if marriage is happy ✓ Young Life satisfaction goes up slightly with age, pleasant affect declines slightly, negative affect is unchanged ✓✗ Healthy Subjective perception matters most Severe and long-lasting illness – less decline than might be expected ✓✗ Well-educated, any intelligence No effect ✗ Of either sex Women are both happier and sadder ✗ Religious Somewhat happier and more satisfied with life (social support, hope, meaning) ✓

13. ADAPTATION TO MARITAL TRANSITIONS Lucas (2007)

14. ADAPTATION TO UNEMPLOYMENT, DISABILITY Lucas (2007)

16. LOOKING DOWN LONELY STREET Gilbert, Wilson, Pinel, Blumberg, Wheatley (1998) Prediction of a positive event: Prediction of a negative event: Experiences Forecasts Young lovers Old lovers Loners Loners 5.91 5.71 5.17* 5.79 Experiences Forecasts Young leftovers Old leftovers Luckies Luckies 5.42 5.46 5.27 3.89*

19. GRATITUDE Emmons, McCullough (2003) Mean Affect: Measures of well-being: Gratitude Hassles Events Gratitude composite 10.16* 9.08 9.58 Positive affect 0.18 -0.13 -0.03 Negative affect 0.07 -0.14 0.07 Gratitude Hassles Events Life as a whole 5.05*^ 4.67 4.66 Upcoming week 5.48*^ 5.11 5.10 Physical symptoms 3.03*^ 3.54 3.75 Hours of exercise 4.35* 3.01 3.74