Happiness and Communication

People in historically rice-farming areas are less happy and socially compare more than people in wheat-farming areas.

Using two nationally representative surveys, we find that people in China’s historically rice-farming areas are less happy than people in wheat areas. This is a puzzle because the rice area is more interdependent, and relationships are an important predictor of happiness. We explore how the interdependence of historical rice farming may have paradoxically undermined happiness by creating more social comparison than wheat farming. We build a framework in which rice farming leads to social comparison, which makes people unhappy (especially people who are worse off). If people in rice areas socially compare more, then people’s happiness in rice areas should be more closely related to markers of social status like income. In two studies, national survey data show that income, self-reported social status, and occupational status predict people’s happiness twice as strongly in rice areas than wheat areas. In Study 3, we use a unique natural experiment comparing two nearby state farms that effectively randomly assigned people to farm rice or wheat. The rice farmers socially compare more, and farmers who socially compare more are less happy. If interdependence breeds social comparison and erodes happiness, it could help explain the paradox of why the interdependent cultures of East Asia are less happy than similarly wealthy cultures. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Take it from the experts, a pet can change your life

Click here for the article published by Harvard Gazette Health. Some people should not have pets. They’re expensive and can make you sneeze. They require time, attention, and stability. If you have allergies, don’t make yourself suffer. If you travel frequently, think twice. If you simply can’t warm to the idea of an animal companion, …

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Thomas Jefferson Was Right: Happiness Comes First

Click here for the article published by Psychology Today. Take it from Thomas Jefferson and recent psychology studies: Taking part in a government of the people, by the people, and for the people can make you happier. Continue reading … Disclaimer: The content of this article has not been checked or verified. Proceed at your …

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What Are the Benefits of Compassion?

Click here for the article published by Psychology Today. When we realize that we aren’t carrying our pain alone, we feel our burdens lift a little. Research shows that compassion is related to greater happiness and lower depression. Continue reading … Disclaimer: The content of this article has not been checked or verified. Proceed at …

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The Role of Attachment Anxiety, Attachment Avoidance, and Grit on Life Satisfaction and Relationship Satisfaction

Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Ahead of Print. The present study examined the role of attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and grit on life satisfaction and romantic relationship satisfaction. We recruited participants (n = 378, mean age = 28.3) using convenience and snowball sampling (i.e., via Facebook and email). The sample consisted of 86 males, 284 females, 2 transgender individuals, and 6 individuals who did not indicate their gender. Participants completed online surveys. Results partially supported our hypotheses that greater attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance resulted in lower life satisfaction scores, but individuals with high grit had lower life satisfaction scores than those with low grit. Additionally, results supported the hypotheses that greater attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance resulted in lower romantic relationship satisfaction scores. However, we posit that grit may work differently in influencing life satisfaction compared with romantic relationship satisfaction, particularly among our younger sample. Implications of findings and directions for future research were also explored.

Boost Your ‘Happy Hormones’ to Fight Sadness and Anxiety

Click here for the article published by Psychology Today. Are you sad or anxious and don’t feel like having sex? The happy hormones stimulated by sex help to lift your spirits. Continue reading … Disclaimer: The content of this article has not been checked or verified. Proceed at your own risk.

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