Happiness Improvement

Happiness: What Works?

Click here for the article published by Nature Human Behaviour. The authors’ systematic review explored popular strategies for increasing happiness. Analyzing media articles, they identified five commonly recommended techniques: expressing gratitude, enhancing sociability, exercising, practising mindfulness/meditation, and increasing nature exposure. Then, they reviewed scientific literature and found 57 well-designed studies testing these strategies on subjective …

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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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“Don’t Worry, Be Happy”: Firing Up Repetitive Unpleasant Thoughts

Click here for the article published by Psychology Today. The need for mental control sets off the “ironic effect”: Suppressing sadness creates more unhappiness, and pursuing happiness creates more sadness. What is the answer? Continue reading … Disclaimer: The content of this article has not been checked or verified. Proceed at your own risk.

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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