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Ruut Veenhoven's presentation Thoughts on Happiness 2008
Citation preview
The Happy life and
the Meaningful life
Presentation at conferenceThoughts on Happiness
Haring Happiness InstituteOegsgeest, The Netherlands,
November 5, 2008
Happy and Meaningful life
• Assumed relations
• Conceptual differences– definition of happiness– 3 notions of meaning
• Reality links– Meaning Happiness– Meaning Happiness
Happy and meaningful lifeAssumptions
Problem
• Loss of meaning in modern society
• Resulting in lower happiness
Solutions
• (New) Religion
• Therapy
Happy and meaningful lifeAssumptions
Causal relations
• Direct– Innate need for meaning– Gratification results in happiness
• Indirect, e.g.– Meaning (Self) respect Happiness
Happy and meaningful lifeWhat is the difference?
Happy and meaningful lifeWhat is the difference?
Often mentioned in connection
• ‘authentic happiness’ Seligman
• ‘eudaimonic’ happiness Deci
• ‘Purpose in Life Scale Crumbauch
Happy and meaningful lifeWhat is the difference?
Not quite the same
• Notions of happiness
• Notions of meaningfulness
Notions of happinessFour qualities of life
external
internal
chances
outcomes
Notions of HappinessFour qualities of life
external
internal
chances
Livability
Life-ability
outcomes
Utility
Satisfaction
with life
Notions of HappinessFour kinds of satisfaction
Passing
Enduring
Part
Whole
Notions of HappinessFour kinds of satisfaction
Passing
Enduring
Part
Pleasure
Domain
satisfaction
Whole
Top experience
Life-satisfaction
(happiness)
Notions of happinessMeasurement of happiness
Self report on single question
Taking all together, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Dissatisfied Satisfied
What is the difference?Notions of meaningfulness
What is the difference?Notions of meaningfulness
• Living a life worth living
• Seeing meaning in life– Having a philosophy of life– Seeing useful contribution in that context
• Active involvement in life– Pursuing goals– Reaching goals
What is the difference?Notions of meaningfulness
• Living a life worth living
≠• Seeing meaning in life
≠• Active involvement in life
What is the difference?Notions of meaningfulness
•
• Seeing meaning in life– Having a philosophy of life
≠– Seeing useful contribution in that context
•
What is the difference?Notions of meaningfulness
•
• Active involvement in life– Having goals
≠– Reaching goals
•
What is the difference?Notions of meaningfulness
Most meaningful life
• Living a life worth living+
• Seeing meaning in life
+
• Active involvement in life
What is the difference?Measures of meaningfulness
• Living a life worth living not measurable
• Seeing meaning in life self-reports
• Active involvement in life self-reportsobservation
What is the difference?Measures of meaning
• Living a life worth living not measurable
• Seeing meaning in life self-reports
• Active involvement in life self-reportsobservation
What is the difference?Measures of meaning
Self reports of seeing meaning
• Purpose in Life test PIL
• Life Regard Index LRI
• Life Attitude Profile LAP
• Meaning of Life Questionnaire MLQ
What is the difference?Measures of meaning: Example
Meaning of Life Questionnaire (MLQ)
• I understand my life’s meaning• I am looking for things that make my life meaningful• My life has a clear sense of purpose• I am seeking a mission in life• I have discovered a satisfying purpose• I have a good sense of what makes my life
meaningful
Rating: 1 ‘untrue’ to 10 ‘absolutely true’
Reality links
Reality links
• Is there a correlation?
• If so, what causes what?– Meaning Happiness– Meaning Happiness
Reality linksIs there a correlation?
• Living a life worth living ?
• Seeing meaning in life– Having a philosophy of life 0– Seeing a role in that context +
• Involvement in life– Having goals +/0– Reaching goals ++
What causes what?Perceived meaning Happiness
Theory
• No need for meaning– No survival value– Hence unlikely to be hard-wired
• Rather a universal striving– Consequence of human thinking– Not linked to affect
What causes what?Perceived meaning happiness
Empery: Follow-up
• Short-term: day-by-day – Meaning does not predict happiness– Happiness predicts meaning
• Long-term: 2 years– Happiness does not predict meaning– Meaning does not predict happiness
What causes what?Perceived meaning Happiness
Empery: Experiments mood induction
• Positive mood more meaning
• Positive mood more distinction of meaningfulness
Reality linksInvolvement in life Happiness
Theory
• Involvement Happiness– Innate need for functioning is functional– Involvement involves functioning– Hence involvement rewarding in itself
• Happiness Involvement– Happiness works as a ‘go’ signal– Hence fosters involvement(Broaden & Built theory)
Reality linksInvolvement in life Happiness
Empery: follow-up
• Involvement Happiness– Active hours predict happiness years later– Social participation predicts happiness years later
• Happiness Involvement– Happiness predicts social participation years later
Reality linksInvolvement in life Happiness
Empery: experiments
• Activation therapy effective
• Induced happiness activates
Happy and meaningful lifeConclusion
• Not quite the same
• Not all meaning gives happiness– Only involvement does
• Happiness drives some kinds of meaning– Perceived meaning– Active involvement
World Database of Happiness
http://worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl