4.06.2007

The Foundation of Human Happiness

What are the biggest factors in determining human happiness?

Scientific American contains a fascinating read on this topic in the form of an article entitled, "The Science of Lasting Happiness." The article's central premise is that changes in larger life circumstances have little to do with our overall level of happiness in the long run:
An experimental psychologist investigating the possibility of lasting happiness, Lyubomirsky understands far better than most of us the folly of pinning our hopes on a new car--or on any good fortune that comes our way. We tend to adapt, quickly returning to our usual level of happiness. The classic example of such "hedonic adaptation" comes from a 1970s study of lottery winners, who a year after their windfall ended up no happier than nonwinners. Hedonic adaptation helps to explain why even changes in major life circumstances--such as income, marriage, physical health and where we live--do so little to boost our overall happiness. Not only that, but studies of twins and adoptees have shown that about 50 percent of each person's happiness is determined from birth. This "genetic set point" alone makes the happiness glass look half empty, because any upward swing in happiness seems doomed to fall back to near your baseline.

Yet, the article asserts, there is much more to the determination of our happiness than mere genetic predisposition:
Lyubomirsky, Sheldon and another psychologist, David A. Schkade of the University of California, San Diego, put the existing findings together into a simple pie chart showing what determines happiness. Half the pie is the genetic set point. The smallest slice is circumstances, which explain only about 10 percent of people's differences in happiness. So what is the remaining 40 percent? "Because nobody had put it together before, that's unexplained," Lyubomirsky says. But she believes that when you take away genes and circumstances, what is left besides error must be "intentional activity," mental and behavioral strategies to counteract adaptation's downward pull.

My understanding from reading the above is that the current thought in the scientific community is that there is a significant contributing factor to human happiness that has not been precisely identified yet, which may be termed "intentional activity." To me, the writings of the Baha'i Faith speak very clearly and directly about the source of happiness, and have significant bearing on this question. Baha'u'llah taught that we should not get too caught up in the changes and chances of the world--which perhaps could be analgoized to what the article identifies as "life circumstances." In this vein, Baha'u'llah states:
Should prosperity befall thee, rejoice not, and should abasement come upon thee, grieve not, for both shall pass away and be no more.

Addressing the question of what the basis for true happiness is, 'Abdu'l-Baha taught that "human happiness is founded upon spiritual behavior." While thousands of words could not begin to scratch the surface of what the Baha'i writings have to say about spiritual behavior (certainly a concept related to "intentional activity"), the following excerpt from a talk given by 'Abdu'l-Baha in Paris is a very interesting starting point:

You belong to the world of purity, and are not content to live the life of the animal, spending your days in eating, drinking, and sleeping. . . . Your thoughts and ambitions are set to acquire human perfection. You live to do good and to bring happiness to others. Your greatest longing is to comfort those who mourn, to strengthen the weak, and to be the cause of hope to the despairing soul. Day and night your thoughts are turned to the Kingdom, and your hearts are full of the Love of God.

Thus you know neither opposition, dislike, nor hatred, for every living creature is dear to you and the good of each is sought.

These are perfect human sentiments and virtues.

14 comments:

Phillipe Copeland said...

Sweet, sweet, sweet. This post will be included in my weekly round up on Thursday. Human happiness is a worthy area of study and I'm going to have to go back and read this information more fully. I deal with this issue every day as a mental health professional.

Victor said...

Dear Phillipe,

Thanks so much for your comment. I've really enjoyed the posts on your blog about happiness. I especially liked the last paragraph of your post, "Are You Happy?"

Phillipe Copeland said...

Thanks. Positive Psychology really seems to be becoming popular. If I end up actually going back to school to get my Ph.D I'll have to see if there is a way to work it into my dissertation. I understand that you are a lawyer, how did you get interested in psychology?

Bilo said...

"Anybody can be happy in the state of comfort, ease, health, success, pleasure and joy; but if one will be happy and contented in the time of trouble, hardship and prevailing disease, it is the proof of nobility."
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Baha'i World Faith, Page: 363)

Phillipe Copeland said...

Bilo I couldn't have said it better myself, truly! Now we just need some research to back up that statement and then watch out world!

Victor said...

Dear Bilo,

Thanks so much for the quotation! I find the use of the word, "nobility" to be very interesting in that context. It certainly provides a new understanding of the concept.

Dear Phillipe,
Good question. I guess my interest in psychology stems in part from it being this vast frontier that we have only begun to explore, and that has such tremendous implications for our daily lives. We'll have to talk some more about this some time, feel free to email me anytime!

Phillipe Copeland said...

If you don't already, I hope that you consider becoming a member of the Baha'i Association of Mental Health Professionals. The annual conference coming up in September is about the Human Spirit and the Social World and looks to be the best conference this group has ever had. I'm hoping to do some live blogging coverage and it would be cool if you were there and any other Baha'i bloggers who might be interested in the topic.

Anonymous said...

Vic,
Happiness is in small things: the smile on a face, the hot cup of tea, the bright red dress on a child, the smell of baking bread, the job well done, the thank you of a friend. These are small treasures and the only ones you can count on everyday but you have to notice them. If you don’t and wait for a “real” big happy event, you will be happy only two or three times in your life.
Besides if you stretch these moments a bit anticipating the little joys and, after they have occurred, remembering them a bit longer….you might well end up being happy most of the day…..

Victor said...

Dear Claudine,

Thank you so much for your comment. It brought me a lot of happiness!

It made me think of the accounts you hear of people who have had near death experiences, and see their lives flash before their eyes. They seem to frequently report that of all the things they did in their lives, it was the simple acts of kindness towards others that stood out as being the most important.

I also really appreciate the point about noticing the small treasures of everday life. We certainly have a lot to be grateful for.

Marco Oliveira said...

Happy Ridvan!

Phillipe Copeland said...

I agree with Marco, Happy Ridvan!

Victor said...

Dear Marco and Phillipe,

Happy Ridvan to you too!

Anonymous said...

Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.
Albert Schweitzer

LAWRENCE CLAYTON said...

The pursuit of happiness is a most ridiculous phrase, if you pursue happiness you'll never find it.Nice Comment!