A new large-scale study of over 12,000 participants shows that higher income is associated with less daily sadness but not more daily happiness (Kushlev, Dunn, & Lucas, 2015). Continue reading
Posted in Coping, Mental Health, Psychology, Stress, Success, Well-being, Work Life
Many, if not most, people appreciate luxury or attractive products. A study shows why this might be so.
People strive for consistency in beliefs and behaviors as they have a basic desire to affirm their self-image. Studies have shown that people choose products that are congruent with their self-image: Continue reading
Posted in Behaviors, Consumer Psychology, Marketing, Personality Psychology, Shopping, Well-being
Tagged beauty, happiness, materialism, self-image, shopping
What does happiness mean to you?
Most people want to be happy, and personal happiness is considered to be one of the most important values in life in contemporary Western cultures. However, some people are afraid of happiness. Why isn’t happiness an universal ideal? Continue reading
Posted in Personal Development, Psychology, Success, Well-being
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. – William Shakespeare
Connectedness with nature has been associated with greater well-being, but how exactly does connectedness with nature improve well-being? Continue reading
Posted in Coping, Environmental Psychology, Mental Health, Psychology
Tagged connectedness, happiness, life satisfaction, well-being
Feeling out of control?
The belief that one can exert control over stressful events has long been known to help people cope with stress (Taylor, 2012). People like to have control over their lives, and people who have a sense of personal control seem to be better off than those who haven’t.
Posted in Mental Health, Self-esteem
Tagged evidence, happiness, mental health, personal control, self-control, self-efficacy, well-being
When we think of people with a high self-control, we cannot avoid thinking about how restrained and deprived they might be. Whenever we restrain ourselves, we tend to think that we are missing something. Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health, Self-control, Success, Well-being
Tagged happiness, life satisfaction, self-control, self-discipline
Overearning is a new phenomenon in human history. It means that we earn beyond our needs. It is only possible to overearn (i.e., accumulate resources) due to the efficiency and advantages of modern technology. This seems nice and innocuous, indeed, it never hurts to earn more. However, overearning has a downside as well. Continue reading
Posted in Behaviors, Organizational Psychology, Work Life
Tagged evolutionary theory, happiness, overearning, workaholism
A medium has no value in itself, but it can be traded for another desired outcome. An effort may lead to a medium that, in turn, may lead to an outcome.
Posted in Cognitive Bias, Organizational Psychology, Success
Tagged happiness, the medium effect
My name is Simon Moesgaard, a psychologist from Denmark, and this is my blog about psychology.
