a psychologist's blog – research and ideas to digest
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).
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:
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?
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?
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
Continue readingAre You In Control? Feelings of Personal Control Are Essential for Mental Health
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.
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.
Continue readingWhy We Earn Beyond Needs at the Cost of Happiness
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.