Humans are Moody

Research finds evidence of distinct emotional periods in the 20th century, a general decrease in the use of emotion-related words, and that American English is more “emotional” than British English in the last 50 years.

Happiness: USA v. Other Countries

Researchers analyzed happiness' definitions in dictionaries from 30 nations and in Webster’s dictionaries from 1850 to today. Researchers also coded the State of the Union address from 1790 to 2010 and investigated the usage of happy nation vs. happy person (1800-2008). 

"Across cultures and time, happiness was most frequently defined as good luck and favorable external conditions. However, in American English, this definition was replaced by definitions focused on favorable internal feeling states."

Happiness Formula

According to Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert,

Happiness = marriage, money, and no children

1. Marriage: People in good marriages are happier, healthier, and live longer than unmarried 
2. Money: Some money buys a lot of happiness, a lot of money only marginally increases it ... with the golden per capita income hovering between $50,000 to $75,000. Richer people can increase happiness by staying active and spending their wealth on others.
3. Children: childless couples are happier than their counterparts

Lonely? Update Your Facebook Status

Participants posted more Facebook status updates than normal for 1 week and, unlike the control group, they

1. Lowered feelings of loneliness
2. Said the lowering was due to feeling more connected daily to friends, and
3. Said the effect was independent of friends feedback

Stressed? Smile!

Researchers used chopsticks to manipulate participants faces into holding a neutral expression, a regular smile, or a Duchenne smile (smiles expressed through the mouth and eyes). In addition to the chopstick manipulation, some were told to smile. While holding the smiles (or not), they did various stress-inducing, multitasking activities.

Participants who voluntarily (in addition to, or only because of, the chopsticks) smiled better recovered from stressful activities than those with neutral expressions. Duchenne smile participants were the most relaxed.

Pricing Emotions

British & Hong Kong students chose how much they'd spend (£10 - £150), for 1 hour, to enjoy positive emotions or avoid negative emotions.

British students paid more for positive emotions: love was most valued (£95), then happiness, then avoiding sadness ... disgust was the least valued emotion to avoid (£43). Hong Kong students valued experiencing positive emotions = to avoiding negative. Head-to-head, Brits paid more for "happiness, delight and calm"; Hong Kong students paid more to "avoid regret, embarrassment and frustration."

Researchers noted, "By putting price-tags on emotions we might come closer to understanding the value of human experience in order to aid policies at enhancing well-being."

Respect for Rule of Law Maximizes Happiness

Research finds that nations with more "civic nationalism" (respect for laws, institutions) than "ethnic nationalism" (respect for religion, ancestry, culture) were more happy.

Laughter a Form of Exercise

Research shows laughter can produce the same health benefits as physical exercise. Volunteers watched 20 minutes of a funny movie or comedy stand-up and revealed that laughing lowered their blood pressure, altered their appetite hormones as moderate exercise would.

In the spirit of this study, this video should provide you with your daily workout's worth.

Walking = Happiness

Research shows even 5 minutes of exercise in a natural setting can significantly increase happiness. 10 different studies where 1,200+ people did activities such as gardening, sailing and country walks demonstrated the effect. People with mental disorders benefited the most.

Money Buys Happiness

A previous post noted that spending on others generates happiness. Another study finds that money spent on experiences made people happier than buying things if those experiences are enjoyable and enhance the individual's life in non-material ways.

In the study, half of the participants wrote a paragraph about a recent experience they purchased (e.g. dining out or going to the movies). The other half wrote a paragraph about something they bought. Both groups wrote down their feelings about what they purchased. Those who bought experiences were significantly happier and said it was money well-spent.

These feelings might come from feeling connected to friends. Also we don’t get tired of happy memories, but we can get tired of a purchase.

Sore Losers, Don't Bid

Research finds that people overbid at auctions to avoid defeat more than to experience victory.

Half the subjects started the auction with a $15 bonus, which they would keep if they won. The other half were told that after the auction, if they won, they’d get an extra $15. Either way, the winners would get the same bonus.

But people bid more when they were afraid they might lose the money they already had.

Happiness Is Contagious

Research shows a happy person influences those around them to be happy to 3 degrees of separation.

Findings indicate that the effect's strength is inversely proportional to distance - next-door neighbors and friends living nearby were affected the most. Strangely, sadness had little affect on social networks.

Workers Who Help Are Happy

One study reveals that for a satisfying career and happy life, do something that helps others.

Happiness Comes and Goes and Comes Back

A cross-cultural study of 74 countries finds that most people have a midlife crisis but most get happy again. Regardless of cultural differences, financial success or marital status, depression settles over our forties. But our late fifties brings happiness - maybe because we learn to expect less from life.

Money CAN Buy Happiness

Money can buy happiness, but only if you spend it on someone else.

In one experiment, volunteers rated their happiness and were then given $5 or $20. Half were told to spend on themselves, half to give it away. Those who gave away the money were the happiness, even if it was only $5.

The finding supports another famous study on happiness.

Sad? Fine Conversation Can Help

Scientific American Mind reports that a stimulating conversation can offset sadness.

The happiest subjects of a study spent 70% more time talking vs. unhappiest sub­jects, suggesting merely being around others increases happi­ness. The happiest subjects also participated in 1/3rd less small talk and had twice as many in-depth conversations vs. the most unhappy participants.

Results do not confirm if substantive interaction makes people happy or happy people simply have substantive interactions. But results suggest that five weekly substantive conversations could significantly increase your happiness.

What is Happiness?

Harvard Prof. Dr. George Vaillant attempts to answer this question after completing a 72 year study. Check out the study's summary in this video.

Short answer: happiness is not about 'me', but 'us'.