PSYC 3302 Lectures 5&6 || with Error-free Solutions.
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Course
PSYC 3302
Institution
PSYC 3302
Objective indicators of happiness correct answers ● We believe that particular combos of "facts" are happier (young, rich, posh house, good neighbourhood, married)
○ common sense says there should be a link between demographics and happiness (we spend so much of our time going to school, getti...
PSYC 3302 Lectures 5&6 || with Error-free Solutions.
Objective indicators of happiness correct answers ● We believe that particular combos of "facts"
are happier (young, rich, posh house, good neighbourhood, married)
○ common sense says there should be a link between demographics and happiness (we spend so
much of our time going to school, getting a good job, buying a nice home, worrying about
appearance, etc.)
● Researchers often ask: To what extent is an individual's happiness (SWB & PWB) linked to
life circumstances?
○ Age
○ Gender
○ Marriage
Happiness and our age correct answers ● Many studies have shown that age shows little
relationship to levels of happiness (very stable)
● Less than 1% of the variability in effect is assoc. w/ age
● 80% of all age groups "happy" (16 nations)
● Very small decline among very old
● What about turning points?
○ Menopause?
○ Empty nest?
○ Mid-life crisis?
● No real evidence to support
● Dependent on perspective
4 lines of research to explain stability in happiness correct answers 1. genetic influences
2. Age related changes
3. Issues with measurement and definitions
4. Lifespan changes
Research showing genetic influences on SWB correct answers ● Twin studies: Separated at birth
& raised in diff environments
● Genetics: 40% PA, 55% NA; large contribution to PWB
● Appear to inherent an emotional "set-point" - Little change in long-term well-being (e.g.,
moving, changing jobs)
● Not one genetic pathway
Age-related changes in the intensity, frequency and balance of positive and negative emotions
correct answers ● Overall SWB appears the same across ages, but experience vastly different
● Teens - intense PA and NA experiences
○ ESM: mood swings in <1 hr. (Csikszentmihalyi & Larsen, 1984)
● Adults - more stable; life experiences mitigates emotional reactivity to temporary events
● Emotional component of SWB calculated by PA-NA (typically)
● BUT...independent variables
● Obscures important changes!
○ NA declines w/ age (20-60 yrs), then levels off or slight increase in old age
, ○ PA shows mixed results
● Still tiny relationships: age & PA = -.003; age & NA = -.001
Issues concerning the measurement and definition of positive emotions correct answers ● Small
decline in PA sometimes observed, but could be due to measuring only high-arousal emotions
● PA still as frequent with age but not as intense (Charles et al., 2001)
● "During the past few weeks, did you feel...
● Especially excited or interested in something?
● On top of the world?
Lifespan changes in the psychological and social foundations of well-being correct answers ●
People at different ages may be equally happy, but for different reasons
● Socioemotional selectivity theory
● Shift priorities from future to present circumstances
● Stop doing things you don't enjoy, smaller & stronger social network
Happiness and gender correct answers ● Minuscule differences in levels of overall happiness
● Gender accounts for less than 1% of happiness
● But significant differences in the emotional lives of men and women
● Negative emotions
○ Women
■ experience/express more negative emotions (sadness, fear, shame, guilt)
■ Higher prevalence of internalizing disorders (depression/anxiety)
○ Males
■ More anger/aggression in unprovoked or neutral situations
■ Higher prevalence of externalizing disorders (acting out of emotions; drug abuse, antisocial
personality, difficulties with anger)
■ Females = more verbal and relational aggression
● Positive emotions
○ Inconsistent, mixed results
○ One consistency: Females = greater expression of positive emotions (love, joy, happiness,
smiling) in observational studies
Happiness and gender: paradox correct answers ● Explaining the paradox (same levels, but diff
emotional lives)
● No clear solution, but theories...
1) Women "more emotional" but averages out
2) Some of the "emotionality" of women may be more apparent than real
● Describe "typical man" versus "typical woman" when experiencing emotion
● May become self-fulfilling in the sense that stereotypes may influence outward expression
more than actual experience
● ESM (similar levels) & recall studies (women > men)
Happiness and marriage correct answers ● Marriage is a "fact" that does impact happiness
● Strong predictor of happiness, SWL, and overall well-being
● Married happier than never married, divorced/separated, widowed
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