Happiness around the World: the paradox of happy peasants and miserable millionaires on Huffduffer

Happiness around the World: the paradox of happy peasants and miserable millionaires

Huffduffed by harriyott on December 21st, 2009

The determinants of happiness are remarkably similar around the world, in countries as different as Afghanistan, the U.S, and Chile. Income matters to happiness but only so much; friends, freedom, and employment are good for happiness, while crime, poor health, and divorce are bad. Paradoxically, however, people in places like Afghanistan can be as happy as those in much wealthier and safer ones like Chile. One explanation is the remarkable human capacity to adapt to adversity and hardship. While adaptation may be a good thing for individual wellbeing, it can also result in collective tolerance for bad equilibrium which are difficult for societies to escape from.

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Jennifer Michael Hecht - The Happiness Myth

May 25 2007 - Jennifer talks with D.J. Grothe about the history of the idea of happiness.

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Tagged with happiness psychology history philosophy drugs shopping culture

—Huffduffed by Indyplanets 4 years ago

TED Radio Hour: The Pursuit Of Happiness : NPR

Being happy is a universal human yearning, but this simple goal often eludes us. If we’re truly able to attain happiness, then how do we find it? Three TED speakers offer some big ideas for achieving happiness.

http://www.npr.org/2012/05/02/151881205/the-pursuit-of-happiness