Money makes happy people a bit happier. If I ask you if you want more or less money in your wallet at the end of the day, what would you say? It may be that your favorite activities are free and require no equipment, no travel to get there to complete them. Let’s say your favorite things to do are meditation and birdwatching and window shopping in a collective environment with cheerful happy friends. I would say that is great. I’d also think that at some point, there will be material goods (a sweater on a chill fall morning, a parka in the winter, maybe some sunblock in the summer) that would ease your burdens. A certain amount of money will make you happier because it will free you from material want. It is easier to be happy with creature comfort and good health. Even a short nap can make happiness easier.

Happy is such a slippery, obnoxious word. It means literally anything you want it to mean. If by happier you mean more fulfilling and rewarding, I’d say the money in itself will not lead to great happiness by itself. It can enhance the hell out of an otherwise happy life that is mired in poverty.

The pursuit of money as a means to another important end such as security and philanthropy probably will lead to a happier life.

Sadly, pop music of different styles (Rock, hip-hop, etc.) from Individualistic Cultures from the late 1970s to the present is really depressive. And governments from individualistic cultures like to help or “help” other countries in exchange for land, resources, slavery, and exploytation every 10 years…

I think it’s really great that the results showed that relationships and love
are what truly matter not only to happiness but to success in various areas of a person’s life. However, I do have a question about the longevity of the subject’s lives. Did the relationships of the subjects correlate with how long they lived? Are the ones that are still living, having good relationships?

Thanks,

Sonya

I really enjoyed reading your article. Before reading the article I assumed that you would be touching more on the relationships of husbands and wives and how it affects our overall happiness. I was just curious about any differences that you may have found in levels of happiness between individuals who are married and those who are single.

Thanks,

Danielle

Will the fact that the research was done on just Harvard students have any misleading evidence becasue of these students education. Would there need to be research done on participants with little to no education to give a more accurate testing?

Just wondering

Rachel Morgan

George, I am currently working toward a Masters in Positive Psychology. When I read your article in the Atlantic it inspired me to do a research project for one my classes, focusing on a definition of love from cross-cultural perspective.

I’ve lived in many cultures and I’ve noticed how love and attachment are valued differently – mostly, I believe, depending on how strong the dimension of “individualism” is in that particular culture.

My experience in the US has demonstrated to me that in many respects Americans are less likely to be aware of how their actions toward others impact their well-being longer term. I believe many decisions are made based on the premise that something is good for “me” at this moment, and “I deserve better”.

The cultures I’ve experienced where divorce rates are low and friendships are deep, people seem to make decisions based on wider implications/criteria. It seems to me they also have a more inherent/palpable sense of the value love and attachment bring to their lives and therefore they treat it with greater “respect” (poor choice of word but can’t think of a better one at this time)

My feeling is that there could be some interesting learnings gathered by understanding how in less individualistic cultures love/attachment is honored, and valued. In other words, how do beliefs and behaviors differ and what can we learn from these behaviors so as to make decisions with greater awareness of their actual impact to our well-being.

If you have an reactions or even suggestions I would be very grateful for your thoughts.

Doris

Thanks for putting together this timely article. I have always been a strong proponent of Happiness being equated to love. Liked the bit on the men perspective, and not just women.

Shanshine smiles
Shan