The Happy life and

the Meaningful life

Presentation at conferenceThoughts on Happiness

Haring Happiness InstituteOegsgeest, The Netherlands,

November 5, 2008

Happy and Meaningful life

• Assumed relations

• Conceptual differences– definition of happiness– 3 notions of meaning

• Reality links– Meaning Happiness– Meaning Happiness

Happy and meaningful lifeAssumptions

Problem

• Loss of meaning in modern society

• Resulting in lower happiness

Solutions

• (New) Religion

• Therapy

Happy and meaningful lifeAssumptions

Causal relations

• Direct– Innate need for meaning– Gratification results in happiness

• Indirect, e.g.– Meaning (Self) respect Happiness

Happy and meaningful lifeWhat is the difference?

Happy and meaningful lifeWhat is the difference?

Often mentioned in connection

• ‘authentic happiness’ Seligman

• ‘eudaimonic’ happiness Deci

• ‘Purpose in Life Scale Crumbauch

Happy and meaningful lifeWhat is the difference?

Not quite the same

• Notions of happiness

• Notions of meaningfulness

Notions of happinessFour qualities of life

external

internal

chances

outcomes

Notions of HappinessFour qualities of life

external

internal

chances

Livability

Life-ability

outcomes

Utility

Satisfaction

with life

Notions of HappinessFour kinds of satisfaction

Passing

Enduring

Part

Whole

Notions of HappinessFour kinds of satisfaction

Passing

Enduring

Part

Pleasure

Domain

satisfaction

Whole

Top experience

Life-satisfaction

(happiness)

Notions of happinessMeasurement of happiness

Self report on single question

Taking all together, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Dissatisfied Satisfied

What is the difference?Notions of meaningfulness

What is the difference?Notions of meaningfulness

• Living a life worth living

• Seeing meaning in life– Having a philosophy of life– Seeing useful contribution in that context

• Active involvement in life– Pursuing goals– Reaching goals

What is the difference?Notions of meaningfulness

• Living a life worth living

≠• Seeing meaning in life

≠• Active involvement in life

What is the difference?Notions of meaningfulness

•

• Seeing meaning in life– Having a philosophy of life

≠– Seeing useful contribution in that context

•

What is the difference?Notions of meaningfulness

•

• Active involvement in life– Having goals

≠– Reaching goals

•

What is the difference?Notions of meaningfulness

Most meaningful life

• Living a life worth living+

• Seeing meaning in life

+

• Active involvement in life

What is the difference?Measures of meaningfulness

• Living a life worth living not measurable

• Seeing meaning in life self-reports

• Active involvement in life self-reportsobservation

What is the difference?Measures of meaning

• Living a life worth living not measurable

• Seeing meaning in life self-reports

• Active involvement in life self-reportsobservation

What is the difference?Measures of meaning

Self reports of seeing meaning

• Purpose in Life test PIL

• Life Regard Index LRI

• Life Attitude Profile LAP

• Meaning of Life Questionnaire MLQ

What is the difference?Measures of meaning: Example

Meaning of Life Questionnaire (MLQ)

• I understand my life’s meaning• I am looking for things that make my life meaningful• My life has a clear sense of purpose• I am seeking a mission in life• I have discovered a satisfying purpose• I have a good sense of what makes my life

meaningful

Rating: 1 ‘untrue’ to 10 ‘absolutely true’

Reality links

Reality links

• Is there a correlation?

• If so, what causes what?– Meaning Happiness– Meaning Happiness

Reality linksIs there a correlation?

• Living a life worth living ?

• Seeing meaning in life– Having a philosophy of life 0– Seeing a role in that context +

• Involvement in life– Having goals +/0– Reaching goals ++

What causes what?Perceived meaning Happiness

Theory

• No need for meaning– No survival value– Hence unlikely to be hard-wired

• Rather a universal striving– Consequence of human thinking– Not linked to affect

What causes what?Perceived meaning happiness

Empery: Follow-up

• Short-term: day-by-day – Meaning does not predict happiness– Happiness predicts meaning

• Long-term: 2 years– Happiness does not predict meaning– Meaning does not predict happiness

What causes what?Perceived meaning Happiness

Empery: Experiments mood induction

• Positive mood more meaning

• Positive mood more distinction of meaningfulness

Reality linksInvolvement in life Happiness

Theory

• Involvement Happiness– Innate need for functioning is functional– Involvement involves functioning– Hence involvement rewarding in itself

• Happiness Involvement– Happiness works as a ‘go’ signal– Hence fosters involvement(Broaden & Built theory)

Reality linksInvolvement in life Happiness

Empery: follow-up

• Involvement Happiness– Active hours predict happiness years later– Social participation predicts happiness years later

• Happiness Involvement– Happiness predicts social participation years later

Reality linksInvolvement in life Happiness

Empery: experiments

• Activation therapy effective

• Induced happiness activates

Happy and meaningful lifeConclusion

• Not quite the same

• Not all meaning gives happiness– Only involvement does

• Happiness drives some kinds of meaning– Perceived meaning– Active involvement

World Database of Happiness

http://worlddatabaseofhappiness.eur.nl