Interesting ideas! However, some questions arise for me.

I tend to look at the conclusions of this particular research with a sketpic's eye. I guess I first question the validity of the studies. Are the researchers really measuring happiness? The term happiness is a difficult term to define. I think it's important to distinguish between genuine happiness and mere pleasure. Although the differences may be subtle, they are significant nonetheless. Pleasure occurs as the result of external stimuli. One might experience pleasure while listening to their favorite music, buying a new car, or having sex. Pleasure is more likely to be temporary. As soon as the stimulus is removed (for example, the car is repossessed), the experience of pleasure fades away. Happiness, however, is contrived from an attitude and perspective that emerges from within. Pleasure can often be fleeting, as it is difficult to control one's external circumstances, but happiness endures even in the chaos of our dynamic world.

So, why is this important? Well, if you acknowledge a difference between happiness and pleasure, studies like the first one aren't really measuring happiness. However, the study you mentioned in Science Magazine may have at least given us a glance into the lives of "happy" people. It may be that happiness is not derived from giving gifts to others. Rather, maybe happy people are more likely to give money to others. If you're happy, an overabundance of money isn't necessary. There is no need to indulge in an excess of external stimuli, as there is an awareness that things like money often only provide a temporary sense of pleasure.

I saw a talk on TED.com from a Harvard psychologist, Dan Gilbert. He gives some interesting perspectives on how we synthesize happiness. He actually points out a study that examines the "happiness" of lottery winners. If you're interested, you can watch his lecture at http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/97

Hooray. Someone actually posted a comment on one of my blog entries. (It's lonely here in cyberspace.)

"Happiness" is typically assessed in the sorts of studies like the ones described with one or another life satisfaction measures (e.g., http://www.psych.uiuc.edu/~ediener/hottopic/hottopic.html), which ask for a summary judgment of how satisfied one is with life.

"Happiness" indeed is a fuzzy term, meaning fleeting pleasure to some and enduring contentment to others. I am probably guilty of using the term as an umbrella. Thanks for requesting clarification.

Christopher Peterson

First, I think Christopher Peterson's blog is one of the best descriptions of the scientific facts about the empirical relation between measures of money and measures of "happiness" or "wellbeing."

Second, I agree with Chelsea's comment that the conclusions that we can draw from these empirical facts depend on the definition of "happiness" or "wellbeing" (see my post on wellbeingscience.org for more information)

Some people would argue that there is no objective definition of happiness or wellbeing. What is what makes you happy can be different from what makes somebody else happy.

A subjective definition of "happiness" or wellbeing that allows for subjectivity is preference realization or authentic happiness (Sumner, 1996). It is plausible that the influence of money on wellbeing depends on individuals' preferences. It is true that some people could be happier or have higher wellbeing if they would change their preferences (e.g., somebody living without AC in Arizona could reduce preferences for a comfortable life), but it is questionable to propose that people should change their preferences to be happier or have higher wellbeing.

If your ultimate preference in life is to feel happy all the time, it may be the best strategy to detach your feelings from what actually is happening in your life, but few people take their own feelings so seriously. They often also want to actually have a good life or live in a world that matches their ideals. You may not call this happiness or true happiness, but for many people pleasure, comfort and the realization of other preferences is an important part of their happiness and wellbeing.

Hi,

interesting thoughts!

I believe that it’s not possible to make a general statement on whether money makes people more or less happy. Money comes with a whole set of new elements that may have good or bad impact on our happiness, and depending on how susceptible we are to every one of them, the conclusion will go one way or the other (i.e. different from person to person).

I recently made an effort to provide a more comprehensive picture of what these ad- and disadvantages are. I invite you to have a look at http://www.spreadinghappiness.org/2009/08/money-how-much-should-we-striv... and tell me what you think!

Thank you,

Nick