How much people earn is associated with how
they experience happiness
American Psychological
Association
People who earn more
money tend to experience more positive emotions focused on themselves, while
people who earn less take greater pleasure in their relationships and ability
to connect with others, according to research published by the American
Psychological Association.
"Higher income
has many benefits, including improved health and life satisfaction, but is it
associated with greater happiness?" asked lead author Paul Piff, PhD, of
the University of California, Irvine.
"After all, most people think of money as some kind of unmitigated good. But some recent research suggests that this may not actually be the case. In many ways, money does not necessarily buy you happiness."
"After all, most people think of money as some kind of unmitigated good. But some recent research suggests that this may not actually be the case. In many ways, money does not necessarily buy you happiness."
The researchers used a
survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,519 people. Participants were
asked about their household income and answered a series of questions designed
to measure their tendency to experience seven distinct emotions that are
considered to make up the core of happiness: amusement, awe, compassion,
contentment, enthusiasm, love and pride.
For example, to measure compassion, participants rated their agreement with various statements, including, "Nurturing others gives me a warm feeling inside."
For example, to measure compassion, participants rated their agreement with various statements, including, "Nurturing others gives me a warm feeling inside."
Participants at the
higher end of the socioeconomic spectrum reported a greater tendency to
experience emotions that focused on themselves, specifically, contentment and
pride (as well as amusement).
Individuals at the lower end of the income scale were more likely to experience emotions that focus on other people, namely compassion and love.
Poorer individuals also reported experiencing more awe and beauty in the world around them. There was no apparent difference for enthusiasm, according to the researchers.
Individuals at the lower end of the income scale were more likely to experience emotions that focus on other people, namely compassion and love.
Poorer individuals also reported experiencing more awe and beauty in the world around them. There was no apparent difference for enthusiasm, according to the researchers.
"These findings
indicate that wealth is not unequivocally associated with happiness," said
Piff.
"What seems to be the case is that your wealth predisposes you to different kinds of happiness. While wealthier individuals may find greater positivity in their accomplishments, status and individual achievements, less wealthy individuals seem to find more positivity and happiness in their relationships, their ability to care for and connect with others."
"What seems to be the case is that your wealth predisposes you to different kinds of happiness. While wealthier individuals may find greater positivity in their accomplishments, status and individual achievements, less wealthy individuals seem to find more positivity and happiness in their relationships, their ability to care for and connect with others."
Piff believes these
differences may stem from higher-income individuals' desire for independence
and self-sufficiency, while the other-oriented emotions help lower-income individuals
to form more interdependent bonds with others to help cope with their more
threatening environments.
Much psychological
research over the last few decades has focused on the negative effects of
poverty, according to Piff. "Poverty heightens people's risks for a slew
of negative life outcomes, including worsened health," he said.
"Wealth doesn't guarantee you happiness, but it may predispose you to experiencing different forms of it -- for example, whether you delight in yourself versus in your friends and relationships. These findings suggest that lower-income individuals have devised ways to cope, to find meaning, joy and happiness in their lives despite their relatively less favorable circumstances."
"Wealth doesn't guarantee you happiness, but it may predispose you to experiencing different forms of it -- for example, whether you delight in yourself versus in your friends and relationships. These findings suggest that lower-income individuals have devised ways to cope, to find meaning, joy and happiness in their lives despite their relatively less favorable circumstances."