Difference between revisions of "Study Questions for Happiness Summer 2007b"
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===What does ESM research suggest about the psychological states that various forms of leisure can provide? What lessons might one infer from this research?=== | ===What does ESM research suggest about the psychological states that various forms of leisure can provide? What lessons might one infer from this research?=== | ||
Revision as of 14:43, 12 June 2007
Contents
- 1 June 4
- 1.1 How does Layard distinguish social comparison from habituation?
- 1.2 Describe some fo the evidence of the power of social comparison
- 1.3 How do researchers attempt to quantify the effect of habituation on salary and wage increases?
- 1.4 What are some of the things that habituate and do not habituate?
- 1.5 How does Veenhoven's research on Northern European coutnries shed light on social comparison at the societal level?
- 2 June 5
- 2.1 What claims does Easterbrook make about depression, trust, and loneliness in contemporary U.S. society and what explanations does he offer for this? Do you agree with his analysis? Why or why not?
- 2.2 Identify and assess practical responses that could be made to the problems discussed by Layard, Easterbrook, Hecht and Schwartz?
- 2.3 How does Hecht think that Enlightenment culture of the U.S. founders changes the relationship between social life and happiness?
- 2.4 To what extent do we face conditions of social isolation today as a result of our Enlightenment strategy?
- 2.5 To what extent can shopping help?
- 2.6 What is the difference between maximizing and satisficing?
- 2.7 Why does Schwartz think that maximizing might not be such a good strategy?
- 2.8 How does contemporary culture promote maximizing as a strategy?
- 2.9 Is maximizing a threat to happiness? If so, why? If not, why not?
- 3 June 6
- 3.1 Idnetify and assess the paradox of work.
- 3.2 What does the history of cultural attitudes toward work tell us about the place of work in our theories of happiness?
- 3.3 Is the overextimate of the availability of high pay & high status work by teeagers a symptom of a problem in our expectations or a sign of youthful optimism?
- 3.4 How do men and women experience the paradoxes of work differently?
- 3.5 How does Csik. explain the paradox of work?
- 4 June 7
- 4.1 Give a general characterization of Stoicism / Stoic beliefs.
- 4.2 Are emotions related to judgement as stoics think they are? How much control do we have of our emotions?
- 4.3 Citing examples from passages of the Enchiridion, identify key claims that you can affirm or criticize. In cases in which you are critical be sure to offer the most sympathetic defense of Epictetus' views.
- 5 June 11
- 5.1 Why does Csiksentmihalyi think we have trouble enjoying leisure?
- 5.2 What does ESM research suggest about the psychological states that various forms of leisure can provide? What lessons might one infer from this research?
- 5.3 What might the research from Pont Trentaz suggest about generational trends in work/leisure satisfaction?
- 5.4 Does leisure require disciple?
- 6 June 12
- 6.1 Why is Hecht skeptical about the connection between disciplines of the body and happiness?
- 6.2 In each area Hecht discusses (diet, exercise, sex, and treatments), identify some of Hecht's primary evidence for her thesis that we should be skeptical about the connection between disciplines of the body and happiness? Evaluate her thesis.
- 7 June 13
- 8 June 14
June 4
How does Layard distinguish social comparison from habituation?
Social comparison is when we assess our well being in relation to others instead of completely subjectively (and often, realistically). This point is evidenced in the results from the survey question in which most people would choose to make less money overall but more than the majority of people as opposed to making more money overall but less than the majority of people. One problem that arises with social comparison is the idea of a reference point. As discussed in class, we should admire people who are the best but only "compare" ourselves to those in our own group (whatever group that might be for the topic at hand). Ideally, we shouldn't compare ourselves to anyone, but this is highly difficult and unlikely in our society today. Conversely, habituation is how you assess your well being in terms of how you are used to doing. For example, becoming accustomed to a certain level of pay and then receiving a large paycut would be quite devastating because this new pay might be very far from our baseline, or what we are used to. --Lauren Landon
Describe some fo the evidence of the power of social comparison
How do researchers attempt to quantify the effect of habituation on salary and wage increases?
What are some of the things that habituate and do not habituate?
How does Veenhoven's research on Northern European coutnries shed light on social comparison at the societal level?
June 5
What claims does Easterbrook make about depression, trust, and loneliness in contemporary U.S. society and what explanations does he offer for this? Do you agree with his analysis? Why or why not?
Identify and assess practical responses that could be made to the problems discussed by Layard, Easterbrook, Hecht and Schwartz?
How does Hecht think that Enlightenment culture of the U.S. founders changes the relationship between social life and happiness?
To what extent do we face conditions of social isolation today as a result of our Enlightenment strategy?
To what extent can shopping help?
What is the difference between maximizing and satisficing?
Maximizing occurs when a person wants to make the absolute best out of their choice (or "maximize" their choice). Often, this included "hunting" for the best possibility as compared with other options. People who call themselves maximizers tend to wonder if there is something better constantly waiting around the corner for them. Satisficing occurs when a person settles for something that works. In other words, this object or relationship (or anything) might not be the "best" choice possible, but it gets the job done. Satisficers look for an object that will suffice for the job they need it to perform. --Lauren Landon
Why does Schwartz think that maximizing might not be such a good strategy?
How does contemporary culture promote maximizing as a strategy?
American culture is constantly focused on who has what, who's getting what, how fast they got it, and how you measure up to others. Many people could not honestly say they are happy with what they have. We compare ourselves to others and their possessions. We are constantly trying to "keep up with the Joneses." Our culture is fast and incredibly focused on how we look to one another. We all want to "get the best bang for our buck" possible, and sometimes people are willing to risk health, money, relationships, and many other things to get ahead. However, one important thing to remember is that this way of life is a constant competition. It never ends. While I don't always think this competition is negative, it definitely can be when it's all people are concerned about. The second we acquire a new possession, something better tends to come along. These objects can never make a person happy. Sure, they might contribute to a high degree of state happiness, but is maximization of every decision really the best way to achieve life happiness? Our culture does not answer this question--instead, we focus on constant acquisition and how we measure up to others. --Lauren Landon
