What does it mean to be happy? How is happiness defined in psychology? Are there different types of happiness? Most importantly, how can we find true happiness?
The psychology of happiness offers two main definitions of the term:
- Some psychologists believe the goal of human behavior is to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. In this view, happiness results when our total pleasurable moments outweigh our total painful experiences. Sigmund Freud's concept of libido is basically a variant of this hedonistic view of human behavior.
- Other psychologists maintain true happiness arises from the sense of purpose experienced when people live in accordance with their values. For example, William James, considered to be a founding father of positive psychology, believed happiness comes from pursuing a higher purpose.
In his groundbreaking work on intrinsic motivation, Professor Steven Reiss called these two kinds of happiness "feel-good happiness" and "values-based happiness." Feel-good happiness refers to the sensation-based pleasure people experience when they watch a good movie, attend a fun party, or eat their favorite dessert. This type of happiness, which is ruled by the law of diminishing returns, rarely lasts longer than a few hours at a time.
Values-based happiness, on the other hand, refers to the deep sense of satisfaction people experience when their lives are meaningful. This kind of happiness is enduring, in part because it is not ruled by the law of diminishing returns and in part because it can be experienced again and again through recollection. Parents, for example, can experience values-based happiness merely by remembering the joy they felt while raising their children.
These two types of happiness explain why people can be happy while in pain and unhappy while experiencing pleasure. When individuals give blood to help a loved one, for example, they can feel happy about this altruistic gesture even though the actual sensations of donating blood are unpleasant. Conversely, although people feel pleasure when they engage in sex, they may be generally unhappy if they believe their lives lack purpose and meaning.
How can we find true happiness? How can we experience life as meaningful by pursuing a lifestyle that affirms our values?
- The first step in finding values-based happiness is to follow Socrates’s maxim to “know thyself.” The Reiss Motivation Profile® (RMP), which assesses a person’s intrinsic motives and core values, was developed for just this purpose. For example, the RMP Independence scale measures the desire for self-reliance. People with a strong need for Independence value personal freedom, while those with a weak need value collaboration with others. Another RMP scale is Social Contact, or the desire for peer companionship. People with high scores on this scale value the sense of belonging that comes from socializing with friends, while those with low scores value privacy and solitude. The RMP assesses 16 different intrinsic motives and their associated values. Research suggests, though, only five or six of these motives may be most important for an individual.
- Once the individual knows their most important motives and values, the second step in achieving true happiness is to identify which of their needs are being satisfied and which are being frustrated by their current lifestyle. For example, a person with a strong need for the RMP Order motive places great value on structure and stability. Such an individual will experience satisfaction in a career that requires planning and organizing but will be frustrated in a job that demands flexibility and spontaneity.
- The third step in the pursuit of happiness is for the individual to choose relationships, careers, and hobbies that naturally affirm their most important values. People with a strong need for RMP Status, which is the desire for respect based on social standing, will relate best to others who share their interest in acquiring symbols of wealth. Individuals with a weak need for Physical Activity, or the desire for muscle exercise, are likely to thrive in desk jobs that are consistent with their inclination for a sedentary lifestyle. People with a strong need for Idealism, which is the desire for social justice, may enjoy volunteering in a homeless shelter.
Pleasurable sensations may produce a temporary positive emotional state. Studies show, however, that when our behavior is congruent with our values, we experience a general feeling of well-being and an enduring sense that our lives have meaning. In short, we find true happiness.
