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Originally Posted by Stu  I'm not saying the government should say "happiness or else..." but should merely take steps to promote happiness. Whether we like it or not the policies of our governments impact us and our internal state. For example this psychological study shows the link between a countries economic well-being and subjective well-being (happiness) levels. So if, for example, a country was to be going through a recession (hint hint) the happiness levels of that countries citizens would be expected to fall in accordance with the poor economic performance. So poor economic policies promote depression (depression being the opposite of happiness). Why not promote a little happiness too? |
Do you believe the government the only institution that can do these things though? I am an economic conservative, so I think the government should have no, or very little, interference in the economy anyway.
I looked at the study you referred me to, and it I am not sure why you used it, since it shows that the lowest happiness was in former communist states of the USSR. This completely contradicts your point because it suggests that
less government involvement in the economy fosters more happiness.
Even if you don't agree, you should agree that their are other non governmental institutions that can deliver these benefits to society. Charities, churches, even corporations, give billions of dollars each year to redevelopment projects, fighting poverty, educating inner city youth, etc.
And historically, private institutions have been more efficient than government at performing charitable roles in society. You wouldn't know it today, since the corrupt, inefficient Welfare State has largely forced out these institutions.
Book Review -- The Corrosion of Charity Quote:
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And you can measure happiness, you should take a look at positive psychology (its a rather new field of psychology so I'm not surprised you haven't heard of it, I know they don't have any classes on it at my university) and in particular the work of Dr. Seligman if you're interested in the psychology behind happiness. If you want to see a few tests designed by Dr. Seligman to measure an individual's happiness levels you can check out my post here, and if you want to see some of the research on happiness there is actually an entire journal devoted to the study of happiness called the Journal of Happiness Studies. You can probably get access to it through your school.
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Yeah I've studied Seligman's work quite a bit. It's cool stuff. I'm a psychology student and I don't like the emphasis on biology and medication that has crept into the field, but the Positive Psychology movement seems to be going in the right direction.
That is actually what I was alluding to in my post though. Seligman's work contradicts the previously held assumptions of many psychologists - that psychological well being is simply a lack of mental illness.
The whole point of the Positive Psychology movement is that for many years, psychologists have been
missing the point.
Hell, it almost negates the entire principle behind the DSM, which is like the bible of psychologists everywhere.
If you have read any of his research papers, you know that they managed to reduce depression in subjects by having them do things like
-write a letter thanking someone they had never thanked properly and then reading it to the person
-write down 5 things they are thankful for each night
The activities they had them perform are almost laughable, yet they showed nearly the same improvement as people on antidepressants, even months later.
Attitude factors like gratitude and thankfulness are found in people who are the most resilient to depression, i.e. "the most happy."
These are
internal factors.
Tell me how government housing programs you recommend could increase internal characteristics like these?