Desire for material goods is "a happiness suppressant". This observation has obviously not filtered through to the Nigerian scammers that plague the average Internet user's email inbox, for it seems the Nigerians are the happiest people in the world; followed by the citizens of Mexico, Venezuela, El Salvador and Puerto Rico. Perhaps not the first five countries that would have sprung to mind, but the fact that eastern European countries occupy the bottom three places i.e. the least happy countries, is perhaps not so surprising. How do you stay happy? Well you're best chances are if you are genetically designed that way, have a good marriage with good friends and if you generally desire less. All pretty obvious really. So how happy are you?
Posted by Joe at October 3, 2003 01:26 AMThe earn more money/desire less seem incompatible to me somehow. I think this really shows up the difference between science and philosophy. In order to fulfill both at the same time, you have to earn more money without actually trying or really love a high-paying job. All makes sense in a statistical way, but probably very difficult to achieve. I'm also less than convinced by the happiest countries, although the least happy makes perfect sense. Dunno. Been a long time since I've been to Mexico - I'll have to think about that more.
I wonder who the researchers are? Apparently the Dalai Lama is working with MIT on some other "brain research", though I don't think it's happiness-related.
I suppose the article is in the new issue, since it's not on thier website. I'm going to have to pick up a copy. Fascinating stuff. Thanks again for a great link!
Posted by: Lisa at October 3, 2003 04:26 AMAh - World Values Survey. Heh- I still wonder who the researchers are. :-)
Posted by: Lisa at October 3, 2003 04:28 AMThe 'earn more money' one did fox me as well, especially when they point out that rising incomes haven't made a difference to the level of happiness in industrialised countries over - however many - years they mention. Flies in the face of 'happiness suppressant' observation to say the least.
Posted by: Joe at October 3, 2003 11:02 PM