An individual 's happiness is vital to their overall wellbeing and is affected by numerous factors, all to varying extents. Although changing some factors, such as attitude and money, is believed to have a major effect on an individual’s happiness, other factors like social class have a larger impact. This essay will begin by discussing how an individual 's attitude is often scrutinised as being either positive or negative, how this can be damaging to their happiness and how realistic thinking can be more helpful. In addition, money’s effect on an individual’s happiness will be examined, in particular the belief that more money will bring more happiness and how it is not as significant as individuals with less money being less happiness. …show more content…
Carter (2011, p. 221) states that even if these individuals accept their situation as fair, this does not mean that they are happy with this norm. While money cannot buy happiness, ‘the status and security’ (Hout, 2016, p. 219) that accompany being in above average social classes is linked with more happiness. Ehrenreich (2010) notes that class inequality would cease to be if individuals could simply change their attitude to change their situation. But as outlined above, this expectation is not realistic and does not acknowledge the complexities of class inequality and the effect on those individuals. Social class has a significant effect on happiness for individuals in lower classes, as it is a major determining factor in their opportunity for increasing happiness and should be given greater consideration when happiness is scrutinised. In conclusion, social class has a significant effect on an individual’s happiness and is a greater factor in happiness outcomes than attitude and money. Whether an individual has positive or negative attitude is not a major contributor to their happiness and a realistic attitude would be ideal for those trying to increase their
Does it matter what your social and economical standings are, and do they play a role in if you will succeed in life? The importance of this essay was to talk about the different viewpoints and to argue the point of succeeding and social statuses. I
Stephen M. Schuller and Acacia C. Parks research shows that circumstantial factors do not adequately explain different level of happiness. Positive reactions will contribute to everyone’s happiness just as well as negative reactions do. I agree with Schuller and Parks when it comes down to where your happiness comes from. I believe your happiness comes from how you react to every situation in your life and how you let it affect your happiness. Therefore, I do not agree with Newman and Larsen due to him believing your happiness is out of your control. Newman and Larsen state that most of what influences your long-term happiness is not in your control. Most circumstances that happen in your
However, happiness also takes into account a wide range of other aspects of our lives, including our thoughts and actions, and even genetics. Therefore, happiness should be defined as the amalgamation of how we think and act, and how we interpret our experiences as positive or negative. What this means is that in order to become happier, we must simply force ourselves to become more optimistic. This is easier said than done, however. In order to have a noticeable increase in happiness, people must be willing to make lifestyle changes in addition to changing their mindset. However, the difference between optimism and delusion is a fine line, so people must be cautious to not exaggerate the positive parts of an experience or become overly optimistic. If we practice seeking out the positive views of our circumstances, with time we will find ourselves happier than
In the article, "Class in America", Gregory Mantsios shows us how what class individuals are in affect their lives more than they think. The author thinks Americans, don’t like to talk about class no matter is upper class, middle class, or lower class. He describes four beliefs about class in America and then he used statistical evidence to refute them. In this article I have deep feelings about the class. Here have two points first of all I thinks the class that you are in it will affect your life whatever you admit it to yourself or not another point is the class you are affects how you are succeeding in school it all affect your future. Class, will affect in the future what job you will find, what kind person you will meet. For example the
“Happiness is based on a just discrimination of what is necessary, what is neither necessary nor destructive, and what is destructive.” This quote from the article infers that
One reason described to be a cause of happiness is income. Don Peck and Ross Douthat indicate how, “National income appears to be one of the best single predictors of overall well-being, explaining perhaps 40 percent of the difference in contentment among nations” (352). With this statement, comes the explanation of how income can influence happiness in adults who strive to earn a living. Research illustrates how, “For individual countries, with few exceptions, self-reported happiness has increased as incomes have risen” (Douthat 352). While these two statements provide sufficient evidence for the reason of income bringing happiness, income itself is not relevant.
In the book, The How of Happiness, author and researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky sets her book apart from other self-awareness books by being the first to utilize empirical studies. She uses data gained through scientific method to provide support for her hypothesis. This hypothesis consists mainly of the idea that we have the ability to overcome genetic predisposition and circumstantial barriers to happiness by how we think and what we do. She emphasizes that being happier benefits ourselves, our family and our community. “The How of Happiness is science, and the happiness-increasing strategies that [she] and other social psychologists have developed are its key supporting players” (3).
In Michael R. Hagerty’s and Ruut Veenhoven’s article “Wealth and Happiness Revisited – Growing National Income Does Go with Greater Happiness” they talk about the effect wealth has on your emotions...
He further shows us that the people of today are richer than their grandparents but are not happier in their lives (from National Statistics of social pathology). Even with these facts, people in the United States still believe if they had more money all of their problems would be solved, but once they reach that next income bracket they are not satisfied and try to reach the next one. Myers et al tells us, "even if being rich and famous is rewarding, no one ever claimed material success alone makes us happy. Other conditions like - family- friends- free time - have been shown to increase happiness" (Csikszentmihaly 145). therefore we must find balance in our own lives, and not just focus on making money. Instead we need friends, family and even free time, as aforementioned doing an activity you enjoy such as listening to music or
Outline and assess the view that some social groups suffer more inequality in terms of life chances than others
Whether one realizes it or not, their socioeconomic status determines how the world views them. Socioeconomic status is the social standing or class that a person or family is placed into regarding their occupation choice, amount of education, annual income amount, and personal wealth. People with a higher socioeconomic status tend to be more influential on public decisions than those who classify in the lower socioeconomic groups. After analyzing the personal stories of Christie, Debra, and Caroline, I will be given better insight on socioeconomic status in order to reflect on my own personal socioeconomic status to see how it affects my life.
Social class is an old fashioned way for people to distinguish each other which most people believe the person who stays in upper class will be successful in his/her life. According to the article “Shadowy Lines That Still Divide” by Janny Scott and David Leonhardt, the authors state, 71 percents of people believe they reach the American dream in their lives (8). This sentence illustrates most upper class are satisfy what they have. In the minds of most of majorities, a successful person means wealth and high education while the upper class represents wealth and it can provide opportunity for children to get high education. Thus, the social class is important to a person’s success in life because as you born in upper class which means you are halfway reach to success .
Contrary to belief, genuine happiness is very rarely found at the bottom of a shopping basket or on the leather seats of a brand new car. Often we hear the cliché saying “Money can’t buy happiness” but this is in fact true. Whilst the elation and delight brought from finally owning a wanted item is extraordinary, you must remind yourself that your happiness should not become dependant upon your ownership of this item. Being happy is not something you can purchase from a shop or car dealership, it is the way you take on life. Unfortunately, happiness does not have its own aisle at shops and never will.
..., a person who earns $25,000 is happier than a person who makes $125,000 and an employee who makes $500,000 is only slightly happier than someone who makes $55,000. Lastly, there are more important things in life that and make you happy, for example, friends. They don’t come with a price tag, and if they do, you definitely need new friends. Money won’t make you happy since good times can’t be bought. You don’t need a fancy vacation to have a good time; it’s just a matter of who you spend it with. Over the years, humans have blown the value of money way out of proportion. People make it seem like if you’re not filthy rich, then you won’t live a good life but it’s not true. You can lack money and yet still live a perfect, happy life.
But in this debate, one question still raises its head - What is happiness? Happiness is not actually leading a luxurious life, but the luxury of living a life. Happiness is not actually about expanding your business, but it lies in expanding the horizons of life. Happiness is not having a meal in the most famous restaurant, but having it with your most beloved family. It does not lie in attending honorable parties, but to attend a party with honor.