What is the long-term impact of money and physical injuries on happiness? Discuss the set point for happiness.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Students' answers may vary.

A person who wins the lottery will not become happier, at least in the long run. That's the implication of health psychologists' research on subjective well-being. That research shows that although winning the lottery brings an initial surge in happiness, a year later, winners' level of happiness returns to what it was before they won.

A similar pattern, although in reverse, occurs for people who have had extremely serious injuries in accidents, such as losing a limb or becoming paralyzed: Initially, they decline in happiness after the accident. But in the long run, most victims return to their prior levels of happiness after the passage of time.

The level of subjective well-being is quite stable in people. One explanation is that people have a general set point for happiness, a marker that establishes the tone for one's life. Although specific events may temporarily elevate or depress one's mood (a surprise promotion or a job loss, for example), people ultimately return to their general level of happiness. Although it is not certain how people's happiness set points are initially established, some evidence suggests that the set point is determined at least in part by genetic factors. Specifically, identical twins who grow up in widely different circumstances turn out to have very similar levels of happiness.