Who is Happy?

For this post I am going to be considering sections of the paper 'Who is Happy?' by Myers and Diener. Download the paper from here.

'Social desirability is a substantive characteristics that enhances well-being'.

Between 1924 and 1927 Elton Mayo carried out the Hawthorne Experiment. The conclusions included:

The need for recognition, security and sense of belonging is more important in determining workers' morale and productivity than the physical conditions under which he works.

It is therefore possible that the mere event of being involved in the study, enhanced well-being. the participants felt 'involved' and 'important'. Also their answers are likely to be influenced by this social desirability and the mneed to portray themselves in a positive light. In the paper there seemed to be no consideration of either point.

Many years ago I took part in an experiment at Oxford University. At the beginning of the experiment we were told that we were going to be filmed at the end and asked to talk about something. Then the experiment began testing reactions to statements. At the end I was waiting for the filming and was told that there never was going to be any filming and we were just told that to make us nervous and on-edge. This then would affect our answers to the other questions.

I was actually looking forward to the filming and the 'promise' of celluloid immortality had had a positive, not negative, effect on me.