问答题 What is the thing called happiness? For centuries, people were too busy pursuing it to spend much time analyzing it. Now a pioneering band of researchers has finally bagged the elusive quarry — or, at least taken its measure. 21) Using such sophisticated new tools as the five-item Life Satisfaction Scale and the seven-point Delighted-Terrible Scale, social psychologists have plumbed the heart of happiness. And their answer to the age-old mystery is that it all depends.
Happiness, that is, depends on what makes you feel happy, which is why psychologists often call it "subjective well-being'. But from studies of various age and population groups in the United States and abroad, they have reached some objective conclusions on the makings of happiness. 22) What comes up consistently at the top of the charts is not, as many might expect, success, youth, good looks or any of those enviable assets. The clear winner is relationships. Close ones. Followed by happy marriage. Supportive, intimate connections with other people seem tremendously important. Using simple survey questions, psychologist David Myers found that the least happy people are those in unhappy marriages. Happiest are those who are married to their "best friend".
Oxford University now has an actual happiness laboratory. Social psychologist Michael Argyle conducts "mood induction" studies, gauging the emotional impact of music and other stimuli. In one study people were asked to think negative thoughts for 15 minutes, and the effect on their mood was measured. Later, they were urged to talk about their troubles for a few minutes. 23) The conclusion: "Talking about bad things isn't nearly as bad as thinking about bad things," says Argyle. "It halves the negative effect to share with someone else." But better yet, he says, is leisure. "Go out and play tennis. A noisy game is often the best answer."
A wild card in all this is the influence of genes. Studies have shown that some people are just born happy, although environment can shape personality too. That's one reason factors like health, wealth and education come up relatively weak on the scales. They seem to be overridden by temperament. 24) Another reason is adaptability: win the lottery and your happiness leaps, but a year later you're only marginally happier than before the windfall. Major events lose their impact over time.
25) Argyle, who likens the study of happiness to preventive medicine, says, "We should do whatever we can to keep people in a positive emotional state to begin with." But he sometimes has trouble applying his own medicine. He conducts his work on a shoe-string because research grants remain desperately hard to get. "It does rather depress me," he admits.