Lauren Rodgers

Instructor D. Jizi
UWRT 1102-010
16 February 2016
Double Entry Journal
Citation:
Mochon, Daniel, Micheal I. Norton, and Dan Ariely. "Getting Off the Hedonic Treadmill, One Step
at a Time" 2015. Pursuing Happiness: A Bedford Spotlight Reader. Place of Publication
Not Identified: Bedford Bks St Martin'S, 2015. 324-36. Print.
Source: Quote (Page# or Paragraph #)

Responses

Few events in life have a lasting impact on

subjective well-being because of peoples
tendency to adapt quickly (324)

At first I was a little shocked when I read this

statement, but then I thought about it. I
realized that I do not actually remember most
of the things that have happened to me in my
lifetime. Happy or sad I do not think that
many of my life events have truly affected me,
as stated in the book. Maybe its also that I
have not experienced many major life events.

Those events that do have a lasting impact

tend to be negative (324)

Major events in my life that have been

negative have stuck with me more. I think
this is true to be personally because each one
of my negative events has affected me
mentally too. Mental afflictions tend to stick
with people for a long time and take time to
get over. I think this is why major negative life
events seem to affect peoples well-being
more than positive life events.

Well-being has been shown to affect the

behavior of individuals. (325)

Continued from the statement earlier, mental

afflictions greatly influence behaviors. If
someones well-being is better they are more
likely to act happier, positive, calm, and put
together. While people who are experiencing
negative well-being can be moodier,
discouraging, and be distressed.

People in positive moods have also been

shown to be more creative problems
solvers, more likely to attain a mutually
favorable outcome while bargaining, and
more willing to seek variety among positive
choices.(325)

This might be true. With my afflictions I find

that I am not as creative as others or that I
have to try harder to be more creative, but
that could be because I might not be a
creative person. I know happy people who
are not creative as well.

Understanding what factors truly improve

well-being can guide such decisions, and

Making the right choices for ones well-being

will definitely help with their lasting benefits.

help avoid choosing programs that bring

expensive and non lasting benefits. (325)

If you choose the wrong factors you will end

up less happy, possibly less than you started
out with. Taking time to know what you are
doing will save time and effort in the long run.

Most studies have shown that peoples

overall level of happiness seems stubbornly
impervious to change (325)

Besides the negative effects of negative

events I can agree with this statement. I have
always been on a certain level of happiness
throughout my teenage and young adult life.
No matter what I would do to make myself
happier, I just seemed to be just as happy, or
unhappy, as when I started what I was trying.

We suggest that while single major events

may be unlikely to have a lasting impact,
smaller minor behaviors provide small
boosts to well-being that can lead to real
changes in overall well-being, especially if
they are repeated with sufficient frequency.
(326)

I agree with this statement. Before I was

injured, I played lacrosse and I ran everyday.
Exercising everyday made me happier and I
found that my mental afflictions went away
entirely; I did not concentrate on my OCD,
anxiety, or depression. After I was injured
and could not run or play as much as I was
used to my happiness seemed to decrease.

The term hedonic treadmill describes the

now widely accepted notion that though
people continue to accrue experiences and
objects that make them happy-or unhappytheir overall level of well-being tends to
remain fairly static. (326)

Happiness seems to stay constant no matter

what one does to increase it. Material objects
and surround oneself with others does not
help in the long run. The only way that
provides happiness is to involve oneself in
positive things that require reoccurring effort.

Of those investigations that have

demonstrated a lasting impact of major
events on well-being, most have been in
negative domains. (327)

Most can relate to experiencing a major

negative event and being knocked on their
feet. They also remember taking large
amounts of time recovering, if they did
recover, from it.

Many studies have shown that there are

strong effects of both genetic predisposition
and stable personality traits on well-being
(327)

A long line of depression, OCD, and anxiety

runs in my family. I was unfortunate enough
to inherit all three of them. Mixed together it
does not provide a great atmosphere for
happiness on a regular basis and a great
overall well-being.

Although some major negative events seem

to be able to create lasting changes, there
seems to be little people can do to improve
their well-being (327)

There is not anything someone can do to help

them be happier. Im not saying that it isnt
hard, because it is, but it is not impossible.
As stated multiple times throughout the
reading, the best way in improve well being is
to involve oneself in activities that require
continued effort.

Minor life events offers insight into how

A persons minor activities can mirror their

people might increase their well-being. (328) beliefs, such as religion. Participating in
these little activities everyday can give
someone a sense of happiness, continued
boosts of happiness.
Particular behaviors (such as religion and
exercise) are related to higher levels of wellbeing (327)

These behaviors are positive. As stated

earlier, behaviors are closely related with
genetics to overall well-being. I found that
exercising and religion helped me be a
happier person overall.

We further suggested that while the effect of

each one of these boosts might be small,
people who engage in these activities often
enough will end up with higher well-being
(335)

Regular small boosts of happiness help

contribute to a long span of boosts. These
long span of boosts eventually make more a
happier and well better of person. Regular
boosts help maintain and can improve
happiness.