The nature of ‘Happiness’
As life passes by we often ask ourselves how we can be happier. With the recession, high un-employment, an increase in crime, rising living cost, etc, it seems the search for happiness remains a mystery. A prize that is lost at the end of a rainbow. Where can we find a map to get to the end? To find happiness? The answer to these questions seem to be littered throughout every book store in the world. Entire sections are dedicated to well-being, positive thinking and healthy lifestyles. All of these books are promoted by people with Cheshire cat grins and over-the-top proclamations of how “this can change your life”.
Before we delve into the cultural phenomenon that is self-improvement I want to go back to basics.
What is ‘Happiness’? Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being. Happiness is characterized by positive or pleasant emotions.
Biologically, happiness is a state induced by high levels of serotonin (5-HT). 5-HT is a neurotransmitter that is used mostly to control your GI tract and Central Nervous System. This heightened level of serotonin causes mood changes, behavioural differences and a heightened CNS (also known as fight or flight). Serotonin is an inhibitory neurotransmitter which counteracts excitatory neurotransmitters. In a normal, calm human, the levels of 5-HT and the excitatory neurotransmitter GABA are balanced. When something in our surrounding changes, one of our 5 senses pick up on this and cause a change in levels of 5-HT and GABA which affect our mood.
The most common factor in biological happiness is food. There are 2 distinct types of ‘food happy’. Comfort foods affect us psychologically whereas certain foods affect us physiologically. Comfort foods vary from person to person but our gender plays a big part (I would give you the link to the survey I read on this but I honestly can‘t remember where I read it, nor can I be bothered to hunt for it). Females tend to favour sweet foods, while men prefer savoury foods. The problem with comfort foods is that because the change in neurotransmitters is reliant on the memory of this food making you happy, the change is not sustainable and will dwindle in just a few minutes. Sushi is the main food which affects our physiology. Because of a type of acid called DHA (a major ingredient in Omega 3 fish oil), sushi has the ability to cause a huge increase in 5-HT production. This spike in 5-HT has a prolonged effect on our body causing a sense of prolonged happiness.
So with both the basic dictionary definition and the biological proof of how we become “happy” out of the way, I would like to touch on a few other theories to do with happiness. Starting with self-actualization.
Self-Actualization has become a very common word within the cult/religious/better-lifestyle area of reading. Kurt Goldstein is the psychologist who coined the term self-actualization in his book The Organism. I’m paraphrasing here but the jist of it is: In an effort to become truly happy one must actualize, as much as possible, ones individual capacities. To fulfil ones potential.
Using Goldstein’s theory another psychologist, Abraham Maslow, created a pyramid called ‘The Hierarchy of Needs’ (Below) This hierarchy is the breakdown of the path to fulfilment and self-actualization.
Using Goldstein and Maslow’s works as a backdrop, American psychologist Martin Seligman created a simpler, more accessible definition of self-actualization. Seligman coined the acronym PERMA, which describes the 5 things that evoke happiness.
Pleasure – Things such as good food, comfortable environments, etc.
Engagement – Doing something which engages you. Things like reading, video games or puzzles.
Relationships – Self-explanatory
Meaning – A sense of higher purpose. (Directly correlated with religion)
Accomplishments – Completing a set challenge or goal.
In Buddhism happiness is a central theme. The Fourth of the Four Noble Truths is the Noble Eightfold Path. The journey to self-awakening in Nirvana (The place of eternal peace). The eight elements are: view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration. By attaining each of the eight elements Buddhists believe they can achieve eternal peace and awakening.
To me, religion and psychology go hand in hand. The belief that by following a task list of doing a, b and c, you will reach a place of eternal happiness. I think this is bullshit and I’ll explain why.
Sociopathic personality disorder. A person (me) with this disorder holds antisocial views and a distinct lack of conscience or emotion. This disorder is directly linked with low levels of 5-HT. Disorders such as Williams syndrome are linked with high levels of 5-HT. This causes over friendliness and a cheerful demeanour. (Disclaimer – I am completely aware of the 100’s of other things that are effected by these disorders. I am using the ones that are necessary to my point)
I live a normal life and am able, if I wanted to, go about achieving each of the steps of Maslow’s hierarchy or follow the Noble Eightfold Path. This wouldn’t change my physiology. No lifestyle change can permanently affect my physiological makeup. Someone with Williams syndrome does not have the mental capability to understand and achieve the self-actualization or self-awakening without the aid of another, mentally able, adult. Again, by not completing any of these self-a’s the genetic makeup is not changed and their levels of 5-HT will not be changed.
For these simple reasons I discount both the religious and psychological theories and revert to sticking with the biological research as fact. (Disclaimer – just because I discount these theories on this topic doesn’t mean I will not continue to read, learn and listen to what they teach as everything has a place and there is nothing that I cannot learn from, no matter how small)
Now for the interesting question. Is happiness measurable or subjective?
There are 3 generally recognised measurable tests for happiness. The Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWL). All use a questionnaire and are based on a numerical system working between 2 extremes. Very normal stuff. My issue is that my level of serotonin varies massively. I could be in an uncomfortable place when taking the test, momentarily skewing my score due to my varied mood. I could have just had some sushi. For me a more reliable test is the Subjective Well-Being (SWB) test. This factors in personality traits, moods, general satisfaction with life, quality of life, the list goes on. The SWB tests personality traits and genetic predispositions to establish a baseline for the actual test. This to me would produce a more accurate results. Despite all the factors and baselines and variables in the SWB test, I do not believe happiness is measurable.
I actually do not believe in happiness. The same way I don’t believe in depression (another day maybe). Happiness is a word we use to describe a temporary mood. The key word being temporary. Despite a low level of 5-HT I feel content. I do not feel restless or uneasy or worried. My moods shift in different ways and on different levels but I do not feel happy or sad all the time. No-one does. I feel that self-actualization and self-awakening is just a fancy way of saying you have a clear head. When you are free of debris of the brain you can think clearly and logically, although there is little logical about religion. This clear thinking means that outside influences have less of an effect on you. This does not change your biological makeup – if you eat sushi you will still have a heightened mood – it simply gives you a better control of the temporary shifts in mood.
Now back to the self-help, self-improvement books. First I would like to point out the glaring irony of needing a book written by someone else to help you on the road to SELF improvement. I’m also aware of the contradiction that Buddhist’s have to be taught by someone to follow the path of self-awakening but Buddhism doesn’t flaunt its teachings for £14.99, or spend £19.99 and get a free health magazine subscription and a gym ball. The feeling of self importance is something that everyone should feel at one point in their life. Once that feeling has been achieved by all means help whoever you want but do not – for the sake of my love of bookstores – write a book claiming you know the key to eternal happiness.
My closing quote for today is: The only person that can change you is you. Do not let others tell you that you can’t do something. Your physiology will gradually change but your genetic makeup will not. Live with it, adapt and do the things that make you feel euphoric and don’t dwell on the things that do the opposite. Also, don’t go into the self-help section of Waterstones. It’s where Satan lives.
James Moran 