Sunday, February 15, 2009

Before You Read This, Answer: What Is Your Happiness On A Scale Of 1-10?

When individuals complete happiness surveys that use a one to ten scale, those scoring around an eight often tend to fare the best in achievement. Why might the eights of the world outperform their friends and neighbors who are nines or tens? It could be that eights benefit from the creativity and energy of happiness, but also maintain a touch of worry that helps to motivate them.

In 1976, thousands of college students were surveyed. They were contacted twenty years later and asked to report their incomes, and the results had surprisingly high correlation. The sevens, eights and nines generally did better than everyone else, including the tens.

- From Ed Diener

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