We, (me included) chase with great and even desperate passion – more and more and more – stuff. A bigger pay check, a nicer house, a cooler car, new clothes…….
Now – we sort of know better, we know that we can’t have both a sane and sustainable world with all that stuff – but what we don’t seem to know – despite all the research that clearly lay’s it out – is that once we’ve met our basic human needs – more stuff has nothing to do with more happiness.
Community, conversation, participation, involvement, trust, and passion – yes – more stuff – no.
Even for those of us who know that happiness is more likely to come from community than capital – it’s hard to made the choices that generate new patterns!
Jonathan Porritt’s new book Capitalism as if the World Matters provides a wealth of research on the subject.
p. 51
The social basis of discontent in modern society is not so much lack of income; it is loneliness, boredom, depression, alienation, self-doubt and the ill health that goes with them. Social exclusion is not so much exclusion from the structures of production and consumption; it is exclusion from social relationships and modes of self-understanding that confer acknowledgement, self-worth and meaning. Most of the problems of modern society are not the result of inadequate incomes; they are the result of social structures, ideologies and cultural forms that prevent people from realizing their potential and leading satisfying lives in their communities.
(Hamilton, 2003)
p. 53
Looking at survey figures from around the world, there remains a strong correlation between subjective perceptions of wellbeing and per capita income. But research by Robert Lane, Ed Diener and Ruut Veenhoven clearly demonstrates that, beyond a certain point, the correlation first weakens and then disappears. People may set that threshold at different levels; but it is clear that the law of diminishing returns applies as much here is as in any other area. In The Loss of Happiness in Market Democracies, Robert Lane (2000) describes this as ‘the waning power of income to yield that ephemeral good utility’, and castigates both academics and politicians for being in thrall to that ‘economistic fallacy’ that, beyond poverty or basic subsistence levels, higher incomes will automatically increase levels of subjective wellbeing.
p. 54
Worse yet, beyond these relatively manageable levels of dissatisfaction, there is a growing body of evidence which shows that things are actually getting worse in terms of real mental wellbeing. There is a growing consensus among psychiatric researchers that rates of depression, for instance, have been on the increase since the 1950’s, especially among the young. In November 2002, a report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation compared 10,000 people born in 1958 with 10,000 born in 1970. While in their mid 20’s, both groups were questioned about their mental health. Among the post-World War II generation, just 7 percent of those questioned had a tendency to non-clinical depression; among those born in 1970, the figure had doubled to 14 percent.
p. 55
In 2002, the Institute of Optimum Nutrition surveyed around 22,000 UK citizens, most living in towns and cities, and most below the age of 30. They found that:
- 76 percent of people are regularly tired;
- 58 percent suffer from mood swings;
- 52 percent feel apathetic and unmotivated;
- 50 percent suffer from anxiety;
- 47 percent have difficulty sleeping;
- 43 percent have poor memories or struggle to concentrate; and
- 42 percent suffer from depression.
(Institute of Optimum Nutrition, 2002)
p. 56
Much of this research is brought together in Richard Layard’s (2005) new book Happiness. He also offers his readers an elegant ten-point exposition as to why happiness matters so much (inadequately summarized here in my words rather than his):
- Happiness is an objective dimension of all our experiences and it can be measured.
- Human beings are programmed to seek happiness.
- It should therefore be self-evident that the best society will be the happiest society rather than the richest society.
- Our society is not likely to become happier unless people explicitly agree that this is what they want to happen.
- Human beings are deeply social beings; as such, we want to be able to trust each other. Happiness is profoundly affected by levels of trust.
- Human beings are also very status conscious and are deeply attached to the status quo—they hate loss of any kind.
- However, extra income increases happiness less and less as people get richer.
- Human beings are also very adaptable; just because consumption is addictive now does not mean it always will be.
- Happiness depends upon your inner life as much as upon your outer circumstances.
- Public policy can more easily remove misery than augment happiness itself.