More on Happiness
Men are no happier than women, and people in sunny areas no happier than people in chillier climates. The evidence on health is complex, but even chronic health problems (like those requiring dialysis) may have surprisingly little long-term effect on happiness, because we adjust to them. Beautiful people aren’t happier than ugly people, although cosmetic surgery does seem to leave patients feeling brighter. Whites are happier than blacks, but only very slightly. And young people are actually a bit less happy than older folks, at least up to age 65.
Full report on basic human pleasures.
Maybe humans are just adaptable.
I like Gary Becker’s distinction between utility and happiness. We do what gives us utility, not what makes us happier.
Ken, maybe the better word is “resiliant.”