Question

There has been an overall increase in wealth in the U.S., but no subsequent increase in happiness. According to the lecture, this is because happiness is:

A) Primarily influenced by individual income.
B) Tied to material possessions and economic status.
C) Linked to social connections and a sense of community.
D) Independent of external factors and circumstances.

Answer 1

Happiness is linked to social connections and a sense of community rather than wealth alone, with studies indicating that social bonds and quality of life have a stronger correlation with happiness.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the lecture, happiness has not increased with wealth in the U.S. because happiness is C) Linked to social connections and a sense of community. Despite the overall increase in wealth, studies such as those by Diener et al. (2010, 2013) and Quoidbach et al. (2010), suggest that there is no significant increase in happiness when wealth is solely considered. In contrast, factors like social connections, psychosocial prosperity, and a strong sense of community are found to be closely associated with happiness. Even though an increase in income or standard of living might improve life evaluation measures, it's the quality of life and social bonds that predict happier feelings among individ