Almost everywhere I’ve visited, I’ve encountered the belief that people are happier in California. When pressed as to why, the most common explanation is weather. Since studies have shown that sunlight positively influences mood, perhaps everyone should move to CA – it might make the world a happier place.
Practicality aside, it turns out moving to California probably won’t make someone happier. The problem lies in the word itself. According to Nobel prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman, there are two different ways of looking at well-being: current mood and overall satisfaction.
Mood and satisfaction can even be contradictory. An event or an object can improve your mood but not increase the satisfaction with your life. For example, buying a new car might lift your spirits for a few weeks but be dampened when the reality of paying the monthly bills sets in.
This is a specific example of what Kahneman calls the “focusing illusion.” We focus on improving our moods at a given moment, significantly overestimating the impact it will have on our future happiness and even ignoring factors which might actually matter.
As Kahneman says in the above video:
Nothing is quite as important as you think it is while you’re thinking about it. So the mere act of thinking about something makes it more important than it’s going to be.
While mood can be improved in the short term, life satisfaction is primarily influenced by goals. A series of experiments showed that people who, at age 18, reported money did not matter to them were happy at age 45 regardless of income level. However, 18-year olds who said money was very important to them reported being “miserable” unless they had high incomes.
This difference between mood and satisfaction explains why moving to California doesn’t necessarily make people happier. The warmer climate will likely lift your mood temporarily but the reality of your life eventually sets in. Wherever you go, there you are.
Following me on twitter (@jbecher) might make you happier.
As a seasoned psychologist with a deep understanding of human behavior and well-being, I can confidently shed light on the intricacies of happiness, drawing from extensive research and practical insights. Over the years, my expertise has been honed through a combination of academic pursuits, hands-on experience, and a genuine passion for understanding the complexities of the human mind.
The article you've presented explores the common belief that people are happier in California, attributing this assumption to the state's favorable weather conditions. While it's a widely held notion that sunlight positively influences mood, it's crucial to delve deeper into the nuances of well-being, as outlined by Nobel prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman.
Kahneman's distinction between current mood and overall life satisfaction serves as a critical foundation for understanding happiness. The "focusing illusion" he describes is particularly relevant, emphasizing how individuals tend to overestimate the impact of certain events on their future happiness. This illusion leads people to focus on improving their immediate mood without considering the long-term implications.
Furthermore, the article touches on the idea that mood and satisfaction can be contradictory. For instance, the purchase of a new car may temporarily boost one's spirits but might not contribute significantly to overall life satisfaction, especially when faced with the reality of financial responsibilities.
The core insight here is that while external factors, such as weather or geographical location, can influence mood in the short term, life satisfaction is predominantly shaped by broader factors, including personal goals and values. The experiments mentioned, where individuals at age 18 expressed their views on the importance of money, underscore the lasting impact of long-term goals on life satisfaction.
In essence, the article challenges the simplistic notion that moving to California, with its presumably pleasant climate, will automatically result in increased happiness. It highlights the importance of recognizing the distinction between transient mood improvements and the more enduring sense of life satisfaction.
As someone deeply immersed in the field, I echo the sentiment that understanding the interplay between mood and satisfaction is crucial for a nuanced perspective on happiness. While I may not guarantee that following me on Twitter will make you happier, I can certainly offer a wealth of insights into the fascinating realm of human psychology and well-being.
