Pursuit of Happiness (1)

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20081215-000001.html

The article "The Pursuit of Happiness" has two parts to it. The first part, the first page, is about the "happiness frenzy" and how it has spread through our society in the past few years. Not only were 4,000 books sold on the subject of happiness in just one year, but schools started teaching popular classes about positive psychology. Psychologists, neuroscientists, and behavioral economists have jumped on board and done research in their areas about what makes us happy. Research shows that this rise in happiness research may be because our nation as a whole is becoming sadder, or so we say.

The last three pages of the article are about real, proven ways to make yourself happy. They have ideas such as setting goals, living in the now, making enough money to live comfortably, and have strong personal relationships. These ideas are all general, but the author believes it is these methods that will help you live a happier life.


Considering the research this article has provided, it is apparent to me that this is a very relative topic to today's society. 15% of people are clinically depressed. It also offers a lot of good advice that I myself have been given, and would give, on how to have a happier life. However, the length of the article and the way it jumps around to different topics makes it hard to focus on and learn from.


This article isn't exactly useful to the field of psychology, it doesn't offer any new scientific information. This was basically just a guide for depressed people to get their lives together.

Flora, Carlin. "The Pursuit of Happiness." Psychology Today. Jan. & feb. 2009.