The Pursuit of Happiness

Psychology 2301

The Pursuit of Happiness

Question One

Identify three research method(s) used to accumulate the data which served as the basis for this article. What were the strengths and weaknesses of the research method(s)?

Question Two

• The first method of was surveying Americans, in this article had shown that as years go by people are becoming less optimistic. Optimism dropped from 79% to 50%. Time also resulted that 20% of American will suffer from mood disorder and 30% will have an anxiety disorder by the age of 18. The advantages of this type of research it fast, cheap, large amounts of populations can participate. Some of the disadvantages are participants may not be honest in their responses, close ended questions may lower the validity (Wise, 2012). Another con is the not all data relates to the study.
• The next method used is correlation, which shows the relationship between two variables: strong versus weak, positive versus negative and in some cases no relationship. Times examined the difference of men and women coping capabilities with reality versus expectation. Their results showed 25% American Women and 5% men were using some type of antidepressants. Medications were not the only way they dealt with depression some used food as a mood lifter, Women 48% and 44% of men which is one reason Americans have a large number of obese individuals. Positive Correlations: both variables increase or decrease at the same time with negative Correlations: indicates that as the amount of one variable increases, the other decreases (Cherry, 2017).
• Third Method that was implemented was experimental, (examine causes, preventions, and treatments for diseases or outcomes) investigators at Harvard and Boston analyzed a gene called DRD4 (brain dopamine receptors) and another gene 5-HTTLPR (serotonin transport) using an MRI image to determine brain activity. Favorable is high level of control, can span across several fields of research and many variations can be derived. Unfavorable large human errors, artificial situations can be created and can be time consuming (2015, Flow Psychology Editor).

Draw three conclusions that can be deduced from the graphs or charts presented in this article.

The graphs and charts in the “Time” article reveal that every year we become less and less optimistic. Though most people seem outwardly happy and content at the current stage of life they seem to be in. They are the happiest when the achieve a goal (as I will when I am done with school) but not so much as they are working to that goal. Our increase of social media makes most American feel less about their own life although most are creating a more attractive and more successful. Social media does have a great positive impact on one’s mood being negative or positive.

Question Three

In the study done by Lieberman and Morelli, what were the psychological and physiological processes involved in the study of empathy?

In their study Lieberman and Morelli used FMRIS to help them study people reactions when looking at people’s sad image. The two researchers used pictures that involved sad images of people; they also used distraction by giving the volunteers’ an eight-digit number to memorize (Kluger, 2013). Further, they used people who had unrefined brains processed in their observation, they found out that people who were distracted by the eight-digit number, their empathy reactions were reduced. On the other hand, volunteers with uncultured brain processed reacted to the images more deeply. Empathy is the capacity to comprehend and feel what someone else is encountering. Sympathy is a fundamental and basics part of any relationship or social gathering. It is at the foundation of all master social conduct and caring. Identity and social relation of humanity and their ability to empathized or sympathized are based on people’s experience and are part basic of human instincts. Diversity between men and women can play a role of practices, consideration and sentiments.

Question Four

In the quote by Morelli, “Being distracted reduces our empathy for others and blunts responses in the brain” what are the implications of this quote for civic management?

Morelli estimates on the need to be focused civil engagement is that for people to promote civil engagement. The amount of distractions may create the goals of civil engagement not to be achieved. Making it difficult in generating any type of difference due the minimizing of empathy. As a result, distractions may make people not realize the importance of civil management and helping. Significantly pointing out when addressing public concerns is a key to having our brains focused on the plan and decrease any needless distractions that can cause peoples’ empathy reduced (Kluger, 2013). In addition, removing these distractions can help in the encouragement of civil management and may lead to an increase of people’s happiness. I believe most people can relate to being distracted can force the brain to minimize things that are going around us, we are so consumed with what is happening in on our own lives we can not give any time or energy for others. Constant pressures around us numbs us or makes us make reason with in our selves to depreciate the greatness of that particular issue at hand. Cell phones or smartphones can decrease the quality of an in-person conversation, thus minimizing the amount of empathy that is exchanged between others.

We as a society need to redirect our abilities to empathize with others who are in need in order to make a greater impact.

References

Kluger, J. (2013). The happiness of pursuit. Time Magazine.

https://www.snapsurveys.com/blog/advantages-disadvantages-surveys/

https://www.verywell.com/correlational-research-2795774

https://flowpsychology.com/7-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-experimental-research/