Drowning in clutter?

A new study finds that objects don’t bring you happiness, but buying experiences actually may:

“[E]xperiential purchases, such as a meal out or theater tickets, result in increased well-being because they satisfy higher order needs, specifically the need for social connectedness and vitality — a feeling of being alive.”  According to psychology professor Ryan Howell, “Purchased experiences provide memory capital. We don’t tend to get bored of happy memories like we do with a material object.”

Compare this to Social Psychologist David Myers’ conclusion in 2004 that “Economic growth in affluent countries has provided no apparent boost to human morale.” Myers suggests that while wealth may lead to more happiness in poorer countries (let’s not “romanticize poverty”), there is very little correlation of wealth to happiness once life’s necessities are already met.

So maybe we’re just spending for the wrong things?  A 2006 study among college students found high happy marks for “social affiliation,” but “no connection with happiness” at all from passive pursuits such as video games and television.

And for those who just can’t decide if they’re happy or not, The happiness test by Susan Quillian may not have all the answers, but it is both thought provoking and mercifully brief.