Psychology Students Promote Happiness

By: Mwansa M. Changwe

Posted: 11/5/08

Are you happy? Is your glass half full or half empty? These were some questions pondered by those who attended the Finding Your Happiness Quotient (HQ) program. The Sixth Annual Fall Symposium was held on October 28th, 2008 at 2pm by the Psychology Students for Social Responsibility (PsySSR) here at the University of the District of Columbia. A beautiful welcome and introduction of speaker were presented by PsySSR President Nelisa Ballosingh and Vice President Krystal Odom. The speaker and faculty advisor was Dr. Kathleen Dockett, ED.D, a remarkable professor of psychology at the University. Dockett spoke about the pursuit of happiness and posed various questions of what made people happy. Dockett asked, "What is happiness? Is it a feeling of ecstasy or joy? Is it in the activities we do? In the way we think? In what we have, where we live, how we look? Would having a little more money make you happy? More education? Changing your looks or race?" As these questions were being asked, you could see students meditating on their responses by their facial expressions and tense body language. However, when it came to the question of changing one's race to make one happy, a unanimous "No!" filled the room.
Positive Psychology, the new science of happiness, explores three pillars: 1. Positive Emotions (subjective well-being) 2. Positive Character 3. Positive Institutions (See Seligman, 2002, Authentic Happiness). All three pillars were important but there was one that stood out: Positive Emotions, which deals with satisfaction about the past, happiness with the present, and optimism about the future. There is sometimes a barrier of un-satisfaction with the past that limits our happiness with the present and future. When the issue with the past was addressed, you could see life more positively. To figure out your Happiness Quotient or enduring level of happiness, you must consider S + E + I. (S) Set point-50% of our life satisfaction is genetically programmed by our biologically inherited temperament and personality traits. (E) External circumstances in your life, such as having rich, supportive interpersonal relationships, being apart of a faith community, having a mentor, and avoiding negative events and emotions, contribute about 10% to our happiness. (I) Internal cognitive processes (ways of thinking) under your voluntary control, such as gratitude for the past, satisfaction with the present, and optimism for the future, as well as identifying and using your character strengths to contribute about 40% to our life satisfaction. Thus, 90% of our happiness is related to how we think and act. The Positive Psychology Formula for happiness is LS = PE + E + M. LS= Satisfaction with one's life, PE= Positive emotions, E= Engagement (deep involvement in family, work, romance, hobbies), M= Meaning (using personal character strengths to serve purposes beyond one's self).
Several evidence-based approaches to building lasting happiness were also presented. PsySSR Secretary, Melinda Montgomery, spoke about keeping a Gratitude journal. The Gratitude journal would be written at night, containing three things that happened to you throughout the day and the causes of these things. If this is done for at least two weeks, and reviewed, you will start to see how much you have to be thankful for. It would be another way to count your blessings by taking away the negative, and seeing how much it out ways the positive. Keep the journal for as long as possible and see how your life begins to take a positive change in a new direction. UDC senior, Damon Hunt, colorfully described Seligman's (2002) ABCDE model for disputing negative beliefs as a second strategy for building happiness. Increasing your Happiness Quotient is not difficult but requires conscientious effort. A few things to help are: Challenging negative thoughts, using your signature character strengths, becoming more engaged in what you do, seeking meaning in your life, counting your blessings, performing acts of kindness, learning to forgive, investing in friends and family, and taking care of your body. (See C. Wallis [January 17, 2005]. The symposium was informative, helpful, and presented well by Dr. Dockett and PsySSR. As student Debbie Spencer commented, "I really enjoyed the program. I had fun and now I know ways of becoming a happier person."