Happy days change as we age and contentment replaces excitement

December 26th, 2011

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Mail Foreign Service

Last updated at 11:39 PM on 25th December 2011

Young and free: Excitement is what we deem leads to happiness in our youth

What makes us happy changes as we get older, according to a study.

For young people, 60 per cent of happiness is about excitement, say scientists.

In contrast, as we get older we associate 80 per cent of happiness with ‘contentment’.

Professor Cassie Mogilner, of the University of Pennsylvania, who carried out the research ran five studies involving different groups of people – one group aged in their teens, one in their 20s, and others in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

She said: ‘We are talking about two distinct types of happiness – one associated with peacefulness and one associated with being excited.

‘Whereas younger people are more likely to associate happiness with excitement, as they get older, they become more likely to associate happiness with peacefulness.’

The difference appears to come from the varying degrees of importance placed on the future compared to the present.

Younger people, generally more interested in the future, base their happiness more on excitement. Meanwhile, older people place a higher value on the present.

Professor Mogilner added: ‘People should expect the things that make them happy and their experience of happiness to change.

‘The research does not determine a relationship between age and levels of happiness.

‘However, it does identify a relationship between age and the meaning of happiness.

‘When a 20-year-old and a 60-year-old express feeling ‘happy,’ they are likely feeling quite different things.’

Prof Mogliner and her team used a
complicated computer program to analyse millions of blogs written by
people in each of the age groups.

The software analysed words related to happiness and other emotions.

The researchers also completed a survey to measure participants’ definitions of happiness.

In another test, participants listened to a calm or energetic song and then indicated how they felt.

Contentment is what is valued most in terms of bringing about a sense of wellbeing in older age

In the fourth part of the study, participants were read a passage discussing focusing on the present or a different passage used as a control tape.

Afterwards, they were given a writing exercise. Younger people were more likely to write about the present if they had heard that tape, but there was no effect in older participants.

Finally, participants were asked what they would spend a gift of money on.

Researchers coded those responses based on whether they were excitement-focused, such as a Nintendo Wii, or calming-focused, such as ‘a bubble bath.’

Throughout the different research tests, the results showed a fairly consistent shift in types of happiness.

Prof Mogilner said it was important to consider how people of different ages define happiness when trying to improve their wellbeing.

We should also bear in mind how our age affects the way we view happiness and not confuse it with becoming unhappy.

She added: ‘People should expect the things that make them happy and their experience of happiness to change.

‘They should not be surprised or attribute these changes to life becoming less happy.’

The results are published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

Newest
Oldest
Best rated
Worst rated

Youth is wonderful – but it’s wasted on those too young to really enjoy it.

– Mike Spilligan, Melton Mowbray, 26/12/2011 05:35

The rocket scientists have been busy again. As you age your viewpoint and values change. Thank God they did the research to figure that one out. I thought it was only me who no longer found clubbing exciting.

– OAP, Grannyland, 26/12/2011 05:23

If youth isn’t the time for excitement, then I don’t when is. I can’t picture myself hitching up my skirts and popping on my motorcycle for jaunt through the country now. But once upon a time… ah youth, you give our declining years wings again.

– Joan, Canada, 26/12/2011 02:54

As an almost 65-year-old and still raising a young (15, 13, 5) I can tell you that I still feel REAL excitement. This reflects my family’s joy at life and achievement. Sheer jumping for joy and happiness when I am astride my Suzuki sports m/cycle and powering into a corner or racing away at traffic lights leaving everyone in the dust. Happiness at a brisk walk or a journey, my wife, doing a research and writing project just for my own pleasure, my expertise with computers, running and playing with my young son. This is not just contentment with ones lot in life – which it is – but happiness in a true and vibrant sense.
There is a trap into which many researchers fall and that is one of conservatism, of what they deem the ‘norm’ for a particular age group.
There are many of we ‘un-conservatives’ out there, healthy in mind and body who ride life like a raging bull.
Pipe and slippers and MS? In the bin sharpish; fire up the bike instead and ride like the wind!

– Clive G Smale, Laoag City, Philippines, 26/12/2011 02:50

Life is a rough road, so learning how to live happily is important.

– Mr. Chan, China, 26/12/2011 02:30

Older people tend to know a bit more about what makes one happy. That’s all.

– edmill, Los Angeles, California USA, 26/12/2011 02:27

In my studies, called life, most of ME, live day to day?Happy or sad, it’s called life. The old Irish saying ”Why put off today, what you can put off tomorrow ” comes to mind! Why don’t these scientists put their expertise to the real problems such as Cancer and other important things????

– RON THE GRUMP, PETERBOROUGH, 26/12/2011 01:36

duh, my pipe, slippers and watching Constipation Street.

– harry, Fife, 26/12/2011 00:41

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.