Adaptation amidst Prosperity and Adversity: Insights from Happiness Studies from around the World

IF 8.7 1区经济学 Q1 DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

World Bank Research Observer Pub Date : 2011-02-01 DOI:10.1093/WBRO/LKQ004

C. Graham

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引用次数: 84

Abstract

Some individuals who are destitute report to be happy, while others who are very wealthy report to be miserable. There are many possible explanations for this paradox; the author focuses on the role of adaptation. Adaptation is the subject of much work in economics, but its definition is a psychological one. Adaptations are defense mechanisms; there are bad ones like paranoia, and healthy ones like humor, anticipation, and sublimation. Set point theory-which is the subject of much debate in psychology posits that people can adapt to anything, such as bad health, divorce, and extreme poverty, and return to a natural level of cheerfulness. The author research from around the world suggests that people are remarkably adaptable. Respondents in Afghanistan are as happy as Latin Americans and 20 percent more likely to smile in a day than Cubans. The findings suggest that while this may be a good thing from an individual psychological perspective, it may also shed insights into different development outcomes, including collective tolerance for bad equilibrium. The author provides examples from the economics, democracy, crime, corruption, and health arenas.

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繁荣与逆境中的适应:来自世界各地幸福研究的见解

一些赤贫的人报告说他们很快乐，而另一些非常富有的人报告说他们很痛苦。对于这个悖论有很多可能的解释;作者着重讨论了适应的作用。适应是许多经济学研究的主题，但它的定义是心理学的。适应是一种防御机制;有坏的，比如偏执，也有健康的，比如幽默、期待和升华。设定点理论是心理学中备受争议的主题，它认为人们可以适应任何事情，比如健康状况不佳、离婚和极度贫困，并恢复到自然的快乐水平。来自世界各地的作者研究表明，人们的适应能力非常强。阿富汗的受访者和拉丁美洲人一样快乐，一天中微笑的可能性比古巴人高20%。研究结果表明，虽然从个人心理学的角度来看，这可能是一件好事，但它也可能为不同的发展结果提供见解，包括对不良平衡的集体容忍。作者列举了经济、民主、犯罪、腐败和健康领域的例子。

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来源期刊

World Bank Research Observer Multiple-

CiteScore

12.60

自引率

1.20%

发文量

期刊介绍： The World Bank Journals, including the Research Observer, boast the largest circulation among economics titles. The Research Observer is distributed freely to over 9,100 subscribers in non-OECD countries. Geared towards informing nonspecialist readers about research within and outside the Bank, it covers areas of economics relevant for development policy. Intended for policymakers, project officers, journalists, and educators, its surveys and overviews require only minimal background in economic analysis. Articles are not sent to referees but are assessed and approved by the Editorial Board, including distinguished economists from outside the Bank. The Observer has around 1,500 subscribers in OECD countries and nearly 10,000 subscribers in developing countries.